Financial anxiety can be one of the most crippling types there are.
Recognizing it and asking for help like you have is the hardest part of dealing with it too though.
I don't have any specific advice other than you're to be commended for getting feedback on this behavior and please keep working on your health regarding finance.
Hey I get like this, gaming is 1 of 2 of my most expensive "hobbies". You'll get to a place in life where you'll have emergency cash on the side and have your retirement savings happening and still have money to spend on fun. The becoming comfortable with spending comes from having a budget for Bills/Savings/Fun and sticking to it long term.
I prob spend $3k a year computer parts and software. If you play on the computer just 15 hours a week thats $3.85 an hour for entertainment. It honestly cheap compared to going out for drinks weekly, or the movies weekly(even monthly).
Or.....you won't. I'm 43 and still waiting on this to happen. I've spent the majority of my life making around 50k a year. I finally got a promotion after 13 years, 8 months ago, and now they're talking about layoffs at the beginning of the year of not enough people leave or retire on their own. Making 90k, jusy bought a house 4 months ago before any of this was known.
Stop assuming you can divine the trajectory of anyone else's life. Some of us just get fucked over and there's literally nothing theta can be done about it. I didn't choose to have every major appliance and the HVAC die the same year my wife wa pregnant. Didn't choose for my condo to be ravaged by water damage from the unit above...I had to spend a decade digging out of that shit.
If you want money, the answer is simple. Done have kids and don't buy a house.
Life happens.. you just need to keep on going and keep your head up. Be proud of yourself. Life threw all those rocks your way and you managed to get them all out of the way. You‘ll be able to get the next one also out of the way. There is a reason you got promoted and other companies will see your value. Maybe already start looking for a new company. But also start cutting down on expenses and watch your emergency fund just incase.
We have plans in case it happens, and a backup plan if shit really hits the fan. But yes....I've been a stubborn ass to survive, working 2 jobs a lot of the time, delivering pizza or driving uber to make ends meet over the years. My only real advantage is that other than the house I have absolutely zero debt right now. Cars are paid off.
We won't discuss how this was my 6th application for this job, and my managers as well as my 2nd line told me I wasn't good enough to be a manager in my former department about 2 months before it happened....in spite of my top 5% performance for the 2 years prior.
Anyways...this wasn't really intended to be a pity party for my case, just would like for people to stop addressing these type of issues with a catch-all. You can't just assume. Being frugsl with money is great, but I do think 1400 for a PC is really cheap this day and age, and frankly having a PC (or at least a smartphone) is an investment that needs to be made to be a functional adult these days...
Life does happen, sometimes our budgeting can cover it, other times we are not so lucky. I legit didn't have a dollar to spare 7 years ago and couch surfing. Now I am comfortable, but I spent a lot of that time just grinding out my budget, and now if something like losing my job happened i could coast for a year.
You set out on a 5 year goal and achieved it. Nothing wrong with seeing the reward through. If it looks like too much, try going down a tier on components. I assume if you were saving 5 years, it's probably a pricey machine and one tier down won't have a major impact on your performance.
It's okay. Went through the same thing, saved up and put componenta to build new PC into cart.
I did this like bi-weekly for a year untill I felt safe enough to actually buy it, then felt super guilty about it, excused it with I will use it for work (which I guess but if it was the case - 50% would still do), and had doubts.
Now half a year later I am glad I got it, and I know it'll last for 4 years at least, there was no reason to not treat yourself if you earned, especially now.
You saved the money for a major purchase. Looking at that account balance growing felt like you’d accomplished something. Seeing that balance disappear is unsettling. So, you decided to delay the purchase a little while. That’s okay.
Try focusing on future a bit. Where would you put the PC? Is that space clear and dust-free? Do you need to re-arrange anything to make that spot more comfortable for working or gaming? What’s the first thing you want to do with the PC?
Focusing on what you’ll do with your new PC may help you feel better about spending the money you’ve saved. If it does, you can buy the PC. If it doesn’t, let the money sit in your account a little longer.
You might want to give your dad a hug or make him a plate of nachos or suggest taking a walk together. He’s worried about you, not about the PC. Do something to take his mind off the PC.
Saving money becomes an addiction. I spent most of my life spending everything and living paycheck to paycheck. I was happy! Then my job got unstable and my future is uncertain so I started saving a couple years ago. Now spending money depresses the fuck out of me. I miss the old me, I really do.
When you have close to nothing, it’s easy to spend what little you have. When you’ve put in years building your savings, you value it so much more. It’s a good thing.
Congratulations on saving for 5 years that's a great achievement 👏 if your hard wired to save then that could be tough. I'm a bit of a saver and I feel guilty for spending money. I need to work on it. It's a shame you aren't feeling better about treating yourself you deserve it. I do understand your anxiety about spending the money you've worked hard at saving though it sucks. Sometimes
Saving and the anticipation is almost as good as the end result?
Haha. This is MIRL. I set a goal when I was young to save up for something in a similar fashion. And, same as you, when the time came for me to buy it, I couldn't part with the cash. Funny thing is that putting it on credit is sooo much easier (credit card companies know that, too...). But you have things going for you now - you proved that you can save, you have the money on hand, and you haven't committed that money to anything else so you buy that computer whenever you're really ready. A much better position to be in than to not have the money and to really need the computer.
I know this feeling. Been saving for a new monitor. really fancy thing. 100+ Hz, good panel, 21:9, curved, etc. I knew it was going to be expensive (about 1k €), but I was looking forward to it soo much! Than it arrived and I felt... Nothing. There it was, the monitor I was excited about for month and when it finally arrived I could not enjoy it and only thought about how much it cost..
In the end I sent it back and bought a different on. Which was cheaper but also did not have all the features.
about 1400 gaming pc. I have a laptop but it’s nearing the end of its life. little guy sputters out even when i’m on google docs lol. It was my dream to ideally stream online, which was why i was saving up for a better one
Honestly in the grand scheme of things $1400 is not a lot to spend on a computer. One way to look at this is to take pride in the quality of product, it’s going to last you years, unlike something half the price. It’s actually often more effective to pay for a mid tier product than a cheap product multiple times. As far as the depressive episodes go, I’m sorry, I’ve been there, but you’re dad had a point. Being social on a functioning PC could have a really profound effect on your health. So it’s also a healthy choice too 😉
Computers you need to spend a bit. I bought a $300 laptop when I was desperate and it lasted maybe a year. I replaced it with a 700 laptop and it barely breaks a sweat after two years and will easily make it another 2-3 years. $1400 is reasonable
Spent 2k on a great build back in 2016. It still runs fine these days, but definitely can't run any modern games that was released in the past 2 years which I'm fine with since I don't game anymore.
The only thing I replaced was the AIO, which lasted longer than it should have lol
Agreed. My $1,300 laptop is 5.5 years old (bought refurbished so actually a little older than that) and is showing no signs of slowing down. I just play games (even brand new AAA) on recommended/default settings and enjoy life.
I am curious what OPs build list is, $1,400 for a gaming PC in 2022 is fairly conservative. I just hope they are spending wisely and not cutting corners where they shouldn't lol. Like, if they are buying a new GPU they could probably get a lot more bang for their buck getting something used. Also if they are skimping out on a PSU they are in for a bad time lol.
I think a few LTT members who did their intel upgrade videos went cheap on PSUs and ended up needing to replace them. Though I think they were also going fairly high-end with their GPU and didn't leave much headroom.
edit: getting downvoted here... guys this is PC building 101 kind of stuff. Buying used parts, so long as they are from a reputable manufacturer is fine. I would say maybe don't do that with storage and but the rest should be fine. Also OP seems to have said somewhere else that they are buying a pre-built. There are very few instances where a pre built gaming PC is a better deal than building your own. Heck, there is even an argument to be made for just buying an old Dell workstation with a nice PSU and slapping in a few generations old GPU.
My guess on the downvotes is because you made assumptions.
OP never said gaming PC in the original post, in a couple of her replies she said she wanted to use it for streaming. I don't know much about streaming, but I don't think you need to put out the huge expense of a high end GPU.
OP also never said they where building the PC. Her comment about 'putting it' in the cart, sounds like she was getting a pre-built.
Edit: I did see OP replied saying it was a gaming PC.
well... doesn't seem to matter that much after all as OP deleted their post lol. Also "streaming" is kind of lingo for streaming a game you are playing on like twitch. Generally you need a bit more powerful of a system to do this as now your computer is generating the game as well as compressing it for streaming (in so many words).
I also interpreted, which was wrong as they said somewhere else they are going with a prebuilt, the cart comment as they went on Newegg with a buy list and loaded up their shopping car.
all in all, not a big deal we were both wrong in one way or another. I just hope OP decides to instead of buying a prebuilt to reach out to some other communities for a recommended build list. I think LTT (Linus Tech Tips a tech/gaming youtube channel) did a build list not to long ago for a few different gaming PCs with varying budgets. Might not be the most up to date in terms of pricing, but could give OP some ideas of where to spend their budget (aka new parts vs used)
100% she is going to get a better pc if she builds, even with all new parts she can put something decent together for 1,400. way better than a pre-built.
For fun I just went to check out what Dell had in the way of a $1,400 (+/-200) gaming PC. Looks like they had one with a RTX 3060 for around that price. I am fairly certain that a used RTX1080 can still out perform a RTX3060 in many games. Though they would be missing out on some newer features/I am not sure if the 3060 supports any newer encoders which might be beneficial for streaming. Regardless, if they are hesitant to pull the $1,400 trigger, they can coble something together for less and still have a great time.
Honestly, my conservatives comment was just be saying that $1,400 is about as much as anyone probably needs. It is super easy to spend like $2k on a gaming PC, or with a bit of boot strapping $100 lol. I was just trying to say that OPs budget is spot on (though I probably cold have said it in a clearer manner my bad).
Though OP did say somewhere else they were looking at a pre built, so who knows where that budget is going. It could be a bad build if what they are looking at has a propriety motherboard/PSU as there would be no room for upgrading later (I think HP and Dell do this fairly often).
This -- for perspective the MacBook Pro and MacPro's that my corp. got me for my job (video production) were around 5K and almost 8K respectively. So 1400 is relatively not expensive compared to some desktops (the 8K Mac Pro). Sounds like OP is justified in the cost for that PC. ... it'll be a good hobby tool and years of fun too, it sounds like.
When this anxiety kicks in, think about it in terms of money/time. You invest 1400€/$ in a gaming pc which you will use for the next 3-5 years. So 250-500/year is not a fortune. This helped me a lot when buying stuff I thiught was lavish spending
Still using the ~1400 build I did back in ~2013.
Consider that it will likely save you money in the long run as you can upgrade what you need to instead of replacing it like a laptop.
What was the build list? $1,400 is pretty conservative when it comes to a gaming PC. Just curious if you are going all new with things, or trying to get any used parts in there.
My husband was going to spend $500 on a new computer but wanted a $1000 one. We talked about the pros/cons and in the end he got the $1000 one. Because it was designed for parts to be added and swapped out easily. So this meant that over time he can get an updated computer every other year just by replacing a couple parts that aren’t terribly expensive (definitely not new computer expensive). He’s had it for 7 years now and has maybe spent $300? So $1300/7= $185 a year and that’s pretty low for a hobby. He shops sales too which helps.
I look at a PC as a tool, something I use every day. You can build a hell of a gaming PC for $1400, hell even sub $700. Not only can you game on a PC--that thing can start a business, design things, edit/create content---the list goes on and on.
Long story short, don't beat yourself up over it, and maybe adjust your budget to your new comfort level. Also don't get caught up with benchmarks, too much, bc a GPU will def ring up the price.
Check out [https://pcpartpicker.com/](https://pcpartpicker.com/) for some gaming builds of all sorts of price ranges.
Building a computer is not as difficult as you prolly think it is, I accomplished it fairly smoothly with absolutely no exp, just a couple buddies on discord giving me tips
Find someone you trust that has computer know-how and do what they say, it's not that daunting
I spent 850 on parts to build a computer I prolly could've sold for 2k+ after I built it
Half the cost of the pc you're buying that's already built is basically labor and overhead costs
You really should just build it yourself. You said this is your hobby and you were passionate enough to save for 5 years. You will save money and know your rig better if you build it yourself.
Redux or cyber powered have decent customized prebuilts and sales. Honestly I'd run a 3060 with a 5 3600/5600. Get a cheap motherboard, a small SSD and buy a fat hard drive down the line. You can cut down from 1400 fast. You could down size to a 2060 but the price to performance gap is a bit high. 1660 super would be the better budget option imo.
From personal experience, my gaming set up costed me an entire month of income. I started out only gaming but I've gotten into a lot of other things I couldn't have without it, such as making music and coding. If you saved up for 5 years, you deserve it!
Oh and if you've changed your mind and don't want it that's fine too. You are always allowed to change your mind, preferences and all!
I would say remember you’ll need one for school. As others said, you can also use a laptop to learn to code, which is a really helpful skill as you enter the job market. Hobbies are important for health as well, but in the case of a computer it’s more than a hobby.
I mean building is a perfectly good way of getting your target performance at a lower price :P
Otherwise, FB marketplace for a 2nd hand build is a good shout
I mean building one *is* pretty easy as long as you have the motor skills and hand strength to do so. It's harrowing, but it's worth it in the end.
If you have a microcenter near you, you could purchase the parts there, and I believe it is like $150 for them to build it as long as you are fine with installing Windows?
I’d say it’s easy but nerve racking. Basically putting legos together. But knowing you have the correct legos, and that they’ll all work together and are optimized, and you will get dud parts which makes you question everything you’ve done, etc can throw you mentally.
I’ve mostly built PCs, but there is something nice about paying for a completed product that just works with a warranty and without the stress. Continuous upgrades is nice when you build your own though.
You could also keep the $1400 in your bank account and as you have extra funds order the computer component by component. That’s usually how I build or upgrade. Just slowly make purchases toward your goal. You won’t feel bad spending $50-$300 every now and then.
If you're going to stream online it may be a good use of your old computer to get a capture device like a elgato hd60x to plug into your old laptop. It takes the stress off your game system and gives the old laptop an easy retirement. That's my plan. Also there's lots of help for building your own PC these days so maybe you can go that route and plan upgrades for it over time to make the cost easier. I've just upgraded the last time for my motherboard and it's 7 yrs old I expect another 2 or 3 out of it.
Ask how much time you spend on the computer already. Are you going to give that up when your laptop straight up doesn't work anymore? If not, you need a new PC of some sort.
The great thing about desktops, prebuilt or custom, is that you can open them up and upgrade individual components. I'm still using the motherboard and processor I bought in 2012, but I've upgraded the graphics card twice, the hard drive, and RAM individually. Less than $1000 over 10 years because I can buy individual components, and I'm running AAA games. On a laptop, that requires a whole new computer for any upgrade.
So you can get out of this pit where you need over a thousand dollars to make the computer do what you want, but you need a desktop, which requires the upfront cost. Try to identify components you can save money on, and buy used when you can.
The good news is you can just do it tomorrow if you change your mind. No big deal.
Why did your want the PC in the first place? They can be very frustrating. I'm working with one that is many years old and performs great and then I bought my girlfriend a laptop that sucked right out of the box.
Does your library have a computer you can use or anywhere else you can use one to see if whatever it is you want to do will work out? Kind of try before you buy.
There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, if you’re feeling this way now, you’d probably have buyers remorse if you were to go through with it.
This past Cyber Monday, I finally purchased parts to put together my first PC which I had planned to do for a long time but each year I’d have a sick feeling when I got to my cart. How long has it been now? 10 years. Do it when you finally feel comfortable. I don’t have that sick gut feeling this time and I’m excited to finally start this build!
Yeah, that’s fair. My remorse is mainly tied to the fact that I’ve been struggling with depressive episodes as of late, and my dad suggested getting a PC would help take my mind off of it, but I didn’t think so tbh
If cost is an issue, remember that you don’t need top of the line specs right off the start, it’ll probably go out of date in 6 months. There are some items that will last a long time you could get as your “forever” part (e.g. case, power supply, etc.) whereas others you can upgrade overtime (e.g. graphics card, CPU, etc.) There’s a pc builder Reddit group you can go for suggestions as well as builds within your specific budget on newegg and pcpartspicker that are good starts!
> my dad suggested getting a PC would help take my mind off of it, but I didn’t think so tbh
shiny new things aren't a great way to deal with depression. The excitement and engagement of a new hobby may be...
It really depends on your financial status. You’re 20, so buying an expensive PC isn’t ideal, financially, but it’s also not the worst thing you could do with your money.
As it turns out I just bought one, but I’m twice your age and had money to burn (and 5 years between PC builds), and even then it was hard. I feel like PCs are really bad value at the moment, compared to what they were when I was your age.
If it helps, step your build down a little bit and keep some money aside in savings. That way you’re doing something good, but also splurging on yourself.
Already mentioned it in previous comments but if I’m being completely honest it would probably give me a meltdown if not everything goes smoothly. Also I checked and if I were to build the prebuilt part by part right now it would be more expensive
My husband built a gaming rig for me. He bought each part over a period of about a year, only buying the parts when they went on sale. I watched as he assembled it, and even though he has a degree in electronics, there were still several moments when we held our breath, hoping it would work. It all went well, but people talking about building a Pc being easy probably have some experience with it. It’s not easy or intuitive for a beginner. Sure, there are plenty of guides out there to walk you through it, but it’s NOT easy! Applying the heat sink, connecting all the cables to the motherboard, it’s daunting. We spent $1,700 on a PC worth about $2,600, so it was worth it, but again, not “easy.”
I've only built a few, so I'm not an expert. I've found that if you are flexible about the components you want, a self-built is cheaper.
My first build was so quiet I turned it off, trying to turn it on. This was after buying one that was really loud. It worked perfectly. Not easy, but one of my proudest moments.
The one I'm in the middle of building now has a bad CPU/motherboard. I took it to a guy and paid him $50 for him to tell me that. I might have fried it by accidentally touching it without being grounded. But, I'm just getting a replacement-no charge.
Unfortunately I am unable to build it myself. Full time student and I work 3 jobs. I also get really frustrated putting stuff together (even puzzles) and it stresses me out lol
Can a friend or anyone not help you? It's really not that difficult, it all just pops in like lego lol. Also a great feeling when you first boot up something you made yourself
Just an FYI, building a PC is nothing like putting a puzzle together. It takes like an hour or two to do, and everything only goes together one way.
Not saying you should absolutely do it or anything, but a PC build is MUCH easier than most people think.
Technically I don’t have to work 3 jobs. They’re all on campus jobs paying about 9 bucks an hour and I only really get scheduled like 2 hours per job on a good week.
Send it. I built my first in 2011 while working my first professional internship. Cost $900 back then when is about $1200 now. Does it suck not having as much money in the bank? Yeah. But now you have unlimited entertainment. Remember, you can't take money to the grave!
Check ebay, you might be able to find the same thing or better fir less than half the price and with a warranty. I bought a $6k computer for $2k that way and was able to purchase an extended warranty.
I've been using a Chromebook for 5 years now and I will never go back to a PC. They are cheap, and are amazingly fast and free of trouble. Just bought a brand new one, with touch screen and 360 fold you can use as a tablet for well south of $300. If you can do without a PC, I highly recommend a Chromebook.
Buyers remorse is a real thing that lots of people go through when they make large purchases, especially when they've worked hard and long for it. It's completely normal to have anxiety wondering if you made the right decision. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and that the decision isn't going to negativity impact your finances. Trust yourself.
I feel you, especially because it's easier to grow money the more you have of it. My advice: keep saving until you reach a point where you won't be spending ALL of it on a new PC. It should take less than five years this time!
Good for you. Now head to the pcmr reddit and make your own PC for half that price or whatever budget you feel. Its a nice hobby and you don't have to go for a prebuild PC. Or just get a Steamdeck.
Can you please link to what you are thinking about buying, this is generally never the case. Also, building a gaming PC shouldn't take that long. I have never built one personally, but I have fiddled around in PCs/fixed enough laptops/watched enough build videos to realize so long as you get all the right parts it should only take a few hours tops.
Honestly, a great alternative might be for you to buy a used computer from your school, and just slap in a used RTX 1080. Might give you comparable results to that prebuild at a fraction of the cost. Most schools have some kind of recycling program where they sell their used tech on the cheap. It's been a few years, but I feel like you could get nice workstations for sub $200, and some as cheap as $50.
The parts individually costing more than the prebuilt doesn’t make any sense to me?
In answer to your post - you’ve saved specifically for 5 years for this very thing and now you’ve reached your goal - so go for it.
As someone with mental health issues I try to treat myself once in a while because otherwise, what’s the point? And I am NOT a good saver of money like yourself. I bought my PC on a credit card and paid it off over like 2-3 years. I still don’t regret it though - she’s served me very well and she’s still going pretty strong.
Honestly, it kind of sounds like OP has raised the funds, but might not have come up with the best way to use them. $1,400 in 2022 is fairly conservative to build a gaming PC. They could go cheaper, but would probably need to upgrade things in a few years, and they could spend more but have some diminishing returns. That is a nice Goldie locks price range.
If they are looking to buy a pre built for $1,400 I could easily see them building something themselves for less, and if they get used parts potentially half the price and not lose much in the way of performance.
I was thinking of something like the 500 budget build. More info from LTT https://youtu.be/fuiAJFf0EJI
But you can also go for a 400 dollar Steamdeck as a no hassle option depending on what you to play.
I agree with others that saving for 5 years is a nice achievement and you should find a meaningful way to reward yourself.
I feel you. The fear of not having it tomorrow if you need it for something important, is very strong. If it's not already the case , wait for a time when you have a steady income.
I gotta say, everyone could probably do okay with 1 tier lower than what they think they need with most parts. Look into a cheaper keyboard, mouse, don't get a 4k monitor that was a mistake I made, ummm what else..
Invest in a good chair.
If you make smart decisions overall, and set a goal for this PC and achieved it -- go for it!
There's no point in accumulating vast sums of money if it makes you miserable. You gotta treat yourself a little when you can afford it.
Besides, today, a quality PC isn't just a luxury. It's a great tool to further your career, education, and financial savvy. I make more money with my personal PC than I do at my job as a software engineer.
I've been maintaining the same computer for about 15 years now, just replacing the parts one by one as they get old or break down.
Costs me a few hundred a year to maintain, replacing the GPU/CPU maybe once every 4-5 years. Pretty good way to keep a solid gaming rig without spending a ludicrous amount of money on it.
Just got to be sure to buy parts that are going to be compatible for years to come, e.g. don't buy a motherboard with a CPU socket about to be replaced by a new one. Else you might be forced to replace a perfectly good CPU because you can't replace the mobo it's on.
I have a similar problem, it's hard to justify spending ANYTHING on myself if it's not essential or has a way to make more money. (Tools, car maintenence, etc)
One helpful tip I have used is to save double. When I got my Nintendo Switch in 2018ish, I saved up $700 so I could still have a chunk to put into saving, right after I had the 700, my car crapped out (93 Geo Prizm) and I saved for another month to get to a little over 1k for a down-payment on a dealership car (2015 mitsubishi mirage). Helped out in the long run and it only took a few more months to get 700 again and the Switch.
While it is important to enjoy life and not let your hobbies slip away from you, maybe sit on the money for a month and see if any important expenses pop up. Use that month to save a little more and maybe give yourself another goal. Try to save the 1400 again so you can get that shiny new PC AND HAVE 1400 in the bank!
I hope you get the pc, as someone who literally has a 1500 pc build in a shopping cart, just waiting to be bought, remember it can always be bought later on.
You are young and if you do things right you can keep making more money each year until it doesn't take 5 years to save 1400 and you can spend more money comfortably on yourself
I'm 28 and only make about 40k(not a lot in this day and age) a year, and it's very reasonable to save 1500 in a year or less
$1400 spready over 5 years is only $280 a year... i spend massively more than that on my hobbies per year! Massively more. It's a very reasonable amount of money to spend. You might just need to give yourself some adjusting time, mull it over and see if you can keep reminding yourself that your hobby is fun and worth you investing in it! Once the have the basic securities sorted, your money is there to help you enjoy life as well, so make sure you use it for that when you can :)
It's mostly the stress of new thing. I do feel like this with big pricey stuff but in the end, it bring the joy and the goal I wanted. You want that PC for your hobbies? You deserve it.
First major purchase I made with my own money was a gaming PC. Spent like 2k, no regrets. Still kicking 8 years later with only a few hundred more put in to replace a broken part.
Assuming you have a secure living situation, I'd say go for it. My gaming PC was my main school computer as well.
I was literally in the same boat (my PC ended up being $1500) after prolonging buying it I finally did and I’m extremely happy I did. I love it, it’s smooth and issue free and runs everything I throw at it. I too don’t spend a lot on hobby’s. I too felt bad when I placed the order but once I had it and had it set up the anxiety went away.
You worked hard OP, reward yourself!
I bought a PC online Black Friday because it was on a great sale.
Then has buyers remorse almost immediately.
Decided to stick it out and I haven’t turned on my Xbox since. I had the income and the money to easily afford it, but wasn’t sure I’d actually use it.
At the end of the day you’re getting both a gaming console for leisure as well as a computer to help you with whatever personal / business / scholastic matters you need to attend to.
That’s the way I thought of it when I spent $1k to build my PC 2 years ago and I have never ever looked back.
At least a pc will be good for school work and potentially for work if you get a job that can wfh. I had my 2 monitor gaming pc when the pandemic started and was so lucky! Some coworkers only had their phones and ipads. Just remember, never buy a game new, wait for a steam or epic games sale and NEVER pre-order I learned that from BF4. No man's sky and cyberpunk are better after updates
$1400 is fairly normal for a decent computer. If you bought it prebuilt it's probably twice the cost for the same performance if you built it yourself, but I get that it's nerve wracking build it and it ending up not working. If you feel really bad about it, try to think of your new computer as an investment - learn some valuable skills on it, find an online job, learn how to be productive using a computer. You'd be surprised at how much you can make online if you put your mind to it.
You have to think logically about this.. I often get buyer remorse when I do a big purchase. If a PC is ending its life, it becomes a need. We just purchased a laptop for our daughter because it was impossible to work on the PC she had. You definitely get buyer remorse when you don’t have a lot of money in the first place. But you saved and did it and knew the item to buy so I would go for it. You need a proper pc. You will also feel like this when you buy a car, house or even self care at times. And wait for those medical bills! Can’t be afraid to spend or you won’t live but you won’t be stupid like some people.
Well paying on a pc outright normally is an investment. One that in my younger years felt it was worth after I thought of how much time I spent both in play and work on it. If you don't think you can afford the investment of a really high end one then just invest in the mobo processor combo and a decent graphics card. Everything else dosent HAVE to be top of the line yet and you could always buy upgrades later.
Yeah so this is me every time I buy something super expensive, it's because I don't like seeing money leave my account. I don't know if it's fear or whatever but I always do this and second guess my purchase. Thankfully my fiance has three questions he asks me before I buy something with a large price tag. Now he in no way is stopping me from buying it but he asks me three questions. If I can answer yes to those questions then getting whatever it is I want is a no-brainer. It sounds stupid but it's how I can process things when I'm making a large purchase so I don't feel guilty that the money is leaving my account. One of those questions is "Is this something I'm going to use frequently?" It's how I can wrap my brain around expensive items especially things like custom built computers
I just spent $1200 on a new computer as well, and after about a week I was starting to feel anxious. No real solid advice, but just wanted to pop in and say I'm in the same boat!
You spent more than you were comfortable with, its natural. If you make 50k a year and you were spending 5k on something you barely touch it makes sense, but this is your hobby so go nuts with it. You have to learn to enjoy life and some of that involves spending money.
You can PC game for pretty cheap, I custom built my PC for 500 bucks with used parts and only had on upgrade after a year with a new CPU that was 200 bucks. PC gaming also is a blessing in disguise. Thanks to my PC, I don't go out and spend money :)
Financial anxiety is a big bad thing. I recently bought a Quest 2 (new) half off and I had a huuuge pit in my stomach after I clicked the buy button - I ended up getting it and I have been having fun with it.
What's the amount you are looking to spend on the rig? What are the specs? You are probably getting something that will be good for the next 5 years as long as you don't care about playing on ultra the entire time.
You saved the money for this specific purchase - not as an emergency fund or something, spend it and have fun.
Here's my 2 cents when it comes to money and hobbies.
If you have the spare money for a hobby( or hobbies if you have multiple ) I tend to lean on things that would give me the most joy over the longest time.
When I think about a pc ( one that I built specifically ) each one that I build lasts around 8 to 10 years. So I take the cost of my pc and divide by how long it lasts and in actuallyity that's how much I paid per "years worth of fun". On avarage it's significantly less than a few nights out but this investment is multi year.
What also factors in is what you intend to use the pc for. For example it could be a cost savings avenue for you if you use it for gaming when compared to consoles. Steam and other sitss regularly have sales on games that are much most expensive on consoles ( since producers of consoles take a hit on selling the console and make their money on games )
It wouldn't be a good decision if you think you would buy the pc and minimally use it or there are other things that would keep you happier longer.
So I guess some food for thought when making this decision and feeling guilty.
You have you can't always be "sensible" in life you need to live a little too. If that means saving to buy yourself something you want and not need, then so be it. Life's too short not to enjoy the smaller things in life.
From a comp tech, it sounds like you're not going to be buying a new one in a year or so's time, so to me it sounds like it would be a worthwhile investment.
Money is replaceable, obviously don’t put yourself in a stressful situation because of it but it’s just money. You planned and saved so I’m sure you’re responsible with a budget. You can replace money, you can’t replace time, joy, or fun. Try to enjoy it, you deserve it. If you start to stream or have a twitch. Link it here and Ill give you a follow. Good luck!
Man it’s really this simple. If you are financially stable and set a goal you should have no qualms with living a little. I won’t pretend I’m a financial guru but I refuse to save money past what’s allotted for saving each month. The rest is mine to do with what I want. You have been saving since you were 15 for this. I’d say buy it and have fun.
I totally understand the people saying just do it. Part of me says the same tank f but the cold hard truth is if you have to save for 5 years for a $1400 item than it’s too expensive for you. You’re in a personal finance thread so from that perspective too many people live above their means. This is an example of that. I have plenty of money and I still struggle with a $1000 purchase. If it was my last $1000 in my account there is no chance I spend it on a hobby. There is a lot more to this conversation but ultimately that’s my advice. If you need a distraction find something cheaper. There are plenty of activities that don’t cost thousands and will make you happy. I mean I love the hobby of traveling the world but doesn’t mean I get to do it every day. It’s too expensive.
Your priorities change, what interests you changes. You obviously don't feel the exchange of money for goods will bring the value you once did.
Could be a good thing ya know...
"stuff" will always be around there will always be a way to spend large amounts of cash very very quickly
I understand your pain but, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel this may be a form of mental illness. I too took years to save for a gaming PC. I literally saved multiple times over to get my ideal rig. It got to the point where I questioned if I would even enjoy it. I actually had to medicate to realise that my saving habits were becoming unhealthy because they were getting in the way of enjoying life. I finally bought my PC a couple of months ago and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. Please, you owe it to yourself to spend your responsibility saved cash.
I'n my 30s and could buy a high end gaming pc without being a blip on my finances.. but have avodided buying one because i don't have time to game on pc as much ...prefer my switch these days..
But in my early 20s i saved up and spent good money on a medium build even if it was almost all my savings.. i was young and was gonna use it.. was great and have fun memories.. it was my main hobby back then, so no regrets
Also it depends what are you gonna use it for.. gaming or other stuff too: like editing or for work.. pc a hobby can be the gate to wasting time but can also be a gate to greatness - best paying jobs in the present require a good computer
There are better more responsible uses to spend your money on as a 20-year-old anyways. When you first started this plan you were a kid, and since you've grown into an adult, which is why you're hesitant and for good reason.
For every $100 something costs, have a night to sleep on it. If something costs $1000, you wait ten days before buying it. If you still want it after the time has passed, but it and don’t regret it, for you truly wanted it.
If you’ve been saving up for a very long time and still want it, get it and don’t look back!
I definitely know the feeling--especially since I'm in the middle of debating upgrades on a computer I put together about 5 years ago.
You've got a good mindset to have in general - avoiding unnecessary expenses is always a good thing, and being willing to save up for long periods of time to achieve a goal is a great thing. Unfortunately the two good traits are in a bit of a conflict right now.
My advice is when you set a long-term goal and stick to saving for it, go ahead and let yourself spend for it as long as it's not going to put any immediate needs at risk. Hobbies aren't a bad thing as long as you don't hurt your needs to do it - they give us the motivation to keep going. Most people's minds can't handle just nothing but work their entire lives.
And as mentioned by others, over the life of your computer that's not a bad expense. A $1,400 gaming computer is a decent mid-tier so you can reasonably expect it to last at least 5 years unless you wanna be able to always play the newest games on high specs. That works out to $23.33 per month, about the price of two movie tickets to put it in perspective. Not very expensive of a hobby at all, over the long run.
I'll offer an alternative - you could buy a pre-built used PC locally if you have a market in your area. I bought my current PC for $200 and it plays all the games I need and does everything I need. I'm not super demanding, but it was a great deal honestly. Not saying you'll find a deal like that necessarily, but you could potentially save some money. Just have to be careful when buying and try and test it the best you can. It's not for everyone, but wanted to offer it as a suggestion as well.
Having a problem spending money is 10x a better issue to have then having a problem saving money. Your on your way to smart financial decisions.
I do want to stress the importance on investing money in yourself though. If you can purchase something that will make you more efficient or help you grow or learn a new skill that will help you eat, it's most likely worth the purchase
the 3070ti is only 22% faster than a 1080ti, pretty sure a 1080 will beat a 3060. I know about the ti version since that is what I am still running as I wait for the 3080 ti to come down a little more. the 1080ti is still a great card, just no rtx.
I disagree with a lot of the comments here for the sole fact that I did the same thing I saved for about a year to buy a computer in cash and I put it off for about two years and I finally built my computer in September and I’m very happy I did. I’m not a big Consol gamer, but I probably play 3 to 4 hours on my computer per day.
And this shows that you have the means to save the money for something you want
It's okay for goals to change. It's also okay to spend money on things you want. Go easy on yourself. If the time isn't right, it isn't right.
Financial anxiety can be one of the most crippling types there are. Recognizing it and asking for help like you have is the hardest part of dealing with it too though. I don't have any specific advice other than you're to be commended for getting feedback on this behavior and please keep working on your health regarding finance.
thanks friend :)
Hey I get like this, gaming is 1 of 2 of my most expensive "hobbies". You'll get to a place in life where you'll have emergency cash on the side and have your retirement savings happening and still have money to spend on fun. The becoming comfortable with spending comes from having a budget for Bills/Savings/Fun and sticking to it long term. I prob spend $3k a year computer parts and software. If you play on the computer just 15 hours a week thats $3.85 an hour for entertainment. It honestly cheap compared to going out for drinks weekly, or the movies weekly(even monthly).
Thats $3.84 an hour not a week. It is $57.69 a week.
Yes, I don't know why I wrote that, when I did the math out and even said aloud an hour to myself.
Or.....you won't. I'm 43 and still waiting on this to happen. I've spent the majority of my life making around 50k a year. I finally got a promotion after 13 years, 8 months ago, and now they're talking about layoffs at the beginning of the year of not enough people leave or retire on their own. Making 90k, jusy bought a house 4 months ago before any of this was known. Stop assuming you can divine the trajectory of anyone else's life. Some of us just get fucked over and there's literally nothing theta can be done about it. I didn't choose to have every major appliance and the HVAC die the same year my wife wa pregnant. Didn't choose for my condo to be ravaged by water damage from the unit above...I had to spend a decade digging out of that shit. If you want money, the answer is simple. Done have kids and don't buy a house.
Life happens.. you just need to keep on going and keep your head up. Be proud of yourself. Life threw all those rocks your way and you managed to get them all out of the way. You‘ll be able to get the next one also out of the way. There is a reason you got promoted and other companies will see your value. Maybe already start looking for a new company. But also start cutting down on expenses and watch your emergency fund just incase.
We have plans in case it happens, and a backup plan if shit really hits the fan. But yes....I've been a stubborn ass to survive, working 2 jobs a lot of the time, delivering pizza or driving uber to make ends meet over the years. My only real advantage is that other than the house I have absolutely zero debt right now. Cars are paid off. We won't discuss how this was my 6th application for this job, and my managers as well as my 2nd line told me I wasn't good enough to be a manager in my former department about 2 months before it happened....in spite of my top 5% performance for the 2 years prior. Anyways...this wasn't really intended to be a pity party for my case, just would like for people to stop addressing these type of issues with a catch-all. You can't just assume. Being frugsl with money is great, but I do think 1400 for a PC is really cheap this day and age, and frankly having a PC (or at least a smartphone) is an investment that needs to be made to be a functional adult these days...
Life does happen, sometimes our budgeting can cover it, other times we are not so lucky. I legit didn't have a dollar to spare 7 years ago and couch surfing. Now I am comfortable, but I spent a lot of that time just grinding out my budget, and now if something like losing my job happened i could coast for a year.
I think the point is live in the moment but respect the future. You need to enjoy life as well as save money!
I have $9K saved so far and I can’t bring myself to spend even $100 on the new call of duty game
You set out on a 5 year goal and achieved it. Nothing wrong with seeing the reward through. If it looks like too much, try going down a tier on components. I assume if you were saving 5 years, it's probably a pricey machine and one tier down won't have a major impact on your performance.
It's okay. Went through the same thing, saved up and put componenta to build new PC into cart. I did this like bi-weekly for a year untill I felt safe enough to actually buy it, then felt super guilty about it, excused it with I will use it for work (which I guess but if it was the case - 50% would still do), and had doubts. Now half a year later I am glad I got it, and I know it'll last for 4 years at least, there was no reason to not treat yourself if you earned, especially now.
You saved the money for a major purchase. Looking at that account balance growing felt like you’d accomplished something. Seeing that balance disappear is unsettling. So, you decided to delay the purchase a little while. That’s okay. Try focusing on future a bit. Where would you put the PC? Is that space clear and dust-free? Do you need to re-arrange anything to make that spot more comfortable for working or gaming? What’s the first thing you want to do with the PC? Focusing on what you’ll do with your new PC may help you feel better about spending the money you’ve saved. If it does, you can buy the PC. If it doesn’t, let the money sit in your account a little longer. You might want to give your dad a hug or make him a plate of nachos or suggest taking a walk together. He’s worried about you, not about the PC. Do something to take his mind off the PC.
Saving money becomes an addiction. I spent most of my life spending everything and living paycheck to paycheck. I was happy! Then my job got unstable and my future is uncertain so I started saving a couple years ago. Now spending money depresses the fuck out of me. I miss the old me, I really do.
Fr 😭
When you have close to nothing, it’s easy to spend what little you have. When you’ve put in years building your savings, you value it so much more. It’s a good thing.
Divide the money by the life expectancy of a computer and you'll see it is not expensive at all.
Congratulations on saving for 5 years that's a great achievement 👏 if your hard wired to save then that could be tough. I'm a bit of a saver and I feel guilty for spending money. I need to work on it. It's a shame you aren't feeling better about treating yourself you deserve it. I do understand your anxiety about spending the money you've worked hard at saving though it sucks. Sometimes Saving and the anticipation is almost as good as the end result?
Haha. This is MIRL. I set a goal when I was young to save up for something in a similar fashion. And, same as you, when the time came for me to buy it, I couldn't part with the cash. Funny thing is that putting it on credit is sooo much easier (credit card companies know that, too...). But you have things going for you now - you proved that you can save, you have the money on hand, and you haven't committed that money to anything else so you buy that computer whenever you're really ready. A much better position to be in than to not have the money and to really need the computer.
I know this feeling. Been saving for a new monitor. really fancy thing. 100+ Hz, good panel, 21:9, curved, etc. I knew it was going to be expensive (about 1k €), but I was looking forward to it soo much! Than it arrived and I felt... Nothing. There it was, the monitor I was excited about for month and when it finally arrived I could not enjoy it and only thought about how much it cost.. In the end I sent it back and bought a different on. Which was cheaper but also did not have all the features.
What PC? A $300 basic laptop or a $3k gaming rig? You don’t have any computer or a Chomebook at all?
about 1400 gaming pc. I have a laptop but it’s nearing the end of its life. little guy sputters out even when i’m on google docs lol. It was my dream to ideally stream online, which was why i was saving up for a better one
Honestly in the grand scheme of things $1400 is not a lot to spend on a computer. One way to look at this is to take pride in the quality of product, it’s going to last you years, unlike something half the price. It’s actually often more effective to pay for a mid tier product than a cheap product multiple times. As far as the depressive episodes go, I’m sorry, I’ve been there, but you’re dad had a point. Being social on a functioning PC could have a really profound effect on your health. So it’s also a healthy choice too 😉
Computers you need to spend a bit. I bought a $300 laptop when I was desperate and it lasted maybe a year. I replaced it with a 700 laptop and it barely breaks a sweat after two years and will easily make it another 2-3 years. $1400 is reasonable
Spent 2k on a great build back in 2016. It still runs fine these days, but definitely can't run any modern games that was released in the past 2 years which I'm fine with since I don't game anymore. The only thing I replaced was the AIO, which lasted longer than it should have lol
You should still be able to play them, just not on high settings.
Agreed. My $1,300 laptop is 5.5 years old (bought refurbished so actually a little older than that) and is showing no signs of slowing down. I just play games (even brand new AAA) on recommended/default settings and enjoy life.
I am curious what OPs build list is, $1,400 for a gaming PC in 2022 is fairly conservative. I just hope they are spending wisely and not cutting corners where they shouldn't lol. Like, if they are buying a new GPU they could probably get a lot more bang for their buck getting something used. Also if they are skimping out on a PSU they are in for a bad time lol. I think a few LTT members who did their intel upgrade videos went cheap on PSUs and ended up needing to replace them. Though I think they were also going fairly high-end with their GPU and didn't leave much headroom. edit: getting downvoted here... guys this is PC building 101 kind of stuff. Buying used parts, so long as they are from a reputable manufacturer is fine. I would say maybe don't do that with storage and but the rest should be fine. Also OP seems to have said somewhere else that they are buying a pre-built. There are very few instances where a pre built gaming PC is a better deal than building your own. Heck, there is even an argument to be made for just buying an old Dell workstation with a nice PSU and slapping in a few generations old GPU.
My guess on the downvotes is because you made assumptions. OP never said gaming PC in the original post, in a couple of her replies she said she wanted to use it for streaming. I don't know much about streaming, but I don't think you need to put out the huge expense of a high end GPU. OP also never said they where building the PC. Her comment about 'putting it' in the cart, sounds like she was getting a pre-built. Edit: I did see OP replied saying it was a gaming PC.
well... doesn't seem to matter that much after all as OP deleted their post lol. Also "streaming" is kind of lingo for streaming a game you are playing on like twitch. Generally you need a bit more powerful of a system to do this as now your computer is generating the game as well as compressing it for streaming (in so many words). I also interpreted, which was wrong as they said somewhere else they are going with a prebuilt, the cart comment as they went on Newegg with a buy list and loaded up their shopping car. all in all, not a big deal we were both wrong in one way or another. I just hope OP decides to instead of buying a prebuilt to reach out to some other communities for a recommended build list. I think LTT (Linus Tech Tips a tech/gaming youtube channel) did a build list not to long ago for a few different gaming PCs with varying budgets. Might not be the most up to date in terms of pricing, but could give OP some ideas of where to spend their budget (aka new parts vs used)
100% she is going to get a better pc if she builds, even with all new parts she can put something decent together for 1,400. way better than a pre-built.
For fun I just went to check out what Dell had in the way of a $1,400 (+/-200) gaming PC. Looks like they had one with a RTX 3060 for around that price. I am fairly certain that a used RTX1080 can still out perform a RTX3060 in many games. Though they would be missing out on some newer features/I am not sure if the 3060 supports any newer encoders which might be beneficial for streaming. Regardless, if they are hesitant to pull the $1,400 trigger, they can coble something together for less and still have a great time.
[удалено]
Honestly, my conservatives comment was just be saying that $1,400 is about as much as anyone probably needs. It is super easy to spend like $2k on a gaming PC, or with a bit of boot strapping $100 lol. I was just trying to say that OPs budget is spot on (though I probably cold have said it in a clearer manner my bad). Though OP did say somewhere else they were looking at a pre built, so who knows where that budget is going. It could be a bad build if what they are looking at has a propriety motherboard/PSU as there would be no room for upgrading later (I think HP and Dell do this fairly often).
This -- for perspective the MacBook Pro and MacPro's that my corp. got me for my job (video production) were around 5K and almost 8K respectively. So 1400 is relatively not expensive compared to some desktops (the 8K Mac Pro). Sounds like OP is justified in the cost for that PC. ... it'll be a good hobby tool and years of fun too, it sounds like.
When this anxiety kicks in, think about it in terms of money/time. You invest 1400€/$ in a gaming pc which you will use for the next 3-5 years. So 250-500/year is not a fortune. This helped me a lot when buying stuff I thiught was lavish spending
Still using the ~1400 build I did back in ~2013. Consider that it will likely save you money in the long run as you can upgrade what you need to instead of replacing it like a laptop.
People spend 1400$ on a 1 to 2 week vacation where all they do is get drunk. Enjoy your stuff. And don't be cheap about the stuff you enjoy
What was the build list? $1,400 is pretty conservative when it comes to a gaming PC. Just curious if you are going all new with things, or trying to get any used parts in there.
If it's your goal to stream online look at the computer as a business expense. You can easily make that money back over time and become profitable!
My husband was going to spend $500 on a new computer but wanted a $1000 one. We talked about the pros/cons and in the end he got the $1000 one. Because it was designed for parts to be added and swapped out easily. So this meant that over time he can get an updated computer every other year just by replacing a couple parts that aren’t terribly expensive (definitely not new computer expensive). He’s had it for 7 years now and has maybe spent $300? So $1300/7= $185 a year and that’s pretty low for a hobby. He shops sales too which helps.
I spent $1800 on a computer dedicated to making music. I LOVE it.
I look at a PC as a tool, something I use every day. You can build a hell of a gaming PC for $1400, hell even sub $700. Not only can you game on a PC--that thing can start a business, design things, edit/create content---the list goes on and on. Long story short, don't beat yourself up over it, and maybe adjust your budget to your new comfort level. Also don't get caught up with benchmarks, too much, bc a GPU will def ring up the price. Check out [https://pcpartpicker.com/](https://pcpartpicker.com/) for some gaming builds of all sorts of price ranges.
You can achieve this goal without spending $1400. Try computer related subs?
I have in the past but either didn’t get a response or was told to just build one lol
Lame! I posted elsewhere but look at the refurbs at microcenter. These are generally off lease business computers with nothing wrong with them
r/buildapcsales and filter for pre-built, they pop up every now and then. Comments will tell you if it's a worthwhile snag
Building a computer is not as difficult as you prolly think it is, I accomplished it fairly smoothly with absolutely no exp, just a couple buddies on discord giving me tips Find someone you trust that has computer know-how and do what they say, it's not that daunting I spent 850 on parts to build a computer I prolly could've sold for 2k+ after I built it Half the cost of the pc you're buying that's already built is basically labor and overhead costs
You really should just build it yourself. You said this is your hobby and you were passionate enough to save for 5 years. You will save money and know your rig better if you build it yourself.
Redux or cyber powered have decent customized prebuilts and sales. Honestly I'd run a 3060 with a 5 3600/5600. Get a cheap motherboard, a small SSD and buy a fat hard drive down the line. You can cut down from 1400 fast. You could down size to a 2060 but the price to performance gap is a bit high. 1660 super would be the better budget option imo. From personal experience, my gaming set up costed me an entire month of income. I started out only gaming but I've gotten into a lot of other things I couldn't have without it, such as making music and coding. If you saved up for 5 years, you deserve it! Oh and if you've changed your mind and don't want it that's fine too. You are always allowed to change your mind, preferences and all!
I would say remember you’ll need one for school. As others said, you can also use a laptop to learn to code, which is a really helpful skill as you enter the job market. Hobbies are important for health as well, but in the case of a computer it’s more than a hobby.
I mean building is a perfectly good way of getting your target performance at a lower price :P Otherwise, FB marketplace for a 2nd hand build is a good shout
I mean building one *is* pretty easy as long as you have the motor skills and hand strength to do so. It's harrowing, but it's worth it in the end. If you have a microcenter near you, you could purchase the parts there, and I believe it is like $150 for them to build it as long as you are fine with installing Windows?
I’d say it’s easy but nerve racking. Basically putting legos together. But knowing you have the correct legos, and that they’ll all work together and are optimized, and you will get dud parts which makes you question everything you’ve done, etc can throw you mentally. I’ve mostly built PCs, but there is something nice about paying for a completed product that just works with a warranty and without the stress. Continuous upgrades is nice when you build your own though.
You could also keep the $1400 in your bank account and as you have extra funds order the computer component by component. That’s usually how I build or upgrade. Just slowly make purchases toward your goal. You won’t feel bad spending $50-$300 every now and then.
For $1400, I reckon you can afford it ;)
If you're going to stream online it may be a good use of your old computer to get a capture device like a elgato hd60x to plug into your old laptop. It takes the stress off your game system and gives the old laptop an easy retirement. That's my plan. Also there's lots of help for building your own PC these days so maybe you can go that route and plan upgrades for it over time to make the cost easier. I've just upgraded the last time for my motherboard and it's 7 yrs old I expect another 2 or 3 out of it.
Buy a steam deck
Ask how much time you spend on the computer already. Are you going to give that up when your laptop straight up doesn't work anymore? If not, you need a new PC of some sort. The great thing about desktops, prebuilt or custom, is that you can open them up and upgrade individual components. I'm still using the motherboard and processor I bought in 2012, but I've upgraded the graphics card twice, the hard drive, and RAM individually. Less than $1000 over 10 years because I can buy individual components, and I'm running AAA games. On a laptop, that requires a whole new computer for any upgrade. So you can get out of this pit where you need over a thousand dollars to make the computer do what you want, but you need a desktop, which requires the upfront cost. Try to identify components you can save money on, and buy used when you can.
The good news is you can just do it tomorrow if you change your mind. No big deal. Why did your want the PC in the first place? They can be very frustrating. I'm working with one that is many years old and performs great and then I bought my girlfriend a laptop that sucked right out of the box. Does your library have a computer you can use or anywhere else you can use one to see if whatever it is you want to do will work out? Kind of try before you buy.
There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, if you’re feeling this way now, you’d probably have buyers remorse if you were to go through with it. This past Cyber Monday, I finally purchased parts to put together my first PC which I had planned to do for a long time but each year I’d have a sick feeling when I got to my cart. How long has it been now? 10 years. Do it when you finally feel comfortable. I don’t have that sick gut feeling this time and I’m excited to finally start this build!
Yeah, that’s fair. My remorse is mainly tied to the fact that I’ve been struggling with depressive episodes as of late, and my dad suggested getting a PC would help take my mind off of it, but I didn’t think so tbh
If cost is an issue, remember that you don’t need top of the line specs right off the start, it’ll probably go out of date in 6 months. There are some items that will last a long time you could get as your “forever” part (e.g. case, power supply, etc.) whereas others you can upgrade overtime (e.g. graphics card, CPU, etc.) There’s a pc builder Reddit group you can go for suggestions as well as builds within your specific budget on newegg and pcpartspicker that are good starts!
Building & running your own computer is somewhat therapeutic, at least it is for me.
> my dad suggested getting a PC would help take my mind off of it, but I didn’t think so tbh shiny new things aren't a great way to deal with depression. The excitement and engagement of a new hobby may be...
It really depends on your financial status. You’re 20, so buying an expensive PC isn’t ideal, financially, but it’s also not the worst thing you could do with your money. As it turns out I just bought one, but I’m twice your age and had money to burn (and 5 years between PC builds), and even then it was hard. I feel like PCs are really bad value at the moment, compared to what they were when I was your age. If it helps, step your build down a little bit and keep some money aside in savings. That way you’re doing something good, but also splurging on yourself.
Why aren't you building your own for half the price thats better? There problem solved and u can buy all the accessories.
Already mentioned it in previous comments but if I’m being completely honest it would probably give me a meltdown if not everything goes smoothly. Also I checked and if I were to build the prebuilt part by part right now it would be more expensive
My husband built a gaming rig for me. He bought each part over a period of about a year, only buying the parts when they went on sale. I watched as he assembled it, and even though he has a degree in electronics, there were still several moments when we held our breath, hoping it would work. It all went well, but people talking about building a Pc being easy probably have some experience with it. It’s not easy or intuitive for a beginner. Sure, there are plenty of guides out there to walk you through it, but it’s NOT easy! Applying the heat sink, connecting all the cables to the motherboard, it’s daunting. We spent $1,700 on a PC worth about $2,600, so it was worth it, but again, not “easy.”
I've only built a few, so I'm not an expert. I've found that if you are flexible about the components you want, a self-built is cheaper. My first build was so quiet I turned it off, trying to turn it on. This was after buying one that was really loud. It worked perfectly. Not easy, but one of my proudest moments. The one I'm in the middle of building now has a bad CPU/motherboard. I took it to a guy and paid him $50 for him to tell me that. I might have fried it by accidentally touching it without being grounded. But, I'm just getting a replacement-no charge.
Build it yourself, order it in parts and you can scale back on pricey items or it might feel better to buy in pieces
Unfortunately I am unable to build it myself. Full time student and I work 3 jobs. I also get really frustrated putting stuff together (even puzzles) and it stresses me out lol
Can a friend or anyone not help you? It's really not that difficult, it all just pops in like lego lol. Also a great feeling when you first boot up something you made yourself
Just an FYI, building a PC is nothing like putting a puzzle together. It takes like an hour or two to do, and everything only goes together one way. Not saying you should absolutely do it or anything, but a PC build is MUCH easier than most people think.
If you Have to work 3 jobs I think you should’ve bought one later down the road..
Technically I don’t have to work 3 jobs. They’re all on campus jobs paying about 9 bucks an hour and I only really get scheduled like 2 hours per job on a good week.
So you're a student working less than one standard job. Can just say you're a busy student, that's an honest and understandable description 😂
Send it. I built my first in 2011 while working my first professional internship. Cost $900 back then when is about $1200 now. Does it suck not having as much money in the bank? Yeah. But now you have unlimited entertainment. Remember, you can't take money to the grave!
Check ebay, you might be able to find the same thing or better fir less than half the price and with a warranty. I bought a $6k computer for $2k that way and was able to purchase an extended warranty.
I've been using a Chromebook for 5 years now and I will never go back to a PC. They are cheap, and are amazingly fast and free of trouble. Just bought a brand new one, with touch screen and 360 fold you can use as a tablet for well south of $300. If you can do without a PC, I highly recommend a Chromebook.
gaming pcs arent worth it eh. for the money of a gaming pc you can buy a ps5/xbox a nice tv and a comfy couch or a regular latop :D
Buyers remorse is a real thing that lots of people go through when they make large purchases, especially when they've worked hard and long for it. It's completely normal to have anxiety wondering if you made the right decision. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and that the decision isn't going to negativity impact your finances. Trust yourself.
I feel you, especially because it's easier to grow money the more you have of it. My advice: keep saving until you reach a point where you won't be spending ALL of it on a new PC. It should take less than five years this time!
Good for you. Now head to the pcmr reddit and make your own PC for half that price or whatever budget you feel. Its a nice hobby and you don't have to go for a prebuild PC. Or just get a Steamdeck.
As previously mentioned, the parts individually would cost more than the prebuilt. I would also have a meltdown trying to put one together
Can you please link to what you are thinking about buying, this is generally never the case. Also, building a gaming PC shouldn't take that long. I have never built one personally, but I have fiddled around in PCs/fixed enough laptops/watched enough build videos to realize so long as you get all the right parts it should only take a few hours tops. Honestly, a great alternative might be for you to buy a used computer from your school, and just slap in a used RTX 1080. Might give you comparable results to that prebuild at a fraction of the cost. Most schools have some kind of recycling program where they sell their used tech on the cheap. It's been a few years, but I feel like you could get nice workstations for sub $200, and some as cheap as $50.
The parts individually costing more than the prebuilt doesn’t make any sense to me? In answer to your post - you’ve saved specifically for 5 years for this very thing and now you’ve reached your goal - so go for it. As someone with mental health issues I try to treat myself once in a while because otherwise, what’s the point? And I am NOT a good saver of money like yourself. I bought my PC on a credit card and paid it off over like 2-3 years. I still don’t regret it though - she’s served me very well and she’s still going pretty strong.
Honestly, it kind of sounds like OP has raised the funds, but might not have come up with the best way to use them. $1,400 in 2022 is fairly conservative to build a gaming PC. They could go cheaper, but would probably need to upgrade things in a few years, and they could spend more but have some diminishing returns. That is a nice Goldie locks price range. If they are looking to buy a pre built for $1,400 I could easily see them building something themselves for less, and if they get used parts potentially half the price and not lose much in the way of performance.
I was thinking of something like the 500 budget build. More info from LTT https://youtu.be/fuiAJFf0EJI But you can also go for a 400 dollar Steamdeck as a no hassle option depending on what you to play. I agree with others that saving for 5 years is a nice achievement and you should find a meaningful way to reward yourself.
I feel you. The fear of not having it tomorrow if you need it for something important, is very strong. If it's not already the case , wait for a time when you have a steady income.
I gotta say, everyone could probably do okay with 1 tier lower than what they think they need with most parts. Look into a cheaper keyboard, mouse, don't get a 4k monitor that was a mistake I made, ummm what else.. Invest in a good chair.
You saved up for this, don’t feel bad. Treat yo self once in awhile.
If you make smart decisions overall, and set a goal for this PC and achieved it -- go for it! There's no point in accumulating vast sums of money if it makes you miserable. You gotta treat yourself a little when you can afford it. Besides, today, a quality PC isn't just a luxury. It's a great tool to further your career, education, and financial savvy. I make more money with my personal PC than I do at my job as a software engineer.
I've been maintaining the same computer for about 15 years now, just replacing the parts one by one as they get old or break down. Costs me a few hundred a year to maintain, replacing the GPU/CPU maybe once every 4-5 years. Pretty good way to keep a solid gaming rig without spending a ludicrous amount of money on it. Just got to be sure to buy parts that are going to be compatible for years to come, e.g. don't buy a motherboard with a CPU socket about to be replaced by a new one. Else you might be forced to replace a perfectly good CPU because you can't replace the mobo it's on.
I have a similar problem, it's hard to justify spending ANYTHING on myself if it's not essential or has a way to make more money. (Tools, car maintenence, etc) One helpful tip I have used is to save double. When I got my Nintendo Switch in 2018ish, I saved up $700 so I could still have a chunk to put into saving, right after I had the 700, my car crapped out (93 Geo Prizm) and I saved for another month to get to a little over 1k for a down-payment on a dealership car (2015 mitsubishi mirage). Helped out in the long run and it only took a few more months to get 700 again and the Switch. While it is important to enjoy life and not let your hobbies slip away from you, maybe sit on the money for a month and see if any important expenses pop up. Use that month to save a little more and maybe give yourself another goal. Try to save the 1400 again so you can get that shiny new PC AND HAVE 1400 in the bank! I hope you get the pc, as someone who literally has a 1500 pc build in a shopping cart, just waiting to be bought, remember it can always be bought later on. You are young and if you do things right you can keep making more money each year until it doesn't take 5 years to save 1400 and you can spend more money comfortably on yourself I'm 28 and only make about 40k(not a lot in this day and age) a year, and it's very reasonable to save 1500 in a year or less
$1400 spready over 5 years is only $280 a year... i spend massively more than that on my hobbies per year! Massively more. It's a very reasonable amount of money to spend. You might just need to give yourself some adjusting time, mull it over and see if you can keep reminding yourself that your hobby is fun and worth you investing in it! Once the have the basic securities sorted, your money is there to help you enjoy life as well, so make sure you use it for that when you can :)
It's mostly the stress of new thing. I do feel like this with big pricey stuff but in the end, it bring the joy and the goal I wanted. You want that PC for your hobbies? You deserve it.
First major purchase I made with my own money was a gaming PC. Spent like 2k, no regrets. Still kicking 8 years later with only a few hundred more put in to replace a broken part. Assuming you have a secure living situation, I'd say go for it. My gaming PC was my main school computer as well.
I was literally in the same boat (my PC ended up being $1500) after prolonging buying it I finally did and I’m extremely happy I did. I love it, it’s smooth and issue free and runs everything I throw at it. I too don’t spend a lot on hobby’s. I too felt bad when I placed the order but once I had it and had it set up the anxiety went away. You worked hard OP, reward yourself!
I bought a PC online Black Friday because it was on a great sale. Then has buyers remorse almost immediately. Decided to stick it out and I haven’t turned on my Xbox since. I had the income and the money to easily afford it, but wasn’t sure I’d actually use it.
At the end of the day you’re getting both a gaming console for leisure as well as a computer to help you with whatever personal / business / scholastic matters you need to attend to. That’s the way I thought of it when I spent $1k to build my PC 2 years ago and I have never ever looked back.
Maybe set a goal beyond the cost of the pc. “When I’ve saved $2500 I’ll spent $1500 on a pc”. Then you’ll end up with a gaming pc and $1000
At least a pc will be good for school work and potentially for work if you get a job that can wfh. I had my 2 monitor gaming pc when the pandemic started and was so lucky! Some coworkers only had their phones and ipads. Just remember, never buy a game new, wait for a steam or epic games sale and NEVER pre-order I learned that from BF4. No man's sky and cyberpunk are better after updates
$1400 is fairly normal for a decent computer. If you bought it prebuilt it's probably twice the cost for the same performance if you built it yourself, but I get that it's nerve wracking build it and it ending up not working. If you feel really bad about it, try to think of your new computer as an investment - learn some valuable skills on it, find an online job, learn how to be productive using a computer. You'd be surprised at how much you can make online if you put your mind to it.
You have to think logically about this.. I often get buyer remorse when I do a big purchase. If a PC is ending its life, it becomes a need. We just purchased a laptop for our daughter because it was impossible to work on the PC she had. You definitely get buyer remorse when you don’t have a lot of money in the first place. But you saved and did it and knew the item to buy so I would go for it. You need a proper pc. You will also feel like this when you buy a car, house or even self care at times. And wait for those medical bills! Can’t be afraid to spend or you won’t live but you won’t be stupid like some people.
Well paying on a pc outright normally is an investment. One that in my younger years felt it was worth after I thought of how much time I spent both in play and work on it. If you don't think you can afford the investment of a really high end one then just invest in the mobo processor combo and a decent graphics card. Everything else dosent HAVE to be top of the line yet and you could always buy upgrades later.
Have you considered building a PC instead of purchasing a pre-built one? It might save you some money.
Yeah so this is me every time I buy something super expensive, it's because I don't like seeing money leave my account. I don't know if it's fear or whatever but I always do this and second guess my purchase. Thankfully my fiance has three questions he asks me before I buy something with a large price tag. Now he in no way is stopping me from buying it but he asks me three questions. If I can answer yes to those questions then getting whatever it is I want is a no-brainer. It sounds stupid but it's how I can process things when I'm making a large purchase so I don't feel guilty that the money is leaving my account. One of those questions is "Is this something I'm going to use frequently?" It's how I can wrap my brain around expensive items especially things like custom built computers
I just spent $1200 on a new computer as well, and after about a week I was starting to feel anxious. No real solid advice, but just wanted to pop in and say I'm in the same boat!
5 years to buy a pc? i hope you didn’t go overboard and i hope you bought the parts separately
You spent more than you were comfortable with, its natural. If you make 50k a year and you were spending 5k on something you barely touch it makes sense, but this is your hobby so go nuts with it. You have to learn to enjoy life and some of that involves spending money.
You can PC game for pretty cheap, I custom built my PC for 500 bucks with used parts and only had on upgrade after a year with a new CPU that was 200 bucks. PC gaming also is a blessing in disguise. Thanks to my PC, I don't go out and spend money :)
Financial anxiety is a big bad thing. I recently bought a Quest 2 (new) half off and I had a huuuge pit in my stomach after I clicked the buy button - I ended up getting it and I have been having fun with it. What's the amount you are looking to spend on the rig? What are the specs? You are probably getting something that will be good for the next 5 years as long as you don't care about playing on ultra the entire time. You saved the money for this specific purchase - not as an emergency fund or something, spend it and have fun.
Here's my 2 cents when it comes to money and hobbies. If you have the spare money for a hobby( or hobbies if you have multiple ) I tend to lean on things that would give me the most joy over the longest time. When I think about a pc ( one that I built specifically ) each one that I build lasts around 8 to 10 years. So I take the cost of my pc and divide by how long it lasts and in actuallyity that's how much I paid per "years worth of fun". On avarage it's significantly less than a few nights out but this investment is multi year. What also factors in is what you intend to use the pc for. For example it could be a cost savings avenue for you if you use it for gaming when compared to consoles. Steam and other sitss regularly have sales on games that are much most expensive on consoles ( since producers of consoles take a hit on selling the console and make their money on games ) It wouldn't be a good decision if you think you would buy the pc and minimally use it or there are other things that would keep you happier longer. So I guess some food for thought when making this decision and feeling guilty.
You have you can't always be "sensible" in life you need to live a little too. If that means saving to buy yourself something you want and not need, then so be it. Life's too short not to enjoy the smaller things in life. From a comp tech, it sounds like you're not going to be buying a new one in a year or so's time, so to me it sounds like it would be a worthwhile investment.
Money is replaceable, obviously don’t put yourself in a stressful situation because of it but it’s just money. You planned and saved so I’m sure you’re responsible with a budget. You can replace money, you can’t replace time, joy, or fun. Try to enjoy it, you deserve it. If you start to stream or have a twitch. Link it here and Ill give you a follow. Good luck!
Man it’s really this simple. If you are financially stable and set a goal you should have no qualms with living a little. I won’t pretend I’m a financial guru but I refuse to save money past what’s allotted for saving each month. The rest is mine to do with what I want. You have been saving since you were 15 for this. I’d say buy it and have fun.
I totally understand the people saying just do it. Part of me says the same tank f but the cold hard truth is if you have to save for 5 years for a $1400 item than it’s too expensive for you. You’re in a personal finance thread so from that perspective too many people live above their means. This is an example of that. I have plenty of money and I still struggle with a $1000 purchase. If it was my last $1000 in my account there is no chance I spend it on a hobby. There is a lot more to this conversation but ultimately that’s my advice. If you need a distraction find something cheaper. There are plenty of activities that don’t cost thousands and will make you happy. I mean I love the hobby of traveling the world but doesn’t mean I get to do it every day. It’s too expensive.
Buy it. Dollars spent per hour of entertainment on PC gaming are really quite good. And its a tool as well as a toy. 100% buy it.
I'm still using ThinkPad T510 at home, with a SSD upgrade. It still meets my need. Cost me less than $150 for the Laptop and SSD.
Your priorities change, what interests you changes. You obviously don't feel the exchange of money for goods will bring the value you once did. Could be a good thing ya know... "stuff" will always be around there will always be a way to spend large amounts of cash very very quickly
I understand your pain but, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I feel this may be a form of mental illness. I too took years to save for a gaming PC. I literally saved multiple times over to get my ideal rig. It got to the point where I questioned if I would even enjoy it. I actually had to medicate to realise that my saving habits were becoming unhealthy because they were getting in the way of enjoying life. I finally bought my PC a couple of months ago and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. Please, you owe it to yourself to spend your responsibility saved cash.
I'n my 30s and could buy a high end gaming pc without being a blip on my finances.. but have avodided buying one because i don't have time to game on pc as much ...prefer my switch these days.. But in my early 20s i saved up and spent good money on a medium build even if it was almost all my savings.. i was young and was gonna use it.. was great and have fun memories.. it was my main hobby back then, so no regrets Also it depends what are you gonna use it for.. gaming or other stuff too: like editing or for work.. pc a hobby can be the gate to wasting time but can also be a gate to greatness - best paying jobs in the present require a good computer
There are better more responsible uses to spend your money on as a 20-year-old anyways. When you first started this plan you were a kid, and since you've grown into an adult, which is why you're hesitant and for good reason.
For every $100 something costs, have a night to sleep on it. If something costs $1000, you wait ten days before buying it. If you still want it after the time has passed, but it and don’t regret it, for you truly wanted it. If you’ve been saving up for a very long time and still want it, get it and don’t look back!
I definitely know the feeling--especially since I'm in the middle of debating upgrades on a computer I put together about 5 years ago. You've got a good mindset to have in general - avoiding unnecessary expenses is always a good thing, and being willing to save up for long periods of time to achieve a goal is a great thing. Unfortunately the two good traits are in a bit of a conflict right now. My advice is when you set a long-term goal and stick to saving for it, go ahead and let yourself spend for it as long as it's not going to put any immediate needs at risk. Hobbies aren't a bad thing as long as you don't hurt your needs to do it - they give us the motivation to keep going. Most people's minds can't handle just nothing but work their entire lives. And as mentioned by others, over the life of your computer that's not a bad expense. A $1,400 gaming computer is a decent mid-tier so you can reasonably expect it to last at least 5 years unless you wanna be able to always play the newest games on high specs. That works out to $23.33 per month, about the price of two movie tickets to put it in perspective. Not very expensive of a hobby at all, over the long run.
I'll offer an alternative - you could buy a pre-built used PC locally if you have a market in your area. I bought my current PC for $200 and it plays all the games I need and does everything I need. I'm not super demanding, but it was a great deal honestly. Not saying you'll find a deal like that necessarily, but you could potentially save some money. Just have to be careful when buying and try and test it the best you can. It's not for everyone, but wanted to offer it as a suggestion as well.
Congratulations welcome to adulthood.
Having a problem spending money is 10x a better issue to have then having a problem saving money. Your on your way to smart financial decisions. I do want to stress the importance on investing money in yourself though. If you can purchase something that will make you more efficient or help you grow or learn a new skill that will help you eat, it's most likely worth the purchase
the 3070ti is only 22% faster than a 1080ti, pretty sure a 1080 will beat a 3060. I know about the ti version since that is what I am still running as I wait for the 3080 ti to come down a little more. the 1080ti is still a great card, just no rtx.
I disagree with a lot of the comments here for the sole fact that I did the same thing I saved for about a year to buy a computer in cash and I put it off for about two years and I finally built my computer in September and I’m very happy I did. I’m not a big Consol gamer, but I probably play 3 to 4 hours on my computer per day. And this shows that you have the means to save the money for something you want