
This pandemic has taught me to value money — more than ever I care in thirty years. It’s a shame that it took me a pandemic to taught that saving and investment should go hand in hand. Watch where you are putting your money into it.
Gadgets are expensive. Unless you are a techy expert, you don’t need a technology upgrade every year. You definitely don’t need the Apple Watch and wireless charging or ear pods.
The world is undoubtedly evolving, also the technology, but not that much that a year looks like a decade.
The techy industry runs a business; they will do their best to double or triple their profit. They post an attractive commercial ad that targets your brain’s most sensitive part, making you think you live in a rock and need a gadget upgrade.
I am still using iPhone 5SE with a cracked screen as a business phone, iPhone 6 for personal use, iPad Mini’s old version as a substitute for my Sony Vaio 2010 model. I have had thought hundreds of times to upgrade because the iOS app’s new update sometimes makes the phone hang. Also, I am developing a new attraction towards cool-gadgets (blame the ad!).
The only thing that stops me is that the cost of everything is currently equal to my three-month home expense plus mom’s medical and my credit cards, which I apparently need to clear off.
The current situation makes me question myself— do I really need an upgrade? Everything seems fair except for a little glitch here and there, just like life. As a Travel Planner and a Freelancer Writer, ninety percent of the work I do on a laptop, and even though it is an old version, windows 7 basic version still delivers quality content.
My iPad seems working fantastic too. The cracked iPhone 5SE, which I am using as a business phone, and iPhone 6 as a personal use definitely working well. No change in quality of call or social media. The camera works fine.
Also, Apple hasn’t entirely abandoned iOS 12 yet. Every now and then, they work on an upgrade that fixes the bugs and improves the software.
Your friends or people surround you might make you feel inferior because you are not using the latest technology. But no one knows what you need the most at this moment more than you.
The year 2020 is the year of survival and the most excellent teacher you could ever ask for. The pandemic has taught us to value money. Rainy days can come anytime, hit you with a giant rock. Spend on something that can help you make a better future, not temporary happiness to impress others.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Photo credit: bruce mars on Unsplash

