Useful life depends on the type of equipment. I’m sure there are some metal presses that last a hundred years, but there is plenty more equipment that has a useful life measured in years, especially high-tech equipment.
The iPhone is only 15 years old, how much of the equipment used to build the original model do you think is still in use?
Same is true of non-manufacturing sectors. For example, a hospital might issue bonds in order to build a new clinic or hospital wing. Much of the hospital equipment bought with those bonds will be replaced within ten years.
Well yeah it depends, I always tell my clients that the moment we have to add a touchscreen they have to prepare to have a problem within 5 years. Which is why I push them to consider the extra warranty if they go that route. Most do some don’t.
It’s still not a great comparison. Individuals aren’t too big to fail.
The point is that depreciation is not the most important consideration when considering whether to finance something.
The most important consideration is the return on investment. If the equipment will allow you to make more money than you pay in financing plus depreciation, then you should buy it today even if it requires financing. You’re not buying it because you expect it to appreciate.
And if you use a car to get to work, then the return on investment is your entire income. So if you need to finance a car to get to work, then finance it.
Right but people don’t work the way businesses do. If everyone bought a car only when they needed a car to get to work and back the world would be much much different.
So many people at my work make a third of what I make and I see their giant pickups. Me? I drive a small economy car.
Useful life depends on the type of equipment. I’m sure there are some metal presses that last a hundred years, but there is plenty more equipment that has a useful life measured in years, especially high-tech equipment.
The iPhone is only 15 years old, how much of the equipment used to build the original model do you think is still in use?
Same is true of non-manufacturing sectors. For example, a hospital might issue bonds in order to build a new clinic or hospital wing. Much of the hospital equipment bought with those bonds will be replaced within ten years.
Well yeah it depends, I always tell my clients that the moment we have to add a touchscreen they have to prepare to have a problem within 5 years. Which is why I push them to consider the extra warranty if they go that route. Most do some don’t.
It’s still not a great comparison. Individuals aren’t too big to fail.
The point is that depreciation is not the most important consideration when considering whether to finance something.
The most important consideration is the return on investment. If the equipment will allow you to make more money than you pay in financing plus depreciation, then you should buy it today even if it requires financing. You’re not buying it because you expect it to appreciate.
And if you use a car to get to work, then the return on investment is your entire income. So if you need to finance a car to get to work, then finance it.
Right but people don’t work the way businesses do. If everyone bought a car only when they needed a car to get to work and back the world would be much much different.
So many people at my work make a third of what I make and I see their giant pickups. Me? I drive a small economy car.