Basically title. I’m a digital artist in the USA and not rich by any stretch. In fact, somewhat in debt. (Aren’t we all.)

I also try really hard to not be a mindless consumer. I use old equipment as long as I can, repair, refurbish, etc…

All this talk of upcoming tariffs has me worried that, rather than being able to get a day-job at newly opened US manufacturing for electronics or something, I’ll instead be paying +60% more on like everything.

I know tech is a depreciating asset, but should I try to upgrade now to hold out for the next ~5 years or so?

I was considering hunting down a motherboard/cpu/RAM combo for instance.

Are worries about tariffs overblown? Trying to figure out how to prepare as best I can with my meager resources before everything just…keeps getting worse.

I am getting paid for my digital art, it’s not living money though. My spouse has a more stable income that enables me to keep trying.

Thanks in advance. <3

  • ComradeMiao@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    5 months ago

    Used stuff always exists and good investments would probably beat the return on buying better stuff now

    • Draghetta@lemmy.world
      5·
      5 months ago

      used stuff always exists

      True, but if you are expecting scarcity it’s better to buy new now.

      I don’t know where you’re from, but here the used car market still hasn’t recovered after the covid chip shortage made new cars impossible to buy. Used cars still cost nearly as much as new ones.