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Buying guides

  • Buy less, choose it well, make it last
  • Don't buy black or white items, it gets very dirty pretty fast
    • Clothes / Shoes
      • OnCloud Shoes
      • On Cloud shoes, developed by the Swiss brand On, are known for their signature "Cloud" pods that provide a combination of soft landings and explosive take-offs. As of 2026, popular models include the Cloud 6 for everyday wear and the Cloud 5 Waterproof for all-weather performance.
    • Car
  • Don't buy a dining table or any table with more surfaces (like an area for storing newspaper below table)
  • Don't use dining table cloth
  • Don't buy xbox or ps5 buy gaming desktop instead, since it can be used for far more things
  • Stock up purchase
  • 🚨Prime day 2024 deals on best home appliances - YouTube
  • Table - rounded corners and edges, since your wrist gets hurt, and whole hand is laying, so width should be huge with monitor too

Worst things to buy​

  1. New Cars: The Depreciating Asset Trap
  2. Excessive Home Upgrades: When Bigger Isn’t Better
  3. False Economy: The Hidden Cost of Low-Quality Goods
    1. Price is what you pay; value is what you get
    2. buying quality items that last is ultimately more economical than repeatedly replacing cheaper alternatives.
    3. The “cost per use” concept aligns perfectly with Buffett’s approach. A well-made pair of shoes that costs twice as much but lasts four times as long represents a better value proposition than cheaper footwear requiring frequent replacement. This principle applies to everything from kitchen appliances to furniture to tools.
    4. This false economy of cheap goods creates a cycle of replacement purchases that drain resources over time, while quality items often pay dividends through longevity and better performance.
  4. Luxury Brand Items: When Status Symbols Become Financial Burdens
  5. Lottery Tickets and Gambling: The Statistical Path to Poverty

The 5 Worst Things The Middle Class Buys According To Warren Buffett - New Trader U

Phone / Mobile​

  • Never buy phone more than 15K at max 20K (Conspicuous consumption)

  • IP Ratings Table-Difference between IP63 IP64 IP65 IP67 IP68

  • Stolen

    • Find my device
    • Remote lock using phone number - android.com/lock

  • Android settings

    • Google > All services > Theft Protection
    • Device protect settings
    • Require password to power off
    • Remote lock
    • Find my device
    • Hide location details on lock screen
    • Swipe down on lock screen to view notification drawer

Features

  • NFC
  • Dual sim
  • Motorola/Oneplus/xioami/samsung
  • 5g
  • Motorola g67 power
  • Samsung Galaxy F36 5g (black, 128
  • moto edge 60 fusion
  • Samsung Galaxy F56

Checklist​

Buying Checklist: Smart Spending GuideResponse
Is this purchase based on a genuine need or a want?
Will I need to finance this purchase?Yes / No
Am I only interested because it's on sale?Yes / No
Have I compared prices for the best deal?Yes / No
Do I already own something that serves the same purpose?Yes / No
Can I borrow this item instead of buying it?Yes / No
How often will I use this item?
Is the item durable enough for its intended usage period?Yes / No
How will this purchase affect my financial goals?
Is my decision being influenced by emotions or peer pressure?Yes / No

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AC / Air Conditioner​

Voltas AC - ADJ 12 - Refers to the 1.2 Ton capacity models within the adjustable inverter lineup.

  • It should show current temperature
  • Split AC only

Best AC Under 30000 | Best AC 2024 | AC Buying Guide 2024 - YouTube

  • Godrej
  • Lloyd
  • Voltas

3 or 5 STAR AC

  • The extra cost of buying a 5 Star AC over a 3 Star AC should benefit you by saving electricity.
  • If that's not happening, then a 3 Star AC is Best for you. Buy a 3 Star AC if you use it for 3 - 4 months a year.
  • Buy a 5 Star AC if you use it for over 6 months a year.

AC Guide

Laptop​

MacBook Pro: M4 Pro vs M5 Max Comparison​

The M4 Pro (48 GB) prioritizes RAM capacity, while the M5 Max (36 GB) offers superior architecture, graphics performance, and AI accelerators.

Key Specification Differences:

SpecM4 ProM5 Max
RAM48 GB36 GB
CPU Cores14-16 cores18 cores (with "Super Cores")
GPU CoresUp to 20 cores32-40 cores + Neural Accelerators
Memory Bandwidth273 GB/s460-614 GB/s
WirelessWi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 6
SSD SpeedStandard high-speedUp to 2x faster

Performance Breakdown:

  • Graphics & Video: M5 Max wins decisively - 60% faster export times, double memory bandwidth, dual ProRes encoders
  • AI & ML: M5 Max has dedicated Neural Accelerators per GPU core for local LLM processing
  • RAM-Heavy Tasks: M4 Pro's 48 GB advantage for orchestral sound libraries, dozens of VMs
  • Future-Proofing: M5 Max offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for faster local network speeds

Verdict:

  • Choose M5 Max (36 GB) if: Heavy 3D rendering, color grading, 4K/8K video editing, local AI processing - architectural jump eclipses 12 GB RAM difference
  • Choose M4 Pro (48 GB) if: Steep discount available OR workflow specifically demands raw RAM capacity over computing speed

Decision Questions:

  • What specific software do you use most?
  • Buying new or refurbished/used?
  • What is the price difference between the two options?

References:

White Goods​

Credit Cards​

RuPay Credit Card / creditcard​

Fuel Credit Cards​

Petrol Surcharge Waiver: What is Fuel Surcharge Waiver in Credit Card

Axis Atlas vs Axis Magnus Burgundy​

Best Salary Account​

Rent using Credit Card​

International Travel​

SIM​

  • Does JIO sim work in US ? : r/india
    • No need to buy an international roaming pack if you mainly need the SIM for OTPs. Just turn ON roaming and Wi-Fi calling. Even if there are no signal bars, you’ll still receive OTPs or text messages. Just make sure your SIM has a basic recharge plan active in India to keep it working. I am using it for almost 3 years, no issues for me.
  • lycamobile - They will deliver a sim to your home in India
  • airalo - eSIM for every country

Forex Card​

Others​

  • IDP is really not required for anyone from India as long as the driving license is in English. The IDP is only a translation of your current license and if the information in that is already in English then it’s pointless.
  • An International Driving Permit (IDP) isn't a license itself but an official translation and validation of your domestic driving license, allowing you to drive in foreign countries by overcoming language barriers; you must carry both the IDP and your original license, as the IDP only serves as an official supplement, not a replacement, proving you have valid driving privileges abroad.
  • An International Driving Permit (IDP) is typically valid for one year from its issue date.
  • Is a international driving permit pointless? Do I need to renew it if I have it? : r/travel
  • My experience with getting an International Driving Permit (IDP) : r/bangalore

Flights​

Always take isle seat, so you can get up and move around easily and are not dependent on others, since you don't like sitting for a long time.

Ofcourse it comes with a negative side effect that you have to move in and out if you are asleep and next passenger has to go out.

So for a long haul international flight you can take middle aisle with aisle side seat, so the middle passenger can go out either side and only one passenger has to move out, since there are 2 aisle side seat.

Indigo: Flyers can seek damages from the airline. But most will skip that route

Skiplagged: The smart way to find cheap flights.

Frequent Flyer Number​

Bookings / Party / Parties​

  • Don't give full advance amount, give smaller amounts
  • Use Dineout / easydiner / Zomato to pay at restaurants

Wifi Extender / Wifi Booster​

Standing Desk / Standing table​

RO / Water Purifier​

  • Sediment and carbon filter
  • Membrane filter
  • Motor - booster pump 100 gpd - cruise lux pure 800-900

Others​