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The Hidden Costs Behind “Cheap”
When you really think about it, getting a VPS means signing up for a whole lot of extra work:
1. Initial Setup
- Operating system installation and hardening
- Web server configuration (Nginx/Apache)
- SSL certificate setup and renewal automation
- Database installation and optimization
- Firewall configuration and security rules
2. Ongoing Maintenance
- Regular security updates and patches
- Database backups and recovery planning
- Performance monitoring and tuning
- DDoS protection setup
- Log rotation and analysis
3. Technical Challenges
- Handling traffic spikes
- Troubleshooting server issues
- Managing disk space and resources
- Dealing with potential security breaches
- Network configuration and DNS management
Do the math, and that $10.88 savings quickly translates into dozens of hours of work. Hours that I could spend doing things that actually matter, like:
- Writing more content
- Learning new technologies
- Optimizing my website
- Or just, you know, relaxing
Why I’m Sticking with Modern Serverless
Looking back, I’m confident I made the right choice. My current serverless setup offers:
-
Zero Infrastructure Management
- Automatic scaling based on traffic
- Built-in CDN for global content delivery
- Integrated security and DDoS protection
- Zero-downtime deployments
-
Focus on What Matters
- Content-first approach
- Simple deployment workflow
- Minimal technical overhead
- Future-proof architecture
-
True Cost Efficiency
- Pay only for what you use
- No wasted resources
- Predictable pricing
- Built-in redundancy
Let’s Talk Real Costs
Sure, $10.88 per year sounds dirt cheap. But let’s break down the real costs:
With a VPS:
- Server cost: $10.88/year
- SSL certificate: Free (Let’s Encrypt)
- Monthly maintenance: 2 hours (minimum)
- Emergency fixes: ~6 hours/year
- Learning curve: ~20 hours initially
- Value your time at $30/hour
- Real cost: $10.88 + ((24 + 6 + 20) × $30) = $1,510.88
With modern serverless:
- Basic features: Free tier covers most needs
- SSL: Included
- CDN: Included
- DDoS protection: Included
- Maintenance time: Almost zero
- Focus: 100% on content
Final Thoughts
While writing this post, I took another peek at that VPS deal. Yes, it’s still incredibly cheap, but I’m no longer tempted.
Because I’ve realized that in technology:
- The cheapest option often has hidden costs
- Time is more valuable than money
- Simplicity enables creativity
- Focus matters more than savings
If you’re considering a VPS deal, ask yourself:
- What are your real needs?
- How much is your time worth?
- What’s your technical expertise?
- Where should your focus be?
For me, the answer was clear - the best deal isn’t always about the price tag, but about what lets me focus on what I truly enjoy: creating content.