For most of us, when we buy gadgets, the purpose is to feel something, whether pleasure or need fulfillment. Outside of the basics: fridge, electric kettle, iron, blender– most Nigerian’s gadgets are mostly for pleasure: TV, phone, sound system, airpods, decoders, games, cameras. The newness gives us a dopamine boost and quick hits of validation.
They think: “I’m current“, “I can afford this“. But the truth is, they are mostly a way for us to signal status, not for stability.
Pleasure gadgets are status goods because they give us social return on investment. It’s what we turn to when we want to “feel among” our peers. Most people don’t buy what they need; they buy what makes them feel better. Actually, most people don’t stop to consider whether there’s a purchase that would serve them longer or make life easier. Most of that thinking is automatic.
However, when it comes to personal finance, we should first prioritize gadgets that provide long-term value, resilience, and financial protection before considering the so-called pleasure gadgets.
The iPhone vs Solar Inverter (a case study)
Consider this uncommon comparison: someone choosing to buy a brand new iPhone or even just upgrading their iPhone instead of using that same amount to buy a solar inverter.
This isn’t just about gadgets. It’s about how we trade long-term resilience for pleasure and status signaling. One of the weirdest things about this country is that, despite how poor we are, a lot of us still prioritize status purchases over the purchases that make Nigeria a little less chaotic for us.
Everyone wants to use the latest iPhone or wants to upgrade their iPhone to the latest release. And it feels like it a reasonable purchase because we give reasons such as: “Oh, my phone is old“, “I work hard, I deserve this”, “I just want something nice“, “I need it for content creation“, “I need it for nice pictures“, “All my friends already have the new model“.
We convince ourselves these are perfectly valid reasons instead of looking within and telling ourselves the truth about how it’s about keeping up with friends, impressing that girl you like, looking, and feeling rich. It’s about status and belonging.
What You Lose When You Chase Pleasure
The hidden cost is what you lose by chasing the pleasure. The money could have been put to a better use that makes living in Nigeria much more bearable in a way that feels more rewarding than a phone ever could.
Costs of the iPhone path
- Depreciates quickly in value. Your iPhone loses half its value the moment you unbox it.
- Pressure to upgrade again next year.
- Doesn’t reduce your daily stress or bills
Benefits Gained from Solar
- Reduced generator maintenance, fuel, and electricity bills.
- Consistent electricity.
- Better sleep, morale, productivity, predictability, and peace of mind.
- Less stress: no more heat, darkness, spoiled food (depending on solar capacity)
- Lasts you years before needing to replace it.
Resilience gadgets like solar inverters compound like financial assets. Like an asset, they put more money in your pocket than they take out.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
As of October 2025, an iPhone 11 64GB could cost anywhere from ₦620,000 to ₦850,000. That same amount will get you a minimal solar setup that covers basic lighting, charging devices, and a fan, maybe capacity for a 400W blender. Consult your technician to be sure.
On the high end, an iPhone 17 Pro Max 2TB could cost as much as ₦4.5 million. The same amount will cover multiple solar panels and batteries, covering charging devices, a blender, AC, and a refrigerator, depending on wattage. This will keep your house running during electricity outages for years.
The Case for Quiet Wealth
In Nigeria, we have to deal with unstable power, fuel scarcity, and unpredictable inflation. In such an environment, resilience gadgets like solar inverters are not luxuries. They are hedges for inflation, and they reduce the fragility that comes with living in Nigeria. Nigerians need fewer flashy gadgets and more functional ones that serve us better and longer than the government.
As a Nigerian, for a better life, always lean towards better systems that reduce the chaos rather than shiny objects that garner short-lived praise and hailing from people who don’t really care about you. Choose the quiet, well-off lifestyle over extravagance. Do the cost-benefit analysis yourself. If you must buy a phone for business or content creation, be honest with yourself and ask, Is there a drastically cheaper option that achieves the same result for less cost? If not, can you at least buy a used version of the device you are aiming for?
The True ROI of Resilience
You can’t put a price on being able to blend your pepper within the comfort of your home when the electricity is out. Or being able to preserve or cool your food in the refrigerator without queuing for hours at the filling station during fuel scarcity.
Every time the power goes out, you have a solar setup. You’re not scrambling for candles, charging phones at your neighbor’s place, or dealing with generator noise and fumes, or losing productive hours. Reliable power keeps your routine smooth. Cooking, working, interviews, studying, exercising, and even watching TV. Morale is up from not having to live in darkness. So you see, it’s not just financial. You’re buying back your time, money, and energy.
Quiet wealth is wealth you don’t need to show off because it improves your quality of life. The inverter doesn’t earn you likes on Instagram like the iPhone would in a mirror selfie, but it keeps your home running, reduces your stress, and lowers your electricity costs. It silently improves your life.
If the national grid fails tomorrow, will your iPhone still keep the lights on? Stop measuring your purchases not just by how good they make you feel or look among your friends, but by how stable they will make your life tomorrow. What is one flashy gadget you have been eyeing, and what resilience investment would quietly change your daily life if you bought that instead? For a baker, the resilience investment could be a standing mixer. For a carpenter, it could be a power tool. And for you, maybe it’s reliable light, cold storage, or quiet sleep. Choose wisely.