I have about $20,000 saved on paper, but roughly $15,000 of that is currently loaned to family and should be returned in monthly installments over the next four months. I'm also a full-time university student and recently spent $950 on a PS5 Pro. I'm considering buying or building a gaming PC, but I don't want to make an irresponsible financial decision or get into the habit of justifying large purchases as "saving money" in the long run. Should I wait until the loan is fully repaid, set a strict PC budget, or is it reasonable to buy one now?
4 Answers
Consider whether you actually need both systems. If the PC would replace the PS5, selling the console could offset part of the cost. PC games can sometimes be cheaper and the computer is more versatile, but it isn’t automatically a bargain if you end up owning both and spending more on upgrades.
I’d wait the four months unless your current computer is genuinely necessary for school or work. You’ve already made a large discretionary purchase, and waiting gives you time to see whether you still want the PC rather than buying impulsively. You can research parts and track prices now, then buy once the repayment is complete.
You should treat the $15,000 as unavailable until it is actually back in your account. Payment schedules can change, and the person who borrowed it might have an emergency. Work out how much cash you really have available after rent, tuition, bills, food, and an emergency fund, then set a firm PC budget from what remains.
Start with a maximum budget before looking at parts. That keeps you from slowly upgrading into a much more expensive build. If you’re mainly gaming, you don’t need an extreme CPU, premium motherboard, or oversized power supply. A balanced mid-to-high-end system with 32GB of RAM should be enough for most people, and building it yourself can reduce the cost if you’re comfortable doing so.
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