toilmeter · breakeven calculator
Is it worth the time?
Rarely
Rarely
occasionally botched
Minor
Minor
minute of fixup
Mildly annoying
Mildly annoying
Slight sigh.
Trivial
Trivial
occasional poke
Known cold
Known cold
no new muscle
Time per task
Frequency
| 1s1 sec | 5s5 sec | 30s30 sec | 1m1 min | 5m5 min | 30m30 min | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50/d50× a day | 3.1 wks | 6.3 wks | 1.4 mths | 2.7 mths | 1.1 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 5/d5× a day | 1.3 days | 2.9 days | 2.6 wks | 4.9 wks | 1.3 mths | 7.8 mths |
| dayDaily | 2.1 min | 2.6 hr | 2.3 days | 4.7 days | 4.7 wks◉ | 1.6 mths |
| wkWeekly | 0 sec | 0 sec | 29 min | 3.2 hr | 3.1 days | 4 wks |
| moMonthly | 0 sec | 0 sec | 0 sec | 0 sec | 3.8 hr | 4.4 days |
| yrYearly | 0 sec | 0 sec | 0 sec | 0 sec | 0 sec | 38 min |
not worthbuild the tool
over the next
· click any cell to pin it5years
a task done daily, saving 5 min each time:
4.7 wkscumulative net time saved after 5 years of automation
Hire someone to build the tool.
78%
20%
- Direct time saved3.8 wks
- Errors avoided1.5 hr
- Frustration tax (×1.25)4.8 days
- Skill investment (rep)0 sec
- Maintenance over 5y−2.5 hr
vanilla xkcd 1205:3.8 wks→4.7 wks(1.2× higher)
how the cell value is computed
300s+5%×1 min×365/yr×5yr××1.25 frustration−30 min/yr×5yr maint.=4.7 wks
base savings errors avoided frustration multiplier skill investment maintenance cost