> To me, even 100 bucks as a one-time-payment for productivity software (that is: something that literally helps you make more money) is kind of a no-brainer I

> To me, even 100 bucks as a one-time-payment for productivity software (that is: something that literally helps you make more money) is kind of a no-brainer It's only a no-brainer if you've had the credit card at the ready because whichever problem you have is costing you enough in time and you have confidence that this purchase will be the one to finally make you more money. A new $5500 MacBook would improve my workflow a bit, but by what point would I break even on the purchase? A new iPad Pro might hypothetically let me draw a chart or two sometime in the next 10 years, but its value is where its value is for different people. But I also don't pre-order games and don't typically buy games over around $50, even then it's rare, but I know lots of people with thousands in pointless game buys.