Spend big. Waste nothing.
Buy what makes life better.Skip what doesn't.
I'll pay for performance, convenience, and quality I actually use. I'll also walk away when an upgrade costs a fortune to change almost nothing. Mr ROI is where I show the research and real decisions behind both.
Cars + technologyHome + audioMoney + life systems
MR ROI / VERDICTSBUY · WAIT · PASSAnswer first. Full reasoning below.
01Total cost
→Price, time, risk, maintenance, friction, and depreciation.
02Waste eliminated
→Prestige pricing, unused features, weak incentives, and avoidable loss.
03Value kept
The experience, utility, durability, and freedom that survive the cut.
Read the complete method →Spend big. Waste nothing. In practice.
Where paying more earns its keep.
Tires
Spend enoughProven tires suited to your car and climate.
Know when to stopTrack tires for everyday commuting.
Primary vacuum
Spend enoughA repairable vacuum matched to your floors.
Know when to stopBoutique pricing without better cleaning.
Airline seats
Spend enoughExtra legroom when you need the space.
Know when to stopFirst class mainly for service or status.
Office chair
Spend enoughA well-fitted, adjustable office chair.
Know when to stopDesigner finishes without better fit.
Cordless power tools
Spend enoughA supported tool platform that handles your work.
Know when to stopIndustrial capability you rarely use.
Televisions
Spend enoughGood Mini-LED or OLED, sized for the room.
Know when to stopA flagship difference you rarely notice.
Popular starting points
Start with a decision I've worked through.
Three recent pieces on mistakes that cost more than they appear to.
Principles65
The false economy: why the cheapest option can cost more
The lowest upfront price can hide replacement, downtime, hassle, risk, and lost utility. This framework shows when spending more is rational, when premium is waste, and where the value curve actually bends.
Fitness64
The Physique Shortcut Tax: Steroids, SARMs, Peptides, and Tanning
Some shortcuts work. The real question is what you are paying for the shortcut.
Principles63
Avoid Ruin First: The Decisions That Can Cost You Years
A handful of bad decisions can overwhelm years of good ones. Protect the options that let future progress compound.
Browse by topic
What are you spending money or time on?
Start with the category. The verdicts and tradeoffs are inside.
01
Money
Credit, investing, recurring costs, and expensive mistakes worth avoiding.
Explore →02Technology
Products and AI that save enough time or effort to justify their cost.
Explore →03Health
Training and treatments tested against evidence and real adherence.
Explore →04Cars
Performance, daily usefulness, ownership cost, and the price of emotion.
Explore →05Home + Audio
Rooms, equipment, and building choices where the wrong bottleneck gets expensive.
Explore →06Work
Career lessons, analytical tools, and decisions that improve future options.
Explore →Use the buying process
The $29 Verified Shopping System.
Search retailer starting points, compare unit costs, check bulk break-even points, review price history, and keep the useful math for the next purchase.
- 136 decision-verified product families
- 658 deduplicated reference families
- 11 practical sheets, including calculators and a deal tracker
About SebastianApplied mathematicsCorporate supply chainGallatin, Tennessee
About Sebastian
I built this from purchases I was already obsessing over.
I started college coursework at 12, graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics, moved from Amazon operations into corporate supply chain, and applied the same analytical habits to cars, home theater, training, technology, home projects, and major purchases.
I've owned, modified, compared, and occasionally over-researched enough gear to learn where money improves the experience and where it just disappears. I bring that work here, with sources and numbers when the decision needs them.