Technology Upgrade Treadmill
$1,000-$2,000 annually in upgrades
Social pressure and planned obsolescence force upgrades every 2-3 years. Gaming laptops cost $2,000-$4,000, smartphones require $800-$1,500 replacements.
The real cost
$15,000-$30,000 over 20s and 30s for marginal improvements
How to not get wrecked
- 1Use devices until they actually break
- 2Buy refurbished or previous-generation (30-50% savings)
- 3Research actual needs vs. marketing wants
- 4Sell old devices immediately when upgrading
Related money drains
#45
Canadian Telecom Oligopoly Tax
Among world's highest costs
Canadian phone plans are among the world's most expensive. $65–$70/month for 100GB.
#46
Subscription Dark Pattern Exploitation
84-89% underestimate spending
84–89% underestimate subscription spending; dark patterns make cancelling hard.
#39
Concert Ticket Inflation Explosion
17.8% increase vs 1.9% general inflation
Concert ticket inflation far outpaces general inflation. That's $800–$2,500/year on tickets alone.
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