IT·Science Talk

Is self-hosting at home still worth it, or is it just an expensive hobby?

I've run a small home server for about six years: a low-power mini PC in a cupboard with two drives. It does file storage, photo backup, a password manager and a media library for the family.

Recently I tried to add up what it really costs: hardware spread over five years, the drives I've replaced, electricity, and my time. It came out close to what a family cloud plan plus a streaming service would cost. Maybe slightly more, if I'm honest about my time.

The arguments I still have for it: privacy, no monthly fees going up without warning, and I actually understand where my data is. The argument against: if I get hit by a bus, my wife has no idea how any of it works.

Who else here self-hosts? Did you write down how it works for your family, and did they ever read it?