When buying appliances, cars, computers, anything mechanical: Whenever possible, buy things that are designed to be easily repaired and upgraded by the end user.  Helpful factors include publicly documented parts, assembly, and troubleshooting instructions. Even if you are not the type to repair things yourself, open sourcing the hardware makes things much easier and cheaper for someone else to repair, and improve, especially long term.

When buying and using software, look for the tools that work the best for your needs, but prefer open sources solutions that can save and store your data in non-proprietary formats, and with long term usability, and upgradability in mind. Don't trust that some random entity is going to keep supporting your tool chain forever.

We live in the age of streaming, and there are hundreds of options out there to watch from a multitude of vendors for a small monthly fee... each. It adds up, but it is convenient.. to an extent. However, know that titles you love and enjoy are subject to the whims and fancies of others on these streaming services and digital content providers. Those others can add, remove, alter, or even censor titles from their service without notice, and possibly prevent you from ever accessing that title again, even if you have purchased that title outright. 

Even if you rely on physical discs, do they require a network connection or need to talk to a specific server to work? Are they subject to physical degradation? Do they depend on DRM, decryption keys, or proprietary data formats? Will they still be making drives that can read that format 10 years from now? Can you easily make portable backups?  Keep these questions in mind for long term solutions for keeping your media accessible for you and future generations.

We live in an age where we spend money on things, and walk away thinking we own them, but all it takes is for someone to push a button, and your software application suite subscription is canceled,  your new car won't start, or possibly even you are evicted from your rental home. Whenever possible, own things outright. Don't rent, or lease, if you can afford it, and if you can't afford it at the moment, save up until you can buy. Avoid HOAs, especially if they have ultimate control of your property. 

Yes, owning things ties you down, and makes it harder to be mobile and flexible. Also, it is pretty rare for a government to allow  true allodial ownership of land, now days, but the idea is to minimize the difficulties and layers separating you from the path of your own choosing.