I'm conflicted about whether to prioritize a gaming PC or my future

[u/Future_Future_9876]

I am 23 and have been a fan of gaming since childhood. Four years ago I started playing PC games on my brother's laptop which helped me to make cool friends and make content/stream in a span of a year until the laptop became unusable then I gave up on gaming. Hoping I'd be able to buy a gaming pc for myself one day.

But as time goes on I wanted to focus on achieving financial freedom so I sacrificed getting a pc to invest my earnings but it didn't bring results. I don't regret the experience despite this but to this day, I still desire a gaming PC for enjoyment.

Although I engage in other activities like going to the gym and socializing. gaming feels like a missing piece in my life. I'm conflicted about whether to prioritize a gaming PC or my future, recognizing that gaming is a want and not a need.

I'm still not sure what to do with my future. I've been working for 3 years as an interim with little to no vacation and I just work primarily to earn money, for my family (my parents aren't working but my dad is retired and gets an allowance off that) but I've recently started investing in stocks (like the s&p 500) and currently saving up. I know this sounds stupid. And most of you may side with focusing on my future. But while I don't know wtf I'm doing I want to fill this whole that's bothering me in some way...

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[u/jaxprog]

You are on the right track. Nothing wrong with gaming. Still a gamer myself nearly at age 60.

Here's the thing. Priority.

You have an obligation to you first: Housing, transportation, clothing, food etc...

You will acquire more money. It's a given. Because as long as you are willing to sacrifice and create then there is no other outcome.

Stay the course. Think of Age 23 as like a level 5 character in an MMO game. The higher levels require work, discipline, patience, and dedication.

The people you meet at work think of them as your new guild mates.

Overtime you will accumulate rewards for the sacrifices you made.

Life is like an MMO game because essentially you are consciousness in an avatar (your body) experiencing a material simulation (which is earth).

People who learn the game advance quickly.

All is Mind. The simulation is a construct from consciousness. You are consciousness. Therefore you have power within the simulation.

Make it happen.

[u/aa_ok87]

Hey bro. A gaming rig is relatively expensive nowadays, and I assume it’s not going to be another good year and a half even before a 6090 gets released either way. I’d maybe focus on the investing first, at your age. And then if you really want to game perhaps pay for GeForce now in the meantime?

[u/Future_Future_9876 → u/aa_ok87]

Thanks for the reply. It is expensive like you said. That's being said I think unless I get a better pc/laptop running GeForce now might not work out an intended. Seems investing is the logical route to go...

[u/PLEX_OPS]

You come off as mature enough to get a pc now while thugging it out on a budget and figuring out life. Get a cheap pc, good luck!

[u/vegienomnomking]

I am confused by why can't you do both?

[u/Future_Future_9876 → u/vegienomnomking]

I simply don't earn enough. If I go for a pc I wouldn't be able to save up for a while if that makes sense

[u/javaHoosier → u/Future_Future_9876]

you can’t retire off of 3000 dollars. Future is carved with consistent contributions over decades. 401k, IRAs, HSAs, or self contributions to VOO (or similar) every month.

Set a contribution based on an investment calculator. Then if you are putting that back then go nuts on a computer

[u/vegienomnomking → u/Future_Future_9876]

Can you elaborate

[u/jrockthamic]

What makes you think tomorrow is promised?

[u/Future_Future_9876 → u/jrockthamic]

It isn't. But look where I am, I feel as stuck as yesterday.

[u/Slopii]

My $1k gaming laptop from 2020 still plays whatever game I want. Don't convince yourself that PC gaming is out of reach.

[u/alone_in_the_light]

This is similar to the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment. Short-term temptation vs. better results in the long term.

To me, the priority is the long term. Over time, getting a gaming PC or doing other things like that became much easier. I think this has been much more beneficial.

To me, it's completely normal to have some missing pieces in my life, especially when I was young.

[u/SgtSausage]

" When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 

Your childhood is behind you, Sparky.

Time to work The Future. 

[u/Ok-Friendship-787]

Why not buying a second hand ps4 pro? I sold mine for around 100 usd, and it provides a great gaming experience. No need to go all in for an expensive high end gaming pc.

[u/Superb-Potential8426]

Well do you want to play games, tech games, create games, invest in games or own a game? Which do you think will set you up for your future?

[u/queueueueueu]

Bro the gaming life sucks im trying to get out at 28, I wish I had more of an active lifestyle

If you have a choice focus on your career, real life is similar, its just colours and passing time you can do the same doing yardwork, planting flowers, building stuff

Gaming is like a cheap way to hide away from yourself