Some backstory:
December 2019 I started as a full-time employee at a software development company. They outsourced me for a German project.
There were many red flags and I had to leave.
I continued working as a contractor for the German client. This was kind of complicated to pull off since there were legal issues and whatnot, but eventually it worked. The problem was that there was quite a bit of drama which "exhausted" both me and the client.
Recently, I had some ideas for the project we're working on and I went to the office to try them out, sadly, I found out that my laptop went bust.
I found a replacement, but it's really bad. I obviously need a new one to continue working efficiently. We're using a very heavy to compile language and you need an above average machine to be efficient.
Thing is, I'm not earning too much and I'm paying rent for my office out of my own pocket. I really like the project and especially the client, but conditions-wise, this isn't really the best workplace setup.
Now I would like to ask for a budget for a new laptop, but I don't know how. Given that we were in a very tense situation until very recently, it's kind of hard to ask for money.
How do I ask for a budget without appearing greedy? I'm also concerned that this "my laptop went bust" thing may seem staged.
Update: Thank you all for your answers! As much as I don't want to, I'll pay from my own pocket and not raise this issue with the client. It's entirely my fault that I've gotten into the position I'm now, where I have all the downsides of full-time employment and zero upsides. I'll try and learn from my mistake.