[00:02] build a new desk setup on a real budget that would let me create, edit, and even game on the side as a full-time content creator, I could do it for under $900. when you're looking at my current setup, but some of the best work of my career,
[00:18] like when I got my first $20,000 brand deal when I was barely breaking 200 views a video, I produced that in a setup that cost less than $2,000. Hell, one of my favorite desk setups I've ever had cost me about $150 for my Kia's
[00:32] return section. Ironically, that desk setup ended up being the first video to all that considered, if I had to start over today on a budget, here's what I've learned. Rule number one, workflow over flex. The first thing I've learned over
[00:46] the years is your workflow matters more than your look, than the flex. I've owned expensive setups, I've owned cheap ones, and the only thing that's ever moved my career forward was how consistently I could sit down and
[00:58] brand deal that I mentioned, that didn't happen because I had crazy gear. It happened at the time because I had a setup that let me stay in my routine. And if I had to start over and chase the dream all over again, I would 100%
[01:12] compromise on specs and flash if it meant that I could stay productive, momentum, the work does. Rule number two, strategic spending. The word budget has been so loosely used over the years. We see budget and we just automatically
[01:27] assume cheap. Budget doesn't mean cheap, it means intentional. You don't have room to waste money on things you're not going to use. For example, standing desk. I love mine, I use it, but it's extremely overrated. You don't need
[01:39] motors to be more productive. You don't need to stand to get good work done, and the space to do the [ __ ] that you need to do. Over the years, I've also made the mistake of buying desks that felt more unique or premium, thinking
[01:52] that would somehow not only make me more creative, but would get me more attention because of just how original it was. It didn't. It just cost more. So, investing into your setup and strategically planning that means you
[02:05] have to ask yourself, "Does this improve my workflow or just my ego?" Rule number three, minimalism creates momentum. When it comes to setups, it's super easy to monitor, another accessory, another mount, another upgrade. But, more gear
[02:20] doesn't automatically equal better work. I could honestly manage everything I do at this point in my career on a 32-in 4K And I've honestly considered it because there's just something just so special
[02:33] [music] your one thing. Just a clean desk with exactly what you need and anything, it's going to be on the stuff that I physically interact with every day. The chair, the desk surface, the keyboard, the monitor. So, minimalism
[02:49] just cutting out the [ __ ] So, if I had $900 to upgrade my setup, here's with the desk first. At the end of the day, you don't need standing, you don't need flash. I'd go back to the IKEA desk hack setup. Something like the Karlby
[03:05] style countertop and two Alex drawer units, which are $95 each. That's $350 for a reliable setup. Do a lot of people have that similar setup? Sure. But, it's deep, it's stable, it looks good, and you have the organization with the
[03:19] drawers. It's just a timeless classic. Like I said earlier, one of my favorite setups I've ever had was actually built from the return section at IKEA. They stopped making it, but it was this dope black top. I put that desk setup
[03:31] together for $150 when I moved down to Charlotte. To this day, it's one of my most popular videos on this channel. For the monitor, I was actually surprised something like the Acer Nitro 27-in 1440p display. Now, I currently have
[03:45] OLEDs, and because I can afford them, OLEDs are [ __ ] sick. But, they're they're not needed. It's a it's a luxury. It's a it's a perk of being able to spend more money. It is not an actual need in my
[03:58] creative workflow. All I care about is 1440p to have a sharp good resolution display, IPS panel for good coloring and lighting, a monitor that does have good colors in relation to video editing and photo, something
[04:12] that's calibrated straight from the company, and something that does offer like 144 hertz or higher so I could use it to game as well. So, for $160, I could create all the content that I do, have
[04:26] >> [music] >> and still be able to kick back and play games on it. One monitor, clean, capable, and very affordable. For the people and I create [music] the largest debate. I think chairs are the biggest
[04:40] budget, I would just go to Amazon and grab one of these like $150 or cheaper standard office chairs. Is it luxury? No. Will it let you sit and get work done? Yes. I'm not even going to entertain the excuses of having to
[04:55] splurge on a chair if you are on a budget. Take a break every so often, get up, walk around. Don't rely on your chairs advertising for back health to be the only thing you do for your back health. I spent years using a cheap $50
[05:09] from creating anything. For the keyboard, I'd stick with what I have. Currently using the Keychron V1 Max. It's wireless, clean, great typing feeling. It's only around $100. I actually just did a video specifically
[05:21] options where I can connect it to different devices. Looks great and gets something that's simple, does have a nice aesthetic to it, but I can use both in work and in gaming. So, something like a Model O Wireless or an older G
[05:35] Pro. So, when you add all that up, $350 for a desk, $160 for a monitor, chair around 140, keyboard around 110, and a mouse around $80. We're sitting anywhere from $840 to $900, And I wouldn't feel behind at all. That's why I want to be
[05:50] grinding right now and building from scratch, hell, maybe you're in the early fold-out beer pong table. I remember that season. I started there, too, dude. I added it in design on those fold-out tables. I've had to start my business in
[06:06] the small cramped apartment space. I built real opportunities for me as a creator in setups that people would laugh at. You might not have $900 to this isn't about upgrading everything or rebuilding everything. Maybe it's about
[06:21] upgrading one specific thing. A deeper desk, a better chair, something that take this a step further. If I didn't have $900 right now, and I had, let's say, $500, I would still focus on building [music] smart. I'd probably
[06:35] prioritize the desk and monitor first because that, at the end of the day, is your foundation. Like, that's where the real workflow and organization starts. other stupid [ __ ] Keyboard and mouse, I'd use whatever I have as long as
[06:48] they're working. If they're not, just get something that is affordable as long as they do the job. For chair, if I had to get one, like, I just didn't have one, I'd probably look locally or ask somebody that I know that has an extra
[07:02] one if I could just buy theirs. And then I would build piece by piece over time. You don't need to have everything done at once. You can [music] build up your setup in layers. Again, this is where I go back to the point you don't need
[07:15] look, I love nice gear and a cool-looking [ __ ] I'm very grateful and in my career. But I didn't have all of this for 16 years. None of this is what put me in the position to have the
[07:30] opportunity to do this full-time. Consistency, showing up, and learning was 100%. So, if I had to start over with that $900 setup tomorrow, I wouldn't feel behind. I built amazing work with way less, guys. We all start
[07:42] from somewhere most of the time it's not perfect, but if you build smart, the you're going to be making any major updates to your setup this year. Let me more in-depth streamer version of this or full-time content creator version.
[07:55] what I got for you guys today. I'm out. Peace. Deuces. [music]