We recently switched to using a Linux Mint laptop with an adblocker for our streaming (while also cancelling a bunch of services). A friend at the recycling center set it aside for me - the screen was irreparably smashed but it was otherwise quite a nice little laptop. Replacement screens were too expensive so I carefully removed the broken one entirely so it'd default to the HDMI port and then set it up as a quick media center (we watch a lot of YouTube and the ads were driving me crazy, I might switch to a more purpose-built OS eventually). The TV is one I pulled from an ewaste bin to replace my previous ewaste TV after it finally gave up. It has a thin line through one edge of the screen occasionally but is otherwise fine. I also recently found a perfectly good wireless trackball mouse and a Bluetooth keyboard in the same bin where I got the TV (came with that other mouse). The bin even supplied HDMI cables. The whole thing is perched on a particle board TV stand I found like a decade ago when the college kids move out.
most the computers i use were reclaimed from the recycle bin or trash, or pieced-together from scrap parts. i can't afford new stuff, although i did get a few hdd last year for media server. the last one i built with new parts was around 2007, using parts sourced from the insane deals common at that time (like $5 after rebate memory kits). that system cost less than $200 for everything, including a video card for the games i play. i still use that system every week.
Same! I think I've only ever paid for one computer, everything else has been hand-me-downs or ewaste. I've never had a top of the line machine but I don't need one for my hobbies or work. Usually when I start a new project I take a laptop off the pile, install a fresh os, and set it up just for that.