MacBook Air M2: Is 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD adequate for My Needs? Seeking Urgent Advice before the sale is over!

Hello everyone,

I'm about to purchase my first MacBook and I'm seeking insights from experienced Mac users. I've found that Apple store employees tend to push for higher-end models, and I'd like genuine opinions. As a PhD student, my laptop usage primarily involves online meetings, article reading, and office apps, with occasional Netflix and YouTube. I don't engage in gaming or heavy coding/editing programs. I aim for this laptop to last at least 5 years.

The Apple representative suggested that the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD wouldn't suffice due to my habit of opening numerous tabs and word documents simultaneously, sometimes up to 30 tabs. Do you think this is accurate? Would the base model meet my needs, or would I significantly benefit from upgrading, considering the substantial cost difference?