> So where does upgrading to the latest iPhone every release fit? It seems to fit your above phrase as well as consumerism. This was actually the example I had

> So where does upgrading to the latest iPhone every release fit? It seems to fit your above phrase as well as consumerism. This was actually the example I had in my head, I should have detailed it out. The answer is you don't upgrade. So long as the phone works and you're satisfied with it, there's no compelling reason. If you drop and break the phone, that would be a time to upgrade it. If you get a really great deal, that would be the time to upgrade it. Sure you may (as I do) feel a twinge of jealousy at people with nicer phones, but you don't act on it.