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How to Buy a NAS for Family Photos

How to · Tech

How to Buy a NAS for Family Photos

Protect your family memories with a reliable backup system while keeping your monthly budget manageable.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $600 before anything else
Across the 0% window $33.33/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $600 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

You want a network-attached storage system that lasts five years or more. Don't buy a budget box that crashes in two; focus on a reputable brand with a good app for your phone. When you buy once, you save the time and headache of migrating data later.

Tech manufacturers usually refresh these boxes in the spring. If you wait for the holiday sales, you can often pick up last year's model for a steal. It will perform just as well for your photos and files without the premium price tag of the newest release.

Remember that the 0% window is a deadline, not a gift. If you have a remaining balance after the 18 months are up, the card will start charging interest on the rest, which gets expensive fast.

The steps

  1. 01

    Set your budget

    Aim for about $600 for a quality two-bay setup including the hard drives. This covers the cost of the box and two drives configured to mirror each other. If one drive fails, your photos stay safe on the other.

  2. 02

    Use the right card

    If you use the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card, you get 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. This lets you pay off the $600 at $33.33 per month over that intro window on purchases of 18 months. It keeps the cash in your pocket while you set up your system.

  3. 03

    Wait for the holiday window

    Hard drives and storage enclosures almost always go on sale during major holiday events. Check store flyers in November and December. You will likely find bundles that save you 15% or more compared to buying parts individually.

  4. 04

    Configure for redundancy

    When you set up your NAS, choose a mirror mode like RAID 1. This writes your data to both drives simultaneously. It cuts your total capacity in half but acts as your primary safety net.

  5. 05

    Automate the backup

    Set the software to sync your phone photos automatically when you are home. Once the initial sync is done, it happens in the background. You won't have to think about it again.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Do I need to be a tech expert to use a NAS?

Not anymore. Modern home storage devices have plug-and-play apps that handle the setup for you.

Why not just use a cloud service?

Cloud services are fine, but you pay a monthly fee forever. A NAS is a one-time purchase that keeps your photos under your own roof.

What happens if the box breaks?

Because you used two drives in a mirror setup, you can just pull the drives out and put them into a new unit. Your data is stored on the disks, not the box itself.

Should I buy the newest model?

Usually no. NAS hardware is stable, and the models from last year are often identical in performance to the new ones, just cheaper.