Affording a New MacBook Pro: Is it in Your Budget?


Being a broke Apple fan is practically an oxymoron. A Mac stamped with that notorious apple logo doesn’t come cheap. The latest 16-inch Pro with 2.3GHz 8-Core Processor and 1TB of storage comes to $2,799.

The sticker shock is enough to wish you were one of Microsoft’s ride-or-dies. Almost. But let’s be honest — even if a Mac costs an arm and a leg, you’d rather that than use Internet Explorer.

So you’re pretty much committed to dropping a fortune on a new Mac, but is your budget ready for this big purchase? While you may not have to sell a body part to afford a Pro, it’s no small chunk of change either.

Make sure you check in with these tips below to ensure you know how to financially support your devotion to Apple.

Earn and Save the Old-Fashioned Way

Sit down with your budget to figure out how much of each paycheck you can afford to set aside in your MacBook fund. If you don’t have a lot of cash to spare, take a second look at your expenses.

With a second look, you might be able to find “throw away” spending. For instance, streaming services. How many subscriptions do you have? If you have every video and music app, think about cutting back to an essential one or two.

By making sacrifices in other parts of your budget, you may be able to free up more cash to put your savings. And the more you save, the faster you’ll have what you need.

Think about Life Beyond Your Purchase

Compared to the average Microsoft computer, a Mac has a significantly longer lifespan.

But its performance relies heavily on how well you care for it. Spill coffee on the keys? Drop it to a concrete floor? Encounter a virus even the iOS can’t stop? These mistakes may do a whammy on your Mac.

Would you have the cash on hand to repair or replace it?

If you use your Mac for work, and an unexpected emergency damages your laptop, you may consider going online for a loan or line of credit. Finding personal loans online is convenient. All you have to do is perform a quick Google search to find different financial institutions offering an online line of credit or loan and compare your options in different tabs.

If it’s a personal computer that you don’t need for work, an online line of credit or loan may not be the right fit. Instead, consider putting aside money in a damage fund to help you field any unexpected issues with your Mac.

Research more on the topic for a deeper understanding of how personal loans work and when to use them.

In the meantime, care for your Mac properly — keeping it away from coffee, heavy objects, and shady websites — to prolong its lifespan.

Bide Your Time

Although it may feel like you have to buy your Mac as soon as you make your decision, being patient pays off.

Take, for example, the hotly anticipated Pro coming out in 2020. Its price will be at its highest the week it’s released. As for 2019’s model, it will likely see a price drop as soon as the 2020 version makes its way to market.

Get to know the release schedule and make your decision based on how badly you need a new computer.

Bottom Line

A MacBook is expensive, but you already knew that before you decided to buy it. Brace yourself (and your budget) by preparing for it in advance. You’ll take some of the stings out of your purchase when you do.


Kokou Adzo

Kokou Adzo is a stalwart in the tech journalism community, has been chronicling the ever-evolving world of Apple products and innovations for over a decade. As a Senior Author at Apple Gazette, Kokou combines a deep passion for technology with an innate ability to translate complex tech jargon into relatable insights for everyday users.

0 Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *