Unhealthy addiction or enjoying my money?

[KiwiAdventure]

This is the difference in countries:- Australia increases the cost of going to university next year while New Zealand offers the first year of university free and in a few years university will be totally free. Countries should never increase the cost of eduction to pupils.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I love philosophical discussions with judgy undertones like this (not meant at you, speaking of the topic). Kids are the best ready-made excuse. I know, I use it. I think the point people make when they go to that kids comment is that if you have kids, your money might be better invested elsewhere, like a college fund, etc. If you don't have kids nor plan to, you really have no pink elephant hanging over your head to save for in the future. But everyone should look in the mirror before speaking. According to the grim statistics in the US, the majority of people are pathetically low retirement savings. OP being from the UK has a some social safety net and says he's saving more than enough anyway. Do I or anyone else care that the $1250 iPhone you bought in 2017 could be worth $10k in your IRA in 20 years? We're all adults, we know what we need now and what we need in retirement. If you have no idea what I'm saying, stop buying iPhones every year!

There is no doubt though have children puts a massive dent in your pocket though. Having 2 children probably costs between 10 and 15 grand a year I would say. It’s not an excuse but more a contributory factor in the decision making for expensive purchases once you are a parent.


For people like me the iPhone X is just about affordable if I want it, but unlike previous iPhones is now a major purchase. It put me in a position where for the first time ever I’ve had to ask if it’s really worth it rather than just buying it because I can. Like the OP though I decided it wasn’t worth the extra £400 over my previous iPhone purchases. It’s not really offering me a lot more over what I already have. It’s got the same iOS 11 interface and once I’d stopped grinning and admiring its design in the first week of purchase, it’s just another iPhone.

PS: Once you are a parent having the latest iPhone becomes less of a priority too. Nobody gives a toss what phone you are using except yourself and you tend to focus on more important things. A lot of people here are concerned with image and being judged via their iPhone. The fact I use an iPhone 6S is unnoticed because an iPhone is an iPhone and to most people it doesn’t matter.

 

[ManuCH]

Despite telling everyone I wouldn’t buy an iPhone X — to the point that I pretty much believed it myself — I’ve just ordered a 64GB silver one. (Why silver? It’ll match the new Hermes AW3 I’ve also just ordered.)

I cracked when I saw one in real life and discovered it wasn’t the catastrophic disaster some posters had me believing.

I do worry that this is part of an addiction to needing the best Apple products at all times. Less than a year ago I ordered the iPhone 7+ in jet black and thought it was the most beautiful phone I’ve ever seen. What’s changed?

But I’m 48, I work pretty hard, I earn decent money, I don’t have children . . . where’s the harm? Is it wrong to want nice things? And both the new phone and new watch are things I’ll use every day. In those terms, each is costing me a couple of pounds a day. Less — as Tim Cook said — than some people spend on coffee.

I don't call it an addiction. For me it's my main hobby. Yes, always having the latest and greatest tech is what I earn my money for and I enjoy it.

Other people spend it on expensive cars, scuba diving, paragliding, you name it. All hobbies.

So don't worry and enjoy your new toys I am enjoying my 256GB space grey iPhone X. The only thing I didn't buy yet is the Apple Watch 3 LTE, as I got my Apple Watch 2 only 6 months ago.

 

[KiwiAdventure]

I've never had to pay for an iPhone other than my first iPhone 3g. I sell my iPhones after 2 years ownership and have managed to sell all my apple gear for more than my companies book value. This is getting harder now Apple has more cheaper models.
After 5 hours of playing with my X today it is the best iPhone ever. Now all I need is an iWatch cell but not available in New Zealand yet.

 

[44267547]

I've never had to pay for an iPhone other than my first iPhone 3g. I sell my iPhones after 2 years ownership and have managed to sell all my apple gear for more than my companies book value. This is getting harder now Apple has more cheaper models.
After 5 hours of playing with my X today it is the best iPhone ever. Now all I need is an iWatch cell but not available in New Zealand yet.

I don't sell my Apple products like I used to, but the great thing about Apple products, aside that they last a long time and there well-made, is they do sell quickly if they are in good condition. Apple products overall just have a very strong popularity.

 

[lordofthereef]

Reading some of your responses, you seem to be justifying everything away. I’m not here to judge, just saying what I notice. Often times when we justify and explain every little thing, we are on the path to addiction, if we haven’t already arrived.

FWIW addiction can very well happen despite having the money to feed the addiction. The harm, in this case, would potentially be your emotional or social well being.

Anyway, you asked if you could be addicted. And maybe you could be. I don’t know that I have enough information. And even if I did I am not qualified to make such judgement.

But I will leave with a recommendation. You mention you have money to burn and rarely spend it on eating out, vacations, etc. you don’t give to charity (perfectly fine) and you don’t have kids so the money goes “away” when you die. Spend it on a session or two with an addiction therapist. They’ll be able to work out if you have any issues. I mean, you’re worried you may have them. Perhaps you do.

 

[Dave245]

I never mentioned your names in my post. Thus I never spoke on your behalf. Take a chill pill, the world does not revolve around you. You have the free will to ignore me.
MY post had nothing to do with the two of you. But seems to me I hit a nerve and hit a trigger too close to home, otherwise you two would not have responded in a way you did. Common sense is a... fill in the blank.______


I’ve been around addicts all my life since the age of 5. So when ever anyone says “ unhealthy addiction”, it raises a red flag that a person most likely has unhealthy habbit.
The truth hurts. You should be honest around strangers as you would be with friends and family.

If someone has a question, ask it in a way that is not alarming and does not trigger red flags.

This should be common sense. And if you are not able to comprehend anything I have said; read a book or talk to a therapist.

Best of luck.

Actually you did try and speak for us when you said and I quote “most people are thinking it but won’t say it” you were trying to put words in people’s mouths. Think what you like but please don’t try and put words in other people’s mouths or say what we might be thinking, you can’t know that anyway.

As for triggering a red flag I see nothing here that does anything of the sort, the OP asked a question and made a thread for a discussion about it. I see nothing wrong with it, if the OP wants to buy the iPhone as well as the Apple Watch and can afford it there’s not a problem.

OP if you want to buy the Apple Watch and the iPhone X I don’t see a problem and I certainly don’t see a need to feel bad about.

 

[rainafterthesun]

I don't call it an addiction. For me it's my main hobby. Yes, always having the latest and greatest tech is what I earn my money for and I enjoy it.

Other people spend it on expensive cars, scuba diving, paragliding, you name it. All hobbies.

So don't worry and enjoy your new toys I am enjoying my 256GB space grey iPhone X. The only thing I didn't buy yet is the Apple Watch 3 LTE, as I got my Apple Watch 2 only 6 months ago.

Or a $399 hair dryer. Yes. Hair. Not clothes.

 

[Sir Ruben]

I don't sell my Apple products like I used to, but the great thing about Apple products, aside that they last a long time and there well-made, is they do sell quickly if they are in good condition. Apple products overall just have a very strong popularity.

Agree with this. My iPhone 7 sold on eBay within 10 mins of listing it. Someone hit buy now and it was job done. Previous years have been the same, some have sold within 5 mins of putting them on. My stuff is always still in brand new condition when I sell them and I stress that in my ads (saying that, Android phones have always struggled regardless of condition and have lower resale value).

 

[thesaint024]

I don't call it an addiction. For me it's my main hobby. Yes, always having the latest and greatest tech is what I earn my money for and I enjoy it.

Other people spend it on expensive cars, scuba diving, paragliding, you name it. All hobbies.

So don't worry and enjoy your new toys I am enjoying my 256GB space grey iPhone X. The only thing I didn't buy yet is the Apple Watch 3 LTE, as I got my Apple Watch 2 only 6 months ago.

Agree. I think I said "addiction" in quotes for a reason. People are taking this waaay too seriously. OP does NOT have an addiction as far as we can glean from his post. Nor does anyone else that buys annual Apple products when they can afford to.

My smoking, drinking, gambling, yayo, and porn habits might be considered addictions, even my wife's 4 digit purse problem. They are destructive to life, warp my priorities, pile on to debt, and are often times illegal. Buying an iPhone once a year I wouldn't consider an addiction unless you are actually starving your children to buy one IMHO. Let's get some perspective!

 

[ideal.dreams]

It's your money and you're spending it on what makes you happy. What else is money good for if not to make you happy.