Daily thread: workflow tweaks vs the alternatives [v5]

For context, I am working with a pretty modest budget so high-end suggestions probably will not land.

For context, I am working with a pretty modest budget so high-end suggestions probably will not land. Quick context: I am relatively new to this and trying to find my footing. Spent the last few weekends digging into this and the deeper I go the more questions I have.

Long-time lurker, first-time poster. There is a lot of conflicting advice online and most of it is from 2019. Long-time lurker, first-time poster.