I live on benefits, about $1,200 a month, and have the good fortune to only be obligated to pay for internet, fuel, some services like VPN+Email+Anti-virus, and food. For most of the past decade I was able to squirrel away about $200 to $300 a month into an ABLE account, but the last few years that has become increasingly difficult. In fact, I don’t think that I saved any money at all for this year.
My game ‘plan’ was to just let my ABLE collect interest and use that for my annual computer after a new AMD socket has been released, buying the best endgame gear for the prior standard. I spend most of my time on my PC, so I figure a expensive computer would be my ‘big ticket’ item every decade. Never once I have had a vacation to see new things or do stuff beyond the house, because it felt incredibly wasteful for my situation. I would have to cut more of my food budget if I want to save up for the next PC in 2030. This assumes that things like buying new tires doesn’t come up, or medical issues.
I don’t feel good about the future. My circle of possibilities shrinks every year.
For what it’s worth, you don’t need to pay for antivirus. Everyone hates on Windows here (for good reason) but with Windows Defender and common sense you should be fine.
I live on benefits, about $1,200 a month, and have the good fortune to only be obligated to pay for internet, fuel, some services like VPN+Email+Anti-virus, and food. For most of the past decade I was able to squirrel away about $200 to $300 a month into an ABLE account, but the last few years that has become increasingly difficult. In fact, I don’t think that I saved any money at all for this year.
My game ‘plan’ was to just let my ABLE collect interest and use that for my annual computer after a new AMD socket has been released, buying the best endgame gear for the prior standard. I spend most of my time on my PC, so I figure a expensive computer would be my ‘big ticket’ item every decade. Never once I have had a vacation to see new things or do stuff beyond the house, because it felt incredibly wasteful for my situation. I would have to cut more of my food budget if I want to save up for the next PC in 2030. This assumes that things like buying new tires doesn’t come up, or medical issues.
I don’t feel good about the future. My circle of possibilities shrinks every year.
For what it’s worth, you don’t need to pay for antivirus. Everyone hates on Windows here (for good reason) but with Windows Defender and common sense you should be fine.