IMO there's little need to buy new in the computer world unless you want to do something silly like have a snapdragon x laptop or have the disposable funds to go the gaming rig route.

My desktop is a retired business workstation, a HP Z420. I bought it for $250, installed a smaller SSD ($100 new) for the OS + apps, upgeaded to the "best" Xenon that fit the socket ($150 used), upgraded to 64 GB RAM ($107 used, yay ECC memory being dirt cheap on the used market), and a 1070TI ($225 used, purchased just before covid).

It's more than fast enough for my needs still.

This was all about 4-5 years ago, so you could probably do even better with more modern hardware.

The easy way to save is to buy used. You can usually buy a super high spec one for 500 to 800 USD used. I think I spent 600 for mine with a 3070 (from hardwareswap, about 1k or so in parts)

Yep. Two weeks ago I was thinking I'd wait through at least one more gen of CPUs and GPUs before upgrading--I've got a 6700XT which works great, but everything else is basically 2012-era tech. Now I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on replacing basically everything but the GPU as soon as tomorrow. If the country is going to implode I may as well have some extra pretty distractions.

Absolutely. Not because of Trump directly but because of Taiwan. China now has a card blanche basically.