Sometimes, the smartest purchase is no purchase at all.
We live in a world that constantly pushes us to buy more, upgrade more, and replace more. A brand-new car. The latest iPhone. A shiny Samsung or Pixel phone. Faster laptops. Bigger screens.
But here’s a simple question we rarely ask ourselves:
👉 Do I really need this, or am I just excited?
The Trap of Instant Buying
Modern marketing is powerful. It convinces us that new equals better, that upgrading equals success, and that having the latest device equals progress.
Most of the time, we rush to buy without pausing to think:
Do I already have something that works?
Is this purchase solving a real problem?
Or am I just following hype and excitement?
And that’s how many of us end up owning things we barely use.
A Personal Lesson from My Own Setup
Some time ago, I found myself in an interesting situation. I was using two computers:
One running Linux — mainly for networking and technical tasks.
Another running Windows — for applications like Adobe software that don’t work well on Linux.
Both machines were important to my workflow. Each had its role. But there was a challenge:
I had only one monitor, one keyboard, and one mouse.
This meant constantly switching cables, adjusting connections, and moving things around — which was inconvenient and time-consuming.
The Fast Thought: “Let Me Just Buy Something”
The quickest solution that came to my mind was buying a USB switch, a simple hardware device that allows one keyboard and mouse to control two computers.
They’re not expensive. I could easily afford one.
But then I paused.
👉 Do I really need to buy it?
Thinking Instead of Buying
Rather than rushing to purchase, I decided to think differently:
I already had two computers.
I already had a router.
I already had a network.
I already had a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
So I asked myself:
Is there a way to solve this using only what I already have?
That single question changed everything.
After some simple research, I discovered that software solutions existed that could allow me to control one computer from another over my local network — no extra hardware, no extra money.
And the software was completely free.
Solving Big Problems Through Small Thinking
By using simple software tools and the network I already had, I was able to:
Use one keyboard and mouse for both computers.
Share one monitor efficiently.
Avoid buying extra devices.
Keep my workspace clean and simple.
What could have turned into buying:
A USB switch
Another monitor
Extra cables
Extra accessories
…ended up costing nothing.
And the best part?
👉 I learned something valuable in the process.
The Bigger Life Lesson
This experience reminded me of something powerful:
It’s through simple thinking that we learn to solve bigger problems.
Not every inconvenience needs a purchase.
Not every problem needs money.
Not every desire needs immediate action.
Sometimes, the solution is already around you — you just need to pause, think, and explore.
Before You Buy — Ask Yourself This
Next time you’re about to rush into buying:
That new phone
That new laptop
That new car
That extra gadget
Ask yourself:
✔ Do I really need this?
✔ Is this solving a real problem?
✔ Can I achieve the same result with what I already have?
You’ll be surprised how often the answer is yes, I already can.
That Said
We live in an age of instant buying, but wisdom lies in intentional decisions.
Sometimes, the smartest upgrade isn’t hardware — it’s how you think.
And sometimes, not buying is the best purchase you’ll ever make.