alt Hacker NewsSo how much annually do you spend on your hobbies, anyways, if you're going to declare getting a new phone every two years "fucking insanely financially irresponsible" :p Glass houses and all that, right?
Replies
olyjohn • yesterday at 12:50 AM
I mean... what kind of hobby is owning the latest phone? Especially when the latest phone is barely an upgrade over the previous one.
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what • yesterday at 1:05 AM
People spend more on their daily coffee than they would upgrading their phone every two years. Significantly more.
Since you asked... Tools.
I buy more tools than I should - Wood working, electronic, and more general purpose. It's not always cost effective, but I generally pick a new project (ex - making my dining room table, installing solar panels, building my own dining room chairs, making my wedding ring, etc) and then buy a new tool for that project.
Am I saving money vs just buying a decent premade thing? Usually not really (although sometimes!). But I get to learn, work with my hands, and expand capabilities, and feel nice having made a thing.
I can get a lot of tools (or a couple very nice tools) for the amount you'd spend on a new iphone.
Since we're having the conversation - I'll make a value judgement. I think more folks would be happier with the tools than a new iphone, and I think buying one every 2 years is a perfect example of "keeping up with the jones" style behavior - compulsive consumerism that's not improving happiness (With an understanding that there are exceptions - ex: if you develop mobile applications, I'll accept that a new iphone is essentially a new tool).