Instead of Buying iPhones, You Could Make US $144,907

Recently, I saw a story on social media about a boy who became the first person to get the iPhone 17. He was glowing with excitement. Honestly, I loved seeing that, it reminds me how money isn’t only about numbers in an account. It’s also about the joy we feel when we use it to buy something meaningful in the moment.

But watching that clip made me curious.

I thought: what if a loyal iPhone user, instead of buying every iPhone since 2007, had invested that same money in the stock of the company that sells iPhones, which is none other than Apple?

But to make it realistic:

• That person (let’s call him John) still needs a phone, so instead of buying an iPhone, he buys a cheaper phone every 2½ years, spending only about 40% of the iPhone’s cost.
  

• The remaining 60% of the iPhone’s cost goes into Apple stock at the time each new iPhone is released
  

• John always buys the Pro version, 256GB storage, which is what a typical iPhone fan will usually buy.

That curiosity led me to turn to ChatGPT, and here’s what came back:

If John Bought iPhones vs If John Bought Apple Stock:

If John bought every iPhone model (always the Pro, 256GB), he would have spent about $18,101 in total.

If instead, John bought a cheaper phone every 2½ years (spending only $3,636 total) and invested the rest—about $10,861—into Apple stock when each iPhone launched…

By September 2025, those Apple shares would be worth about $144,907!

That’s the silent cost of choices: John not only spent an extra $14,465 on phones, but he also “missed out” on nearly $145,000 in stock growth.

3 Lessons We Can Learn Here?

1. Compounding Rewards the Patient

Small amounts invested consistently can snowball into something massive. John didn’t need a million dollars upfront. He just needed discipline and time. And that’s the beauty of compounding, it quietly multiplies your efforts in the background while life goes on!

But there’s another piece to this: choosing the right asset. Apple wasn’t just any company. It became a category-defining business with strong products, recurring customers, and a culture of innovation. If you look at winners like Apple, Microsoft, or Amazon, they have something in common:

• They build products people use daily.

• They create ecosystems that lock customers in (think iPhone, iTunes, iCloud).

• They reinvest profits back into growth.

That’s why long-term investors who held onto companies like Apple saw outsized rewards. The stock market isn’t just about numbers—it’s about owning pieces of businesses that shape the future. That’s why compounding worked so powerfully here.

Think of it this way, if you are willing to spend money on the company’s product happily, it’s already giving you the hint that you should own the stock of this company.

2. Emotions Drive Spending, Logic Builds Wealth

The thrill of buying the latest phone is a powerful emotional experience. It feels good right now.

But investing is rational. It feels “boring” at first, but it delivers freedom later. Wealth often grows in silence, without fireworks. The challenge is to train ourselves to see past the short-term buzz.

And here’s another angle: what if John had applied that same consistency—not to iPhones or even Apple stock, but to investing in himself?

Imagine if, every year, he dedicated money to learning how to start a side hustle or build an online business. Over the course of 10 to 15 years, with the same loyalty he showed to Apple launches each year, he could have developed skills, assets, and possibly even a business producing recurring income. That’s another form of compounding: self-investment. It doesn’t just grow money; it expands your capacity to earn.

3. Balance Between Today’s Joy and Tomorrow’s Freedom

This isn’t about never enjoying life. That boy with his iPhone looked genuinely happy, and I wouldn’t say “no” to that. However, we need to strike a balance between moments of joy (if we can afford it) and a long-term vision. Money is not a master, it’s an ally. It should serve both the present and the future.

Practical tip: One way to do this is to create a simple “spending rule” for yourself. For example:

• For every $1 you spend on a lifestyle item, put $1 into an investment or savings bucket.

• Or, before buying the latest gadget, ask: “If I had to buy two—one for myself, and one as Apple stock—could I afford both?”

This small practice forces you to link spending with investing, so you’re not just rewarding today but also preparing for tomorrow.

In Closing

Money is always about trade-offs. The iPhone example isn’t about choosing stock over a phone, it’s about recognizing how our small, repeated decisions either work for us or against us.

Compounding doesn’t judge, it just rewards consistency. Whether it’s consistency in spending, or consistency in investing.

And here’s another approach you may consider: be patient. Let your business or investments generate the cash flow first, then use the profits to buy what you like. That way, the purchase feels more fulfilling, because you didn’t trade your future for it—you earned it from assets that continue working for you.

That’s a richer kind of joy.

Your friend,

Patric Chan
Author of MONEY: Present And Future
https://moneypresentandfuture.com