I might not be paid a lot, but things like this makes up for it.

Really? Being given stuff you don’t have a need or use for is good compensation to you?

I bought an old Intel NUC with a 2.x GHz i3, 8gb ram and 120gb nvme used for $65, upgraded it to 16gb of ram and 1tb nvme for another $50. I run everyting from that in either VMs or LXCs (HA, jellyfin, NAS, CCTV, pihole) and it draws about 10W