Don’t Buy a New iPhone

Smart phones are undeniably life-changing. The first iPhone will probably go down in history as one of the defining inventions of the early 21st century. Can you imagine going back to even  2002 and showing someone who had a giant box for a computer that a little touchscreen in your pocket could do everything their box CPU could do and faster?

And now smart phones have become more than just a super computer that fits in your pocket. They are fashion statements, luxury items, customizable expressions of self.  People lose their minds whenever Apple introduces a new iPhone, and I have to say, almost everything about them is attractive.

Everything but the price tag. The least expensive version of the iPhone 8 is $699.

As a proud owner of an iPhone, I will not tell you to go and buy a $10 flip phone. All I’m asking is to consider waiting. Wait one year. Maybe two if you can handle the gut-wrenching agony ;). With some minimal Craigslist searching, I found an iPhone 7 for $200.

Now, you won’t be the cool kid on the block, and you won’t have everyone asking to hold your phone. You will still have the second most advanced, beautifully styled, hand-held supercomputer made by Apple, and more importantly you’ll have an extra $499 in your pocket. Invest those leftovers, and now you have a more affordable phone and an extra $7,400 in forty years.

Nobody is going to care who was the first person to have the iPhone 7 in forty years. But you will definitely care about seven grand in the bank. #MoneyGoals

 

P.S. If you think you’re getting a phone for a cheaper price because you have a contract you’re not. You’re just paying for it over the life of the contract.

An Obituary for My Bike

As many of you know, my bike was stolen last weekend. Besides my laptop it was my most valuable physical possession. I bought it in 2015 for $650.

While it is frustrating to have someone steal a valuable item that was my main mode of transportation, I am full of gratitude for the two years of service my bike provided me.

Since I didn’t have to own a car over the last two years, my bike has saved me thousands of dollars. It’s kept me in great shape, and the physical benefits of riding roughly 10 miles a day for the last two years should add a substantial amount to time to my expected lifespan (not to mention more savings on healthcare costs).

Beyond the quantifiable, my bike has provided for great memories, riding with friends, family, or by myself. It has even sparked some friendships, and many conversations on campus.

So thank you bike! It was nice knowing you :’(

Then again, for two years of physical fitness, thousands of dollars in savings, longer lifespan and unforgettable memories, $650 seems like a steal (pun intended).

#MoneyGoals