Hey Nicole, I charged $4,000 on my credit card to save my dog when she was only about halfway through her lifespan. Yes, bad finances and I carried that debt and interest a very long time, but my dog got to live her allotment of 16 years instead of just 9. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
You did the right thing. Pets are family. I did the same thing when the Chinese dogfood additive they put in name brand dog food almost killed my Chocolate lab. $4000 spent, 4 days in intensive care. She was the smartest dog that I have ever seen and she let me know that she was thankful she was saved. She lived for 14 years and died in my arms in 2013. I still miss her so much that it hurts.
Last year, I splurged & had pros paint my house interior as opposed to diy. It cost $2900, but that included repairing cracks & they used a high quality paint. They were in & out in 2 days, left my house clean with no drips, & it looks far nicer than I could have done. I didn't have them do my laundry room because at the time it wasn't a priority, & did that room myself recently & what a pain in the ass that was! Glad I left most of the house to the pros
Merino wool socks with a lifetime warranty. I haven’t had them long enough yet to truly comment on the life changingness, but I love them so much so far and don’t think can ever go back. If you live in the cold and or stand on your feet all day, I highly recommend
My sister had quite an adventure with a robot vacuum which she bought when they first came on the market. She woke from a nap and found that her not quite house broken puppy had pooped on the carpet and the vacuum did a great job of spreading the mess over the entire carpet. It looked like a nightmare version of a Jackson Pollock painting.
I worked in data labelling for robot vacuums during the pandemic. I have closely labelled hundreds of poops, crumbs, throw up, legos, socks, bag straps etc so the robos could learn not to do this. That peril should be over by now 😊
That issue is shockingly common among the older or cheaper robovacs, luckily most modern quality robot vacuums now have some form of poop detection. Not 100% guarantee of course, but they will detect and avoid most poops.
Totally agree with this. I will thrift lamps, rugs, etc, but have a $4k glorious mattress because sleep is so important. Also it's lasted more than a decade so far.
At 33. This is something I'm still trying allow myself to do. It makes so much sense, don't know why I try to be frugal for important things and spending widely on others smh 🤦
Very true. The phone part I felt the price was so worth it when I purchased an iPhone 15, upgraded from an 8 Plus and it’s a world of differences. I bought it from Walmart and added a 2-year Protection Plan which wound up being less than AppleCare and overall I paid $953 for it, got fortunate enough I had $29 of Walmart Cash for saving a little more on it. I was very unfortunate that in October Amazon had Prime Day deals going on so instead of paying $65 for an Otterbox case I paid $35 and then also paid about $10 for this one bundle that had 3 privacy screen protectors and 3 camera lens protectors so I’m fully protected. If you’re going to pay a high amount and full price for a phone like this, you might as well take the extra steps to ensure full protection.
My vitamix was my favorite investment, best 400 bucks I ever spent. Use it 2-3 times a week and have had it about 10yrs now. @ four times the cost of my ninja the shakes are noticeably better quality and the ninja only lasted me 9 months.
As a northern European I have to admit it's a little bit funny to hear someone talk about winter tyres as if they're an optional luxury and not a requirement to drive in the winter. 😆
I drove in winter on "all season" tires until I was over 45 years old. It's better to switch to winter tires in winter, but it's not mandatory in every province in Canada.♥️🇨🇦
Many Canadians, like myself, don't view them as a luxury or an option for that matter. I did get my son a pair of snow-rated all seasons for his car since he lives in an apartment. However, we've always had a separate pair of rims and tires for winter. What I would say is the luxury - getting a decent set of rims instead of black steel wheels that everyone gets. It makes every car look bad, IMO.
A new mattress helped resolve a back problem I got while hiking in the wrong shoes. I needed a new mattress anyway. Getting real hiking boots helped prevent further issues from hiking.
Thanks for the great suggestions! Here's a few on my list: - A Good quality mattress cannot be overstated! Good sleep is priceless. -Linen bed sheets; amazing and will last longer than cotton while getting softer and better with age. -Fine wool throw for winter months; continues on the perfect sleep theme. -Good quality leather winter gloves with lining. Cold hands are just not necessary, besides, they block doorknob germs too. -A pair of high end work boots for men (e.g. Red Wing). They support your arches, get better with age, never go out of style and will last decades. -A high end portable rechargable speaker will give you room- filling high fidelity tunes anywhere you. That was nearly impossible 20 years ago.
For me, anything I use daily and enjoy is worth all the money. For me- Good phone, aka pro iphone or samsung whatever you like. Good PC monitor (new OLEDs are amazing), decent silent mouse and keyboard, ergo chair, soft lighting. Good sounding speakers for my room. Noise cancelling headphones. Basically a tech nerd :D A good car is also worth it, just makes me feel good.
I grew up in an unsafe household, so now that I have a safe home of my own with my husband, I love investing in making our home te most comfortable it can be. A good coffee machine, nice bed, rain shower, home gym, etc. I try to buy quality pieces that last long. And I'm very aware of keeping fixed costs low to keep our freedom. This way, we can save good money, invest some, and have the freedom to live a life we love.
i recently had a wonderful bedding experience at a hotel that completely changed my perspective on comforters... the week i got back, i started hunting for a similar product, and my god my sleep quality went up 200%. Highly recommend doing your research in quality pillows, comofrter, and sheets.
My biggest self-indulgence by far is buying an expensive luthier made flamenco guitar. These guitars cost thousands but the sound and playability are much better than cheaper factory-made guitars. Owning one gives me great pleasure.
Good for you. Frugal doesn't mean not spending money, it means spending wisely in all areas so you can afford the things that are important to you. Sounds like you've got it figured out :)
Always promoted having a small but quality guitar collection. Inspiring to play and worth the money considering the amount of hours that go into honing the craft.
Self indulgence: I bought a Ferrari 308GTS for cash at age 29 right after coming back to the USA with a fat bank account from working in the Persian Gulf. My dad refused to talk to me for 6-8 months after that. He said I was stupid to waste that much money on a car. I had some great times in that car cruising NorCal wineries and coastline. The most memorable time was my dad FINALLY gave in and met me in Pismo Beach for the weekend. I made him sit in the driver's seat in the parking lot by the pier. He was 62 years old. I went to get us some ice cream cones and came back to find 2 chicks in bikinis asking him for rides and wanting to take them to the Sycamore Hot Tubs for a tag team event. He was impressed! For years afterward I caught him bragging ''My son has a Ferrari''. Guitars...I bought an Ibanez bass with Crate amp and gig bag for $120 off Craigslist 10 years ago. I still can't play it worth a damn. It's collecting dust but the Ferrari is in the garage covered up and Pop went to Heaven still thinking he could have had a 3 some.
@@helenivanova5440 Yes, it hurt. We used to talk by phone for an hour or more every Sunday night no matter where I was. He had old fashioned ideas and tried to run my life long after I graduated from college, tell me who I could date (nobody) and that I should be as cheap as him. I worked in 17 countries and came in from Singapore once to see my parents. They told me that 10PM was my curfew, be in no later than that. He completely changed for the better after his grandson was born.
Amen, to the mattress...I have just updated my mattress after putting it off for too long, and it's an absolute life changer (learn from my mistake and never delay replacing an old tired mattress) - a great nights sleep is priceless for your overall wellbeing. Cheers!
I never skimp on glasses (the frames) If I have to wear them every day, I need to love them and they need to hold up for at least 3 years if not more. I spent $500 on the last frames I bought about 4 years ago and I still have them to this day. They do not need to be replaced at the moment! Totally worth the investment.
I bought a $400 toaster that makes toast pretty much as well as but no better than a $27 toaster, but I love it. Three or four times a week when I make toast it makes me happy and comfortable. It's a very nice toaster that should last for decades and then be repairable if anything does ever go wrong with it. It's just a pleasure to use. Dualit Classic.
2 things: 1 is a pot filler tap at my stove. And 2 is a really good mattress like a bigfig. We are big tall people and we generally bought a new mattress every 5-8 years. But the last two years were miserable. Bigfig is designed to support really heavy people and though we aren’t even close to the max, we find this bed does not sag or turn into a hammock. It is $$$$ but it has beefy coils and is really lux. We are on year 5 and it’s like brand new. Love it.
so, snow tires are not legally mandatory in winter everywhere?! i am surprised. where i live (central europe), snow tires are mandatory. if you drive with summer tires in the winter (on an icy, snowy or muddy road) and have a car accident, the insurance won't pay because of willful negligence. and you will pay a fine at a police traffic stop even if there is no accident.
It’s not just the US, I’m in the UK and don’t even know anyone who has winter tyres. They’re just not a thing here, maybe a bit more in the higher parts of scotland. And that’s why the whole place grinds to a halt when we get more than an inch of snow 😂
I'm originally from the UK, now living in southern Germany (all season/Winter tyres). I had all seasons on my TT quattro when I lived in the UK, and my North Yorkshire (UK) family have one car fitted with winter tyres, "just in case". I know a petrol head in West Yorkshire who also has winter tyres on his A4 quattro. They can get to work etc when it snows, allowing for everyone else sliding around on the road and sitting in ditches. Of course, when not everyone has winter tyres, it's irritating to get in to work only to find that no one else has come in because that 2cm of snow has stranded everyone at home.
Solid frame bed. Cast iron and enameled. Just put the dam bottle in the fridge or buy reusable plastic or stainless ice cubes. In plain water i can taste the unpleasant aftertaste and it dilute drinks. If i am thirsty i dont want to wait until the ice cool the water and certainly not going to wait until it melt. Expensive purchase i not regret are end grain cutting board and clad knife. Also stainless steel countertop and induction stove but that is suited for my living situation. And as i became carnivore i have no use for 95% of kitchen gadgets and machines.
@@whosaidthat4299 well to say the truth in rice cooker the temperature never exceeds so high to make the teflon leach or off gas. Frying pans are different story. Also you dont scrape it as a pan. But sure before i became carnivore i also done rice in a pot. And oh man making risotto with beef broth and stir in a little butter and chees in the end. But rice cooker, ice machine and air fryers are mostly not needed as every one already have pots, fridge and oven.
Your list isn't my list but that's ok. What's important is the idea that a frugal person spends wisely in their life so that they _can_ afford the things that are important to them. My list would have things like good computer peripherals, hiring someone to do snow removal and lawn care, a pen that actually writes well and that is a joy to use, that sort of thing :)
A high quality backpack. Even if you're not a big traveler or a student or anything. It'll last so long, it becomes like an old friend in time. And it's less likely to leave you with a broken zipper or split seam the night before a flight.
Clothing such as T-shirts, underwear and socks. They are locally made (British in my case) and so far have proven to be more longer lasting than clothing bought at traditional retailers or discounted online stores.
Totally with you on the Breville. I got it for my husband and it was painful cuz I could not understand why it was so expensive. Welll.....2 years later and I use it even more than he does. Love it!
Darn Tough Wool socks. They are incredibly comfortable and last for years and years. I'm wearing a pair right now that are 13 years old and still look new.
I splurged on an ergonomic work chair because of remote work during the pandemic and I absolutely love it. I believe that I will have this chair for the rest of my life.
Wireless earbuds were certainly my best pandemic era purchase, probably saved my marriage. Also love my Phillips light alarm! I have a cheap cordless stick vac which I will likely upgrade to a Dyson when it craps out- but it’s 5 years old, daily use and still works fine. My Le Creuset dutch oven also gets used near daily and I love the quality, also commercial grade Speed Queen washer and dryer- no bells and whistles but will likely outlive me by decades.
My bose noise cancelling headphones are still the most expensive things I've ever purchased besides a car. I remember getting into my car after leaving the store sweating and trying not to vomit. That was 8 years or so ago. I have used them every single day. Most days they are on my head the majority of the day. They block out a lot of sounds that stress me out. I have misophonia and hyperacuses and they've helped so much. I also have hearing loss in one ear that makes some words sound muffled so watching TV and talking on the phone can be difficult but having the headphones on really makes a difference. They aren't perfect but they are worth every penny.
I don't think $100 on an alarm clock is ridiculous. However, i recently discovered my phones alarm can be set to fade in gradually. I set it to the most buddhist meditation style tone & have it fade in. It is not jarring at all. Just putting it out there as an option.
I lived in Calgary and was transferred to Portland,Oregon and I found how fabulous snow tire perform in the rain! I felt like a was driving on rails during Portland’s rainy winters- amazing. So when I move to Vancouver, BC I regular switch to snow tires in the winter , it makes my commute amazingly stress free
When Quebec outlawed summer tires in the winter there was a significant decrease in accidents, keeping in mind that over 80% of people were using them already. Winter tires are a real must have in cold climates. I have that alarm too, it's amazing. I changed the lights in my room to Philips hue and have them do the same to wake me up.
Definitely my dishwasher ! With working, meal prep and all the other household chores required, definitely worth it! The next item on my list is a stacking washer/dryer to put on my main level, can’t wait!
I bought Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 15 years ago when a good one was expense. Now they are cheap. I prefer the neckband over the ear buds. They have super long lasting batteries and I don't lose them. It is something I use everyday..
I read that starting with AirPods Pro, Apple designed them to be disposable products. Another video said that once the batteries inside the earbuds go bad, they can't be replaced without destroying them. I prefer to take good care of things to use them for the long haul, so I don't know if I would ever get one if this is true.
One of the new items I got was the Shocks OpenRun Pro 2 headphones. Being able to listen to music or videos while still being able to hear everything like games or conversations has been amazing. Its kind of similar to how you don't like being jarred awake with the light waking you. I pretty much live with them on. I've gotten a few pairs of Bluetooth buds over the years but these have been a better experience overall.
Great job. Regarding my life changing purchases, im going to share my decision to buy the most respected brands of tools for my woodworking hobby. I started getting into woodworking and especially furniture making in my late 30s. I made a conscious decision to get the most highly recommended tools. Now that I’m retired I have more time to create. I couldn’t afford to purchase the tool I have today. Inflation has made them unaffordable to me. So I’m happy I made the decision to purchase them when i did. This process can work with most any type of hobbies I believe.
I commonly use our vacuum as a talking point when friends talk about money. My girlfriend would buy wind up buying a new vacuum every year for around $50. It cleaned for about month or two and then we'd just have a hard time cleaning until she went and got a new one. Some years back, I bought us a $300 model that I got for $140. It still cleans better than the other ones ever did five years later. The cost per use, as well as the value of each use blows away our previous method of underbuy and replace. This video says everything I've been saying for years.
Since I think that time is worth more than money because you can never get your time back, I have four things that I splurge on that are worth it: - I splurged on a Dyson stick vacuum and a Dyson regular vacuum. It was worth the money because the hype about them is true. They do the BEST job with cleaning/vacuuming. I had a less expensive stick vac, but it broke after two years. The Dyson is still going strong. - I get food delivery from Factor. The food is tasty and healthy, and it saves me a lot of time with cooking since I’m a very busy person. It also saves me money in the long run because the meals are cheaper than meals at a restaurant. - I pay for a housekeeper to clean once a week. It gives me a lot of time back. - I pay for Instacart. Again, it saves me time.
For me it was french press and decent grinder. Also stainless containers instead of plastic and glass reagent bottles with a stopper. It cost same as retail glass containers but its made from thick borosilicate glass and they are variety of sizes and shapes. In short good things cost more. Its a reason there is a saying i am too poor to buy cheap things. But there are items like cast iron pan that cost like 2 cheap teflon pans but last several life times. But also items like moka pot that make decent coffee and taste not that much different as from expensive expresso machine. Its hundred times cheaper and never break instead of the machine that need maintenance. Usually go for items that work mechanically then electronically. They are often cheaper, last life time and usually make decent or better job.
@@Hogue_Indiana I also started with such cheap hand grinder. Its way better then the cheap electric one with rotating blades that is called coffee grinder but its a spice grinder as it make way too much fine particles. In coffee grinders the more it cost the more consistent the grind suppose to be. The conical ones similar to the hand spice and salt grinders in cheap ones. To mid range using flat metal planes to the expensive ones using ceramic grind stones. As i dont have expresso machine the mid range using flat metal "grindstones" is sufficient for my use of french press or moka. There is nothing wrong with the cheap hand cranked one if you just drink coffee time to time. For daily use its too much time consuming as it takes more the half a hour to make it. I have the DéLonghi KG89. There is also little cheaper black one KG79. For what i saw its around 100 bucks. The good ones cost over 300.
OK, here's my answer: a quality wool jumper. [or sweater if you are elsewhere on the planet!}. I don't mean the modern type. I mean just the top. I was 14 when I bought an expensive pure wool jumper. It kept me warm putting up tents at 5 am in winter. When I was older and it no longer fitted I used it as a scarf. In the end I got 30 years of use from the jumper! Yep, 30 years. Buying for quality was worth it! In hindsight I would have bought 3 of them! In my case I bought it from a military disposal store; it looked like an army jumper except for being the wrong colour.
I have custom orthodics....1000% better than generic orthodics. Even with American insurance, they were expensive. However, they last for years...even decades ..and are definitely worth it.
After my "wholesale" Serta (?) crapped out after 7 years, I splurged on one of those medium-end Helix mattresses; no soreness, and I wake up refreshed. Worth every penny!
I would add a pricey item that is nothing short of a life changer: a fitness smartwatch. Sure, I was having a relatively healthy lifestyle before that, but once the pandemic was over, I got a solar forerunner. I got more health-conscious, organized (and accountable!) with daily routines, exercise and sleep, and there is a bunch of cool RGP-like stats and progression graphs! Also it helps to deal with getting lazy - because, you know, your watch is watching, so get your trainers on and chop-chop, maintain your training load! Forgot to mention, it shows time too. Helpful, I guess.
My splurges: feeding 9 outdoor cats, sharing leftover homecooked food with neighbors, healthy snacks, meat from the butcher, vegetables delivered from the farm, Sam's Club Plus and Walmart Plus memberships which have been worth it just to save gas and aggravation.
Oh my GOD do I resonate with the alarm clock anxiety. I've spent years waking up to a rigorous academic schedule for my undergrad + grad school years; constantly thinking I slept in for an exam or skipping important deadlines by mistake. As a result, I'd always put 5-10 of those alarms on my phone to wake up up properly, and I'd always bolt upright in the morning in a panic a few moments before the sound went off. I lived that way for years. And then I bought one of those light alarms and I actually slept properly. I can VIVIDLY remember waking up naturally to the artificial light one morning and almost crying in my bed b/c I felt no anxiety and actually well rested. For those who've never experienced this product, PLEASE BUY ONE
Pam here….it pays to ‘know’ tradespeople. Best to pay for Electrician, plumber, plasterer, carpenter to do things that if you do wrong as DIY has a potential for a costly failure.
Unfortunately just because you pay someone to do something does not mean that it will be done right. I have seen some "professional" work that is pretty poorly done. The way that I see it, I would rather do everything myself. If it isn't quite right then I only have myself to blame.
@@beetlebuilder5882then you call them back and ask them to fix it. Then they should fix it for free since it's their fault. Otherwise it's bad business. Edit: I may see your point if it's done in a way that works but violates code or is done too differently from how you would have done it.
Yea its called know your limits. Self reflection is something most people lack. I renovate my whole apartment from pouring new floors to installing new doors. Moving light fixtures and putting down tiles. As someone mention a "professional" can do sometimes worst job then if you done it your self. But i think you mean to know a decent ones.
Instant pot, good air fryer and soda stream. We save so much money quickly making dried beans that the instant pot paid for itself in months. The soda stream is person specific obviously but my partner drinks a case of soda waters a week. Even if it doesn’t save us money it does reduce waste. The air fryer makes cooking on a weekday so much easier. Don’t have to heat up the entire oven to cook a few chicken thighs and it does it better. The instant pot and air fryer combined could replace most other items in the kitchen if needed. Love them!
My expensive item is dog care. I pay a high rate for a very trustworthy care provider for my dog when I travel. My dog hates cars, so I have to leave her home. I've used the same person for years and it's worth every penny for the piece of mind. We call her the dog nanny.
I haven’t used an alarm for a few years because I moved somewhere with so many birds, I wake up to their chirping and singing everyday. Which is kinda nice, apart from the odd 5am bastard. 😂
Thank you Nicole for sharing your items. They were very good choices for you. The next purchase I hope to make will be a mattress for my bed. This mattress I have was a hand me down and it to the point of hurting my back so now I’m saving to buy me a new mattress for Christmas. If I had to purchase something else, it would probably be every day clothes like shirts and simple pants. I don’t dress up just simple plain shirt, plain pants, and a new pair of tennis shoes sketchers. i’m decluttering my house right now and getting rid of stuff that has been in the closet and I never look at it. Never touch it and it’s going to someone else who can use it. I have no use for it anymore. My house is fixing to be bare and empty, which I can’t wait. I am 67 and it’s not what you need is what you don’t need in life to make it simple and my life is fixing to be real simple. I feel the less you have to worry about replacing or keeping up is a very good life. I’ve had my joys. I’ve had my fun and now it’s time for me to be simple and not keep up with the Joneses cause I don’t know any.😂😂😂😂😂 have a merry Christmas and a happy new year and I’ll see you in the next video
Same. I have one room left to purge and then the basement. If it takes another year, so be it. I promised my son there would be minimal stuff for him to deal with in the future. It's very 'freeing' to be rid of clutter and useless items, should've done it years ago. (I don't know any Joneses either😂)
For me, one of the things that are worth it is getting an Uber when I need to to either my pet sitting jobs or to the airport for when I travel. Also a good quality suitcase. Getting groceries delivered are worth it as well as I don’t have a car. Going to the cinemas, travelling and my Birkenstocks which I’ve had for about 3 years. So much nicer than cheap sandals and more comfortable.
Recently replaced my 15 year old Oakleys with prescription shades, I reckon in that time my wife bought and broke about 20 pairs of sunglasses. Definitely agree with the stick vac, ours is 10yo now, with one battery replacement. I was thinking about a coffee maker, but as I only drink black coffee and get up when everyone else is asleep decided it wasn’t for me. I’ve got one of those four legged alarm clocks, haven’t set an alarm in years! 😅
Fun fact: in Germany, it's required to have winter tires in winter. Otherwise, insurance won't cover accidents during wintertime. All season tires with a certain logo are also ok.
Tires are completely different in North America - your all seasons don't really exist here, they are just now becoming available as "all weather" tires. All-seasons here are basically 3-season tires unless they are M&S or 3-peak rated. There are plenty of states in the US that will require snow tires or chains when the conditions demand them, but even in places that have much more snow than anywhere in Germany never require snow tires, it's just overkill. I used to live in Maine and never had snow tires, just put a sandbag in the trunk of your rear-wheel drive car ;-)
@@paulej It's called 3-peak, you can find it in a limited number of North American tires, including (as @jmentz said) Michelin Crossclimate. Look for 'all weather' tires - Pirelli, Nokian, Michelin, Vredestein & others make them for NA.
Water filters for actually tasty and safe tap water to drink and cook with. Fancy customizable office chair for home office (I work from home). Bidet. Level 2 charger at home if you drive an EV. Good supplements that my doctor recommended. Yes, they proved to be working better than the ones from Costco, I had a very long run and multiple labs to compare impact. Organic/grass fed/pasture raised food options. And picking local produce over imported. Eating what’s naturally “seasonal” in your area. Hoka sneakers.
I've been a movie nerd my whole life, and I've never regretted my OLED TV. I've had a few now and the picture is just wonderful. Also, I've been buying the Purple Harmony Pillow about twice a year for a few years. Love that thing, can't imagine changing.
I bought an expensive vacuum cleaner 20 years ago after a few years of buying short lived duds. I still have my pricey vacuum cleaner and it works just like it did when it was brand new - fantastically!! I feel guilty for saying this but I love my vacuum cleaner more than some people in my life.
I have an ancient Kenmore canister. Yes it's heavy and awkward but man it gets the dirt up. I haul it out about once a month, I use a cheap stick vac every few days (dog and cat hair). The Kenmore was worth every penny
I've had both. I figure a bed costs $100/year. So if you spend $300, you'll get 3 years out of it. If you spend $1000, you'll get 10 years. That's how it's worked out for me anyway.
2:00 A couple of years ago I had a maintenance job that had me going through hundreds of garden per week; I lost count of the number of Dyson vacuum cleaners that people had tossed out into their gardens because they had broken down. Don't waste your money on them is my advise.
The "broke-down" is probably from the batteries conking out. The batteries can be replaced very easily and at a reasonable price. There are just too many people out there that prefer to throw something out rather than do simple repairs.
Couldn’t agree more, i was underwhelmed with ours - battery life was rubbish, it was unforgivably hard to empty, and it very regularly threw tantrums and kept cutting out due to some hair getting caught somewhere in the brush. Just treated myself to a Shark for black friday and it’s so much better so far.
I think pull and push exercise, in a door frame, will help your back. I think swimming is very helpful for a back issues. It is also good for overall health, tone, and strength.
Anything you utilize on a daily basis may be worth spending a bit more on. Durability = value in my book. Another category is furniture. Buy as much quality as you can afford. Be sure it's what you like and that it fits your space. Spending another hundred or two on something you utilize daily will reveal itself to be a better value.
I'm with you on that sunrise clock that also has birdsong to wake up and white noise to go to sleep. Can't justify the coffee machine, but love me a good kitchen tool. Love tools in general. I buy myself a power tool (or jig for said power tool) for my birthday every year. And you must have a good chef knife. It's a must. I tried several and then asked a woman who had a catering business for a recommendation and bought her suggestion -- she was right. After that I bought a good sharpening tool that actually works, a sharpening stone and this X-mas I'm getting myself a steel and then shopping for a leather strop for my birthday next fall.
A stick vacuum: my daughter gave me her old Dyson when she purchased a new one. Changed my life. I love vacuuming now. It's so easy and convenient. I don't know how old this vacuum is but it's falling apart and it STILL works. If I can no longer use it I will absolutely buy another even though they are very expensive. Sun glasses: after using cheap sunglasses my whole life I finally splurged on a pair of Ray-Bans. My eyesight was really bothering me for the last year or so although my optometrist said I had no problems. I just couldn't see well outdoors and my eyes were always watering from the sun. I spent a lot of money on the Ray Bans but totally worth it. They made a huge difference so much so that I feel my eyesight is fine now, other than the need for reading glasses.
I paid $750 to have a vet come to my house and put my dog down. She was 16 and it was time, painful but such a good way to do it. Rugable area rugs--machine washable. A little black dress from Vicki-Vi. Got my first one over 30 years ago. Am on v2 now. It's like a backdrop. It makes the accessories pop. No one ever notices it's the same dress. Top quality pots and pans.
Model S Plaid for me. Bugatti performance for $50k, can drive itself, and super cheap energy costs. Absolutely zero regrets buying it. There probably wont be a better car that I’ll even want for the next decade at least.
Vivobarefoot shoes are pricey but will save ££££ on medical bills for back, foot and hip problems. You probably have a sore back (like most people) because like most people you strap an inch of rubber to your heal. At your age you really shoudn't have a sore back. Orthotics or insoles will just cause your feet to get even weaker.
Yes to the cordless vac. I splurged on a Dyson many years ago and loved it so much that I ended up gifting one (each) to my sister and both of my adult children. Pricey but worth it. Yes to the winter tires. I used to live in Michigan, and about 10 years ago I inherited my mom's Florida car (a cute Mazda 3) and the first winter I almost couldn't get out of my very flat driveway! It needed new tires anyway, so I put on some Michelin snow tires and what a difference! I ended up putting the same tires on my other car because they were so much better in the snow and slush! Many kitchen items. Lately I've bought several OXO branded items to replace cheaper ones. Although the OXOs tend to cost twice as much, they also seem to last forever and they just work! So that is my recommendation, consider the OXO item when buying things for your kitchen.
The Phillip's light is 1000% worth it! I've had it for over 10 years - it is always gentle and I never get tired of the bird chirp and sunrise - so gentle
Winter tires are definitely worth it. The Focus ST I bought 6 years ago came with summer rated tires. I had to either purchase winter tires or replace the summers with all season tires. I opted for winter tires on separate rims. Driving through snow and wet winter roads was exceptionally better than driving on all season tires that I had on previous vehicles. Only downside is swapping them out twice a year. I do it myself and it's a drudgery, but it is worth it.
Holy moly. 7 out of 8. I have a real Dyson though. Thanks for validating my purchases. Don’t have the alarm clock, retired 4 years. I’ll show this to my wife. Btw, I use and enjoy all of my devices. The shoe orthotics were a game changer too. My new and pricey Michelin All Weather tires are great in the snow.
I got snow tires for the first time. I'm excited to see the difference. Earbuds yes. I cannot in any world see how I lived with out them. Now I even have backups.
There are two things I can think of right now that can be expensive, but I think are worth it. 1) if you live somewhere cold with the potential for snow etc, invest in a good quality winter coat. I cheated out for a few years when living in NYC and then finally closed my eyes and spent $650+ on a real waterproof winter coat and it made all the difference. 2) if you’re someone who wants or needs to get in shape or just want to improve your physical fitness, but find you don’t have the discipline to go to the gym or work out at home - Hire a private, professional trainer. When you’re spending that money and you’re taking up someone else’s time you’re much more inclined to follow through and you get the push you need to work harder or try something you might not do on your own.
This is a recent purchase but so far it’s been fantastic. “Zlumber lock sheet holders.” I have had trouble keeping sheets on my bed and have used “sheet stays” which are basically elastic cords with clips, and they kinda worked, and made changing sheets a pain. These sheet holders cost about $60 USD so they’re kind of on the expensive side but they’re brilliant! Not only do they hold the bottom sheets on, they hold the top sheet as well. They’re absolutely worth every penny, AND I don’t have to chase the elastic cords under my mattress any more! :)
Totally worth it: 20 years ago I had extreme anxiety about spending what I thought was a lot of money on a full yard irrigation system. I felt lazy. However, it had turned out to be the best thing we’ve purchased for the house. Benefits include: reclaimed time, more efficient watering (varied heights and behavior of output depending on zones), no worries about meeting town water restrictions (just set the new days and times and forget about it), no worries about vacations or business trips, and no hose-damaged flower beds.
My coffee maker was a $20 pour over carafe from Amazon. I love it! I use a kettle to boil the water, and ground coffee from Aldi like their German roasts.
For me it is a few items that are not so much expensive as regarded as unnecessary by a lot of people however have been an absolute blessing in my own life: - automatic cat feeder: it's electronic, timed with 6 small meals per day only needing to be refilled once a day as I can track her food intake and I don't have to bother except once a day to refill it) - Instant Hot Water Dispenser: it's expensive compared to a kettle however unlike a kettle there is no wait time and I am constantly boiling the water after it cools! I am an avid tea drinker and this is basically like your coffee machine where it's made my life a tonne more easier to make and drink tea. As much as I enjoyed the ritual of boiling the kettle, it sucked I had to do it so many times a day. This creates less friction. I also couldn't find a kettle that could hold as much water (3L) as this dispenser. - 8L water filter container: I did the math between an on top attachment vs the external and the external is best), doggie water fountain (both the dog and cat drink out of happily and has lasted me over a decade of use - A 40W USB C Fast Charger, 4-Port USB Wall Charger Plug. Due to how many devices require charging and with limited power points, this has been super helpful!
I also agree on the good espresso machine. I went with a Gaggia Velasca super automatic (put beans in the cup and it grinds the beans and makes the espresso for you). I used a Christmas bonus to buy it in 2017 and I figure I’ve make around 6000 cups so far. I use it for Americano’s and Lattes. I figure I’ve save thousands over the years vs. the up-front cost of about $600. It’s better than Starbucks and a LOT cheaper.
oh boy, a set of good snow tires in the winter is totally worth the money. as someone who sh*t my pants once driving up a snow covered hill, i can tell you i learned the hard way. i thought i'd be ok in an AWD car, i discovered i was wrong when i came to a stop sign on top of the hill.
I agree with most of these. I ditched orthodics for barefoot style shoes, which did way more to eliminate my back pain. I have since completely swapped out my shoe wardrobe for barefoot shoes. They're expensive, but worth it. I ditched sunglasses after I changed my diet. It turned out that I found the sun painful/my eyes were light sensitive because my diet was causing inflammation of my optic nerve. I got rid of inflammation in my body, and now I no longer need sunglasses. All the others are things I have and I agree completely!
Bought the most expensive running shoe I’ve ever had a few months ago (about $170) : Mizuno wave horizon 6. I can’t see ever changing brands . So durable (700 miles and counting) and incredibly comfortable.
Love the alarm clock suggestion. Total game changer for me too. And winter tires are probably the best investment you can make for your safety on the road. As someone who doesn't wear glasses, I've somehow managed to misplace every pair of expensive sunglasses I've owned. Maybe one day I won't be devastated afterwards, but for now that's why I stick with the cheap pairs. I really like my house slippers. Teva makes a good pair that keep my feet warm in the winter and protected from stubbed toes. The arch support in them is good too.
Newly subbed. I do spend on certain things. Mattress is mandatory, sun glasses of course, comfy footwear, but the biggest expense is for quality food. Why have a soya burger when you can have a wagyu steak? Nicole as you get older you will find the finer things life has to offer. Congrats on your back pain solution. Remember, health and experiences. Ty b
Thnx for the tip about stick vacuums, I just got mine, I actually enjoy vacuuming now! I can see the appeal of a canister vacuum with a long hose, but the stick is next level! My old upright goes into storage!
I agree about the Phillips wake up clock. I used to have one and I loved it. After it broke I got a cheaper one off Amazon and it’s just ok. When it breaks though,I’m going back to philips
Wool sweater. Will keep you warm forever. And inline skates if that's your hobby. The higher end models are so much better than the ones you get at the supermarket...
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Hey Nicole, I charged $4,000 on my credit card to save my dog when she was only about halfway through her lifespan.
Yes, bad finances and I carried that debt and interest a very long time, but my dog got to live her allotment of 16 years instead of just 9.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
You did the right thing. Pets are family. I did the same thing when the Chinese dogfood additive they put in name brand dog food almost killed my Chocolate lab. $4000 spent, 4 days in intensive care. She was the smartest dog that I have ever seen and she let me know that she was thankful she was saved. She lived for 14 years and died in my arms in 2013. I still miss her so much that it hurts.
@kimmer6 Wow, brutal. I'm so glad that care was available and you were able to access it. I think you did the right thing as well!
❤
@@kimmer6 Pets are pets - *not* family. You must be a Westerner.
@@chris4321das Sorry if you eat your pets.
Last year, I splurged & had pros paint my house interior as opposed to diy. It cost $2900, but that included repairing cracks & they used a high quality paint. They were in & out in 2 days, left my house clean with no drips, & it looks far nicer than I could have done. I didn't have them do my laundry room because at the time it wasn't a priority, & did that room myself recently & what a pain in the ass that was! Glad I left most of the house to the pros
I know pros can do a better job but I argue with myself that “anyone can paint a wall.” Hoping your post ends my internal struggle 😅
Your sane, measured, thoughtful/non-rambling delivery is appreciated. Subscribed.
Merino wool socks with a lifetime warranty. I haven’t had them long enough yet to truly comment on the life changingness, but I love them so much so far and don’t think can ever go back. If you live in the cold and or stand on your feet all day, I highly recommend
Used to work outdoors in winter, and wool socks are mandatory.
I add a pair of wool socks to my kids Xmas gifts every year! It's a tradition.
Where did you get a lifetime warranty?
@ company is darn tough from Vermont
My sister had quite an adventure with a robot vacuum which she bought when they first came on the market. She woke from a nap and found that her not quite house broken puppy had pooped on the carpet and the vacuum did a great job of spreading the mess over the entire carpet. It looked like a nightmare version of a Jackson Pollock painting.
So never match a puppy and an electronic device. You never can predict a result😂.
When I got a Robo vacuum my Maltese kept barking at it for the first week.
I worked in data labelling for robot vacuums during the pandemic. I have closely labelled hundreds of poops, crumbs, throw up, legos, socks, bag straps etc so the robos could learn not to do this. That peril should be over by now 😊
@@bluestripes6037 Thank you for your service. You must've seen some hilarious things! Where did the footage come from? From the robots themselves?
That issue is shockingly common among the older or cheaper robovacs, luckily most modern quality robot vacuums now have some form of poop detection. Not 100% guarantee of course, but they will detect and avoid most poops.
Anything that you use everyday is worth spending the money on quality. Mattress, computer, phone, latte maker, cooking utensils etc.
Totally agree with this. I will thrift lamps, rugs, etc, but have a $4k glorious mattress because sleep is so important. Also it's lasted more than a decade so far.
At 33. This is something I'm still trying allow myself to do. It makes so much sense, don't know why I try to be frugal for important things and spending widely on others smh 🤦
Very true. The phone part I felt the price was so worth it when I purchased an iPhone 15, upgraded from an 8 Plus and it’s a world of differences. I bought it from Walmart and added a 2-year Protection Plan which wound up being less than AppleCare and overall I paid $953 for it, got fortunate enough I had $29 of Walmart Cash for saving a little more on it. I was very unfortunate that in October Amazon had Prime Day deals going on so instead of paying $65 for an Otterbox case I paid $35 and then also paid about $10 for this one bundle that had 3 privacy screen protectors and 3 camera lens protectors so I’m fully protected.
If you’re going to pay a high amount and full price for a phone like this, you might as well take the extra steps to ensure full protection.
Good quality footwear is very important to me.......
A decent enough tooth brush....
And warm pants .....
I'm very happy 😅
I love this opinion
My vitamix was my favorite investment, best 400 bucks I ever spent. Use it 2-3 times a week and have had it about 10yrs now. @ four times the cost of my ninja the shakes are noticeably better quality and the ninja only lasted me 9 months.
As a northern European I have to admit it's a little bit funny to hear someone talk about winter tyres as if they're an optional luxury and not a requirement to drive in the winter. 😆
I drove in winter on "all season" tires until I was over 45 years old. It's better to switch to winter tires in winter, but it's not mandatory in every province in Canada.♥️🇨🇦
People in Canada who only do city driving might not get snow tires, unless their province mandates them.
I'm told that they are also mandated in Switzerland, although that might be by canton (or just a requirement by the car insurance company)
Many Canadians, like myself, don't view them as a luxury or an option for that matter. I did get my son a pair of snow-rated all seasons for his car since he lives in an apartment. However, we've always had a separate pair of rims and tires for winter. What I would say is the luxury - getting a decent set of rims instead of black steel wheels that everyone gets. It makes every car look bad, IMO.
They are required by law in Canada
My expensive items are my kids...lol. I don't know what I would do without them, they bring me so much joy and happiness.
Love my kids but now that they are adults the answer to your question is travel!!!
your money can buy your kids happiness
more than the ammount of happiness u can buy yourself
😂😂
A new mattress helped resolve a back problem I got while hiking in the wrong shoes. I needed a new mattress anyway. Getting real hiking boots helped prevent further issues from hiking.
Thanks for the great suggestions! Here's a few on my list:
- A Good quality mattress cannot be overstated! Good sleep is priceless.
-Linen bed sheets; amazing and will last longer than cotton while getting softer and better with age.
-Fine wool throw for winter months; continues on the perfect sleep theme.
-Good quality leather winter gloves with lining. Cold hands are just not necessary, besides, they block doorknob germs too.
-A pair of high end work boots for men (e.g. Red Wing). They support your arches, get better with age, never go out of style and will last decades.
-A high end portable rechargable speaker will give you room- filling high fidelity tunes anywhere you. That was nearly impossible 20 years ago.
For me, anything I use daily and enjoy is worth all the money. For me- Good phone, aka pro iphone or samsung whatever you like. Good PC monitor (new OLEDs are amazing), decent silent mouse and keyboard, ergo chair, soft lighting. Good sounding speakers for my room. Noise cancelling headphones. Basically a tech nerd :D A good car is also worth it, just makes me feel good.
I grew up in an unsafe household, so now that I have a safe home of my own with my husband, I love investing in making our home te most comfortable it can be.
A good coffee machine, nice bed, rain shower, home gym, etc. I try to buy quality pieces that last long.
And I'm very aware of keeping fixed costs low to keep our freedom. This way, we can save good money, invest some, and have the freedom to live a life we love.
💜
I have a cheap coffee maker and good coffee. :)
I don’t know you, but I am truly happy for you. You have always deserved to be safe and loved.
i recently had a wonderful bedding experience at a hotel that completely changed my perspective on comforters... the week i got back, i started hunting for a similar product, and my god my sleep quality went up 200%. Highly recommend doing your research in quality pillows, comofrter, and sheets.
Consider a cotton filled one for summer - they're amazing.
My biggest self-indulgence by far is buying an expensive luthier made flamenco guitar. These guitars cost
thousands but the sound and playability are much better than cheaper factory-made guitars. Owning one
gives me great pleasure.
Good for you. Frugal doesn't mean not spending money, it means spending wisely in all areas so you can afford the things that are important to you. Sounds like you've got it figured out :)
Always promoted having a small but quality guitar collection. Inspiring to play and worth the money considering the amount of hours that go into honing the craft.
Self indulgence: I bought a Ferrari 308GTS for cash at age 29 right after coming back to the USA with a fat bank account from working in the Persian Gulf. My dad refused to talk to me for 6-8 months after that. He said I was stupid to waste that much money on a car. I had some great times in that car cruising NorCal wineries and coastline. The most memorable time was my dad FINALLY gave in and met me in Pismo Beach for the weekend. I made him sit in the driver's seat in the parking lot by the pier. He was 62 years old. I went to get us some ice cream cones and came back to find 2 chicks in bikinis asking him for rides and wanting to take them to the Sycamore Hot Tubs for a tag team event. He was impressed! For years afterward I caught him bragging ''My son has a Ferrari''.
Guitars...I bought an Ibanez bass with Crate amp and gig bag for $120 off Craigslist 10 years ago. I still can't play it worth a damn. It's collecting dust but the Ferrari is in the garage covered up and Pop went to Heaven still thinking he could have had a 3 some.
@@kimmer6what looks stupid to me is to stop speaking to a person because they bought smth they wanted to have for money they themselves had earned.
@@helenivanova5440 Yes, it hurt. We used to talk by phone for an hour or more every Sunday night no matter where I was. He had old fashioned ideas and tried to run my life long after I graduated from college, tell me who I could date (nobody) and that I should be as cheap as him. I worked in 17 countries and came in from Singapore once to see my parents. They told me that 10PM was my curfew, be in no later than that. He completely changed for the better after his grandson was born.
A good mattress, winter clothing and good quality food
Amen, to the mattress...I have just updated my mattress after putting it off for too long, and it's an absolute life changer (learn from my mistake and never delay replacing an old tired mattress) - a great nights sleep is priceless for your overall wellbeing. Cheers!
Mattress yes, and warm, quality winter clothes, so true!
Agreed, but winter clothing here is a hoodie maybe.
I never skimp on glasses (the frames) If I have to wear them every day, I need to love them and they need to hold up for at least 3 years if not more. I spent $500 on the last frames I bought about 4 years ago and I still have them to this day. They do not need to be replaced at the moment! Totally worth the investment.
you're just paying a markup though...no way it's bought from the factory for even $100, probably more like $5
@@FedPut I agree and it's prince gauging. Prescription glasses are $$$ so I'm stuck. But I should look for other options.
I bought a $400 toaster that makes toast pretty much as well as but no better than a $27 toaster, but I love it. Three or four times a week when I make toast it makes me happy and comfortable. It's a very nice toaster that should last for decades and then be repairable if anything does ever go wrong with it. It's just a pleasure to use. Dualit Classic.
2 things: 1 is a pot filler tap at my stove. And 2 is a really good mattress like a bigfig. We are big tall people and we generally bought a new mattress every 5-8 years. But the last two years were miserable. Bigfig is designed to support really heavy people and though we aren’t even close to the max, we find this bed does not sag or turn into a hammock. It is $$$$ but it has beefy coils and is really lux. We are on year 5 and it’s like brand new. Love it.
so, snow tires are not legally mandatory in winter everywhere?! i am surprised. where i live (central europe), snow tires are mandatory. if you drive with summer tires in the winter (on an icy, snowy or muddy road) and have a car accident, the insurance won't pay because of willful negligence. and you will pay a fine at a police traffic stop even if there is no accident.
It’s not just the US, I’m in the UK and don’t even know anyone who has winter tyres. They’re just not a thing here, maybe a bit more in the higher parts of scotland. And that’s why the whole place grinds to a halt when we get more than an inch of snow 😂
I'm originally from the UK, now living in southern Germany (all season/Winter tyres). I had all seasons on my TT quattro when I lived in the UK, and my North Yorkshire (UK) family have one car fitted with winter tyres, "just in case". I know a petrol head in West Yorkshire who also has winter tyres on his A4 quattro. They can get to work etc when it snows, allowing for everyone else sliding around on the road and sitting in ditches.
Of course, when not everyone has winter tyres, it's irritating to get in to work only to find that no one else has come in because that 2cm of snow has stranded everyone at home.
Bed.
Pots and pans.
Rice cooker.
Fruits and vegetables.
Ice machine. Yes, actually 😂
Solid frame bed.
Cast iron and enameled.
Just put the dam bottle in the fridge or buy reusable plastic or stainless ice cubes. In plain water i can taste the unpleasant aftertaste and it dilute drinks. If i am thirsty i dont want to wait until the ice cool the water and certainly not going to wait until it melt.
Expensive purchase i not regret are end grain cutting board and clad knife. Also stainless steel countertop and induction stove but that is suited for my living situation. And as i became carnivore i have no use for 95% of kitchen gadgets and machines.
Too many rice cookers are Teflon, I just cook rice in a pot, it's easy.
@@whosaidthat4299 well to say the truth in rice cooker the temperature never exceeds so high to make the teflon leach or off gas. Frying pans are different story. Also you dont scrape it as a pan. But sure before i became carnivore i also done rice in a pot. And oh man making risotto with beef broth and stir in a little butter and chees in the end. But rice cooker, ice machine and air fryers are mostly not needed as every one already have pots, fridge and oven.
Your list isn't my list but that's ok. What's important is the idea that a frugal person spends wisely in their life so that they _can_ afford the things that are important to them. My list would have things like good computer peripherals, hiring someone to do snow removal and lawn care, a pen that actually writes well and that is a joy to use, that sort of thing :)
A high quality backpack. Even if you're not a big traveler or a student or anything. It'll last so long, it becomes like an old friend in time. And it's less likely to leave you with a broken zipper or split seam the night before a flight.
I appreciate the information in your videos.. I’m old but never to old to try ideas for a more comfortable life..
Clothing such as T-shirts, underwear and socks. They are locally made (British in my case) and so far have proven to be more longer lasting than clothing bought at traditional retailers or discounted online stores.
Totally with you on the Breville. I got it for my husband and it was painful cuz I could not understand why it was so expensive. Welll.....2 years later and I use it even more than he does. Love it!
Darn Tough Wool socks. They are incredibly comfortable and last for years and years. I'm wearing a pair right now that are 13 years old and still look new.
Are they for home or for wearing them outside?
@ Everywhere. I wear them in my work boots , hiking, around town.
Wear wool socks year round. They wick the wetness off your feet, they are never sweaty.
I splurged on an ergonomic work chair because of remote work during the pandemic and I absolutely love it. I believe that I will have this chair for the rest of my life.
Wireless earbuds were certainly my best pandemic era purchase, probably saved my marriage. Also love my Phillips light alarm! I have a cheap cordless stick vac which I will likely upgrade to a Dyson when it craps out- but it’s 5 years old, daily use and still works fine. My Le Creuset dutch oven also gets used near daily and I love the quality, also commercial grade Speed Queen washer and dryer- no bells and whistles but will likely outlive me by decades.
I'm curious, how did they save your marriage?
My bose noise cancelling headphones are still the most expensive things I've ever purchased besides a car. I remember getting into my car after leaving the store sweating and trying not to vomit. That was 8 years or so ago. I have used them every single day. Most days they are on my head the majority of the day. They block out a lot of sounds that stress me out. I have misophonia and hyperacuses and they've helped so much. I also have hearing loss in one ear that makes some words sound muffled so watching TV and talking on the phone can be difficult but having the headphones on really makes a difference. They aren't perfect but they are worth every penny.
I don't think $100 on an alarm clock is ridiculous. However, i recently discovered my phones alarm can be set to fade in gradually.
I set it to the most buddhist meditation style tone & have it fade in. It is not jarring at all. Just putting it out there as an option.
I lived in Calgary and was transferred to Portland,Oregon and I found how fabulous snow tire perform in the rain! I felt like a was driving on rails during Portland’s rainy winters- amazing. So when I move to Vancouver, BC I regular switch to snow tires in the winter , it makes my commute amazingly stress free
Have the same coffee machine for the past 6 years. Still look forward to it every day. I call it my “little barista playset”.
When Quebec outlawed summer tires in the winter there was a significant decrease in accidents, keeping in mind that over 80% of people were using them already. Winter tires are a real must have in cold climates.
I have that alarm too, it's amazing. I changed the lights in my room to Philips hue and have them do the same to wake me up.
@@tamhiker1 yeah, people follow closely here, it's like they think if they can see your license plate then they are too far away
Definitely my dishwasher ! With working, meal prep and all the other household chores required, definitely worth it!
The next item on my list is a stacking washer/dryer to put on my main level, can’t wait!
BOSCH. :)
I bought Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 15 years ago when a good one was expense. Now they are cheap. I prefer the neckband over the ear buds. They have super long lasting batteries and I don't lose them. It is something I use everyday..
I read that starting with AirPods Pro, Apple designed them to be disposable products. Another video said that once the batteries inside the earbuds go bad, they can't be replaced without destroying them. I prefer to take good care of things to use them for the long haul, so I don't know if I would ever get one if this is true.
One of the new items I got was the Shocks OpenRun Pro 2 headphones. Being able to listen to music or videos while still being able to hear everything like games or conversations has been amazing. Its kind of similar to how you don't like being jarred awake with the light waking you. I pretty much live with them on. I've gotten a few pairs of Bluetooth buds over the years but these have been a better experience overall.
Great job. Regarding my life changing purchases, im going to share my decision to buy the most respected brands of tools for my woodworking hobby. I started getting into woodworking and especially furniture making in my late 30s. I made a conscious decision to get the most highly recommended tools. Now that I’m retired I have more time to create. I couldn’t afford to purchase the tool I have today. Inflation has made them unaffordable to me. So I’m happy I made the decision to purchase them when i did. This process can work with most any type of hobbies I believe.
I commonly use our vacuum as a talking point when friends talk about money. My girlfriend would buy wind up buying a new vacuum every year for around $50. It cleaned for about month or two and then we'd just have a hard time cleaning until she went and got a new one. Some years back, I bought us a $300 model that I got for $140. It still cleans better than the other ones ever did five years later. The cost per use, as well as the value of each use blows away our previous method of underbuy and replace. This video says everything I've been saying for years.
Since I think that time is worth more than money because you can never get your time back, I have four things that I splurge on that are worth it:
- I splurged on a Dyson stick vacuum and a Dyson regular vacuum. It was worth the money because the hype about them is true. They do the BEST job with cleaning/vacuuming. I had a less expensive stick vac, but it broke after two years. The Dyson is still going strong.
- I get food delivery from Factor. The food is tasty and healthy, and it saves me a lot of time with cooking since I’m a very busy person. It also saves me money in the long run because the meals are cheaper than meals at a restaurant.
- I pay for a housekeeper to clean once a week. It gives me a lot of time back.
- I pay for Instacart. Again, it saves me time.
I don't skimp on anything that touches the ground ie shoes, bed, tires, sofa, etc
Low cost life changing items would be welcome as a video as well :)
Buy quality soy sauce that sticks to the side of the bottle and make your own barbecue sauce. :)
For me it was french press and decent grinder. Also stainless containers instead of plastic and glass reagent bottles with a stopper. It cost same as retail glass containers but its made from thick borosilicate glass and they are variety of sizes and shapes.
In short good things cost more. Its a reason there is a saying i am too poor to buy cheap things. But there are items like cast iron pan that cost like 2 cheap teflon pans but last several life times. But also items like moka pot that make decent coffee and taste not that much different as from expensive expresso machine. Its hundred times cheaper and never break instead of the machine that need maintenance.
Usually go for items that work mechanically then electronically. They are often cheaper, last life time and usually make decent or better job.
@@scasny I have a $10 coffee grinder. Am I missing something?
@@Hogue_Indiana I also started with such cheap hand grinder. Its way better then the cheap electric one with rotating blades that is called coffee grinder but its a spice grinder as it make way too much fine particles. In coffee grinders the more it cost the more consistent the grind suppose to be. The conical ones similar to the hand spice and salt grinders in cheap ones. To mid range using flat metal planes to the expensive ones using ceramic grind stones. As i dont have expresso machine the mid range using flat metal "grindstones" is sufficient for my use of french press or moka. There is nothing wrong with the cheap hand cranked one if you just drink coffee time to time. For daily use its too much time consuming as it takes more the half a hour to make it. I have the DéLonghi KG89. There is also little cheaper black one KG79. For what i saw its around 100 bucks. The good ones cost over 300.
A good turntable:
Sounds great, looks great and literally lasts a lifetime.
OK, here's my answer: a quality wool jumper. [or sweater if you are elsewhere on the planet!}. I don't mean the modern type. I mean just the top. I was 14 when I bought an expensive pure wool jumper. It kept me warm putting up tents at 5 am in winter. When I was older and it no longer fitted I used it as a scarf. In the end I got 30 years of use from the jumper! Yep, 30 years. Buying for quality was worth it! In hindsight I would have bought 3 of them! In my case I bought it from a military disposal store; it looked like an army jumper except for being the wrong colour.
I have custom orthodics....1000% better than generic orthodics. Even with American insurance, they were expensive. However, they last for years...even decades ..and are definitely worth it.
I have flat foot. I just buy cheap work boots instead of sneakers and dont need the inserts
After my "wholesale" Serta (?) crapped out after 7 years, I splurged on one of those medium-end Helix mattresses; no soreness, and I wake up refreshed. Worth every penny!
I would add a pricey item that is nothing short of a life changer: a fitness smartwatch. Sure, I was having a relatively healthy lifestyle before that, but once the pandemic was over, I got a solar forerunner. I got more health-conscious, organized (and accountable!) with daily routines, exercise and sleep, and there is a bunch of cool RGP-like stats and progression graphs! Also it helps to deal with getting lazy - because, you know, your watch is watching, so get your trainers on and chop-chop, maintain your training load!
Forgot to mention, it shows time too. Helpful, I guess.
My splurges: feeding 9 outdoor cats, sharing leftover homecooked food with neighbors, healthy snacks, meat from the butcher, vegetables delivered from the farm, Sam's Club Plus and Walmart Plus memberships which have been worth it just to save gas and aggravation.
Thank you for feeding the outdoor kitties, and sharing the food with neighbors. You are a kind person...💗
Oh my GOD do I resonate with the alarm clock anxiety. I've spent years waking up to a rigorous academic schedule for my undergrad + grad school years; constantly thinking I slept in for an exam or skipping important deadlines by mistake. As a result, I'd always put 5-10 of those alarms on my phone to wake up up properly, and I'd always bolt upright in the morning in a panic a few moments before the sound went off. I lived that way for years.
And then I bought one of those light alarms and I actually slept properly. I can VIVIDLY remember waking up naturally to the artificial light one morning and almost crying in my bed b/c I felt no anxiety and actually well rested.
For those who've never experienced this product, PLEASE BUY ONE
Pam here….it pays to ‘know’ tradespeople. Best to pay for Electrician, plumber, plasterer, carpenter to do things that if you do wrong as DIY has a potential for a costly failure.
Some electricians even hire other electricians to install a backup generator at their house to avoid the liability of making a mistake
Unfortunately just because you pay someone to do something does not mean that it will be done right. I have seen some "professional" work that is pretty poorly done. The way that I see it, I would rather do everything myself. If it isn't quite right then I only have myself to blame.
@@beetlebuilder5882then you call them back and ask them to fix it. Then they should fix it for free since it's their fault. Otherwise it's bad business.
Edit: I may see your point if it's done in a way that works but violates code or is done too differently from how you would have done it.
Yea its called know your limits. Self reflection is something most people lack.
I renovate my whole apartment from pouring new floors to installing new doors. Moving light fixtures and putting down tiles. As someone mention a "professional" can do sometimes worst job then if you done it your self. But i think you mean to know a decent ones.
Hey nicole, you should do a similar list but gear it towards useful christmas gifts for the aspiring minimalists
Instant pot, good air fryer and soda stream. We save so much money quickly making dried beans that the instant pot paid for itself in months. The soda stream is person specific obviously but my partner drinks a case of soda waters a week. Even if it doesn’t save us money it does reduce waste. The air fryer makes cooking on a weekday so much easier. Don’t have to heat up the entire oven to cook a few chicken thighs and it does it better. The instant pot and air fryer combined could replace most other items in the kitchen if needed. Love them!
My expensive item is dog care. I pay a high rate for a very trustworthy care provider for my dog when I travel. My dog hates cars, so I have to leave her home. I've used the same person for years and it's worth every penny for the piece of mind. We call her the dog nanny.
I haven’t used an alarm for a few years because I moved somewhere with so many birds, I wake up to their chirping and singing everyday. Which is kinda nice, apart from the odd 5am bastard. 😂
Thank you Nicole for sharing your items. They were very good choices for you. The next purchase I hope to make will be a mattress for my bed. This mattress I have was a hand me down and it to the point of hurting my back so now I’m saving to buy me a new mattress for Christmas. If I had to purchase something else, it would probably be every day clothes like shirts and simple pants. I don’t dress up just simple plain shirt, plain pants, and a new pair of tennis shoes sketchers. i’m decluttering my house right now and getting rid of stuff that has been in the closet and I never look at it. Never touch it and it’s going to someone else who can use it. I have no use for it anymore. My house is fixing to be bare and empty, which I can’t wait. I am 67 and it’s not what you need is what you don’t need in life to make it simple and my life is fixing to be real simple. I feel the less you have to worry about replacing or keeping up is a very good life. I’ve had my joys. I’ve had my fun and now it’s time for me to be simple and not keep up with the Joneses cause I don’t know any.😂😂😂😂😂 have a merry Christmas and a happy new year and I’ll see you in the next video
Same. I have one room left to purge and then the basement. If it takes another year, so be it. I promised my son there would be minimal stuff for him to deal with in the future. It's very 'freeing' to be rid of clutter and useless items, should've done it years ago. (I don't know any Joneses either😂)
For me, one of the things that are worth it is getting an Uber when I need to to either my pet sitting jobs or to the airport for when I travel. Also a good quality suitcase. Getting groceries delivered are worth it as well as I don’t have a car. Going to the cinemas, travelling and my Birkenstocks which I’ve had for about 3 years. So much nicer than cheap sandals and more comfortable.
Recently replaced my 15 year old Oakleys with prescription shades, I reckon in that time my wife bought and broke about 20 pairs of sunglasses. Definitely agree with the stick vac, ours is 10yo now, with one battery replacement. I was thinking about a coffee maker, but as I only drink black coffee and get up when everyone else is asleep decided it wasn’t for me. I’ve got one of those four legged alarm clocks, haven’t set an alarm in years! 😅
Fun fact: in Germany, it's required to have winter tires in winter. Otherwise, insurance won't cover accidents during wintertime. All season tires with a certain logo are also ok.
yeah, Nicoles Michelin Crossclimate tires would be completely sufficient and legal over here, all year round.
What is the logo? Is that German specific or global?
Tires are completely different in North America - your all seasons don't really exist here, they are just now becoming available as "all weather" tires. All-seasons here are basically 3-season tires unless they are M&S or 3-peak rated. There are plenty of states in the US that will require snow tires or chains when the conditions demand them, but even in places that have much more snow than anywhere in Germany never require snow tires, it's just overkill. I used to live in Maine and never had snow tires, just put a sandbag in the trunk of your rear-wheel drive car ;-)
@@paulej It's called 3-peak, you can find it in a limited number of North American tires, including (as @jmentz said) Michelin Crossclimate. Look for 'all weather' tires - Pirelli, Nokian, Michelin, Vredestein & others make them for NA.
Water filters for actually tasty and safe tap water to drink and cook with.
Fancy customizable office chair for home office (I work from home).
Bidet.
Level 2 charger at home if you drive an EV.
Good supplements that my doctor recommended. Yes, they proved to be working better than the ones from Costco, I had a very long run and multiple labs to compare impact.
Organic/grass fed/pasture raised food options. And picking local produce over imported. Eating what’s naturally “seasonal” in your area.
Hoka sneakers.
I've been a movie nerd my whole life, and I've never regretted my OLED TV. I've had a few now and the picture is just wonderful.
Also, I've been buying the Purple Harmony Pillow about twice a year for a few years. Love that thing, can't imagine changing.
I bought an expensive vacuum cleaner 20 years ago after a few years of buying short lived duds. I still have my pricey vacuum cleaner and it works just like it did when it was brand new - fantastically!! I feel guilty for saying this but I love my vacuum cleaner more than some people in my life.
I have an ancient Kenmore canister. Yes it's heavy and awkward but man it gets the dirt up. I haul it out about once a month, I use a cheap stick vac every few days (dog and cat hair). The Kenmore was worth every penny
I have a 1984 Kirby that works as good as new. I did upgrade to a newer one with a transmission off of EBay. It's not as heavy either.
An expensive mattress is worth every penny. I will never cheapen out on a mattress again.
A good mattress is word every penny. Could not believe the difference what quality mattress would till i bought one.
I've had both. I figure a bed costs $100/year. So if you spend $300, you'll get 3 years out of it. If you spend $1000, you'll get 10 years. That's how it's worked out for me anyway.
I would like to see the
2:00 A couple of years ago I had a maintenance job that had me going through hundreds of garden per week; I lost count of the number of Dyson vacuum cleaners that people had tossed out into their gardens because they had broken down. Don't waste your money on them is my advise.
Totally agree with you, as a cleaner those things are useless except for a spot clean.
The "broke-down" is probably from the batteries conking out. The batteries can be replaced very easily and at a reasonable price. There are just too many people out there that prefer to throw something out rather than do simple repairs.
@@timothyfolkins4651 They were mostly mains not battery, the motors give up because they're not up to the job.
Couldn’t agree more, i was underwhelmed with ours - battery life was rubbish, it was unforgivably hard to empty, and it very regularly threw tantrums and kept cutting out due to some hair getting caught somewhere in the brush. Just treated myself to a Shark for black friday and it’s so much better so far.
I think pull and push exercise, in a door frame, will help your back. I think swimming is very helpful for a back issues. It is also good for overall health, tone, and strength.
Birkenstock cork insoles, the Best insoles. They were 69$ years ago
Anything you utilize on a daily basis may be worth spending a bit more on. Durability = value in my book. Another category is furniture. Buy as much quality as you can afford. Be sure it's what you like and that it fits your space. Spending another hundred or two on something you utilize daily will reveal itself to be a better value.
I'm with you on that sunrise clock that also has birdsong to wake up and white noise to go to sleep. Can't justify the coffee machine, but love me a good kitchen tool. Love tools in general. I buy myself a power tool (or jig for said power tool) for my birthday every year. And you must have a good chef knife. It's a must. I tried several and then asked a woman who had a catering business for a recommendation and bought her suggestion -- she was right. After that I bought a good sharpening tool that actually works, a sharpening stone and this X-mas I'm getting myself a steel and then shopping for a leather strop for my birthday next fall.
A stick vacuum: my daughter gave me her old Dyson when she purchased a new one. Changed my life. I love vacuuming now. It's so easy and convenient. I don't know how old this vacuum is but it's falling apart and it STILL works. If I can no longer use it I will absolutely buy another even though they are very expensive.
Sun glasses: after using cheap sunglasses my whole life I finally splurged on a pair of Ray-Bans. My eyesight was really bothering me for the last year or so although my optometrist said I had no problems. I just couldn't see well outdoors and my eyes were always watering from the sun. I spent a lot of money on the Ray Bans but totally worth it. They made a huge difference so much so that I feel my eyesight is fine now, other than the need for reading glasses.
I paid $750 to have a vet come to my house and put my dog down. She was 16 and it was time, painful but such a good way to do it. Rugable area rugs--machine washable. A little black dress from Vicki-Vi. Got my first one over 30 years ago. Am on v2 now. It's like a backdrop. It makes the accessories pop. No one ever notices it's the same dress. Top quality pots and pans.
Model S Plaid for me. Bugatti performance for $50k, can drive itself, and super cheap energy costs. Absolutely zero regrets buying it. There probably wont be a better car that I’ll even want for the next decade at least.
Vivobarefoot shoes are pricey but will save ££££ on medical bills for back, foot and hip problems. You probably have a sore back (like most people) because like most people you strap an inch of rubber to your heal. At your age you really shoudn't have a sore back. Orthotics or insoles will just cause your feet to get even weaker.
Yes to the cordless vac. I splurged on a Dyson many years ago and loved it so much that I ended up gifting one (each) to my sister and both of my adult children. Pricey but worth it.
Yes to the winter tires. I used to live in Michigan, and about 10 years ago I inherited my mom's Florida car (a cute Mazda 3) and the first winter I almost couldn't get out of my very flat driveway! It needed new tires anyway, so I put on some Michelin snow tires and what a difference! I ended up putting the same tires on my other car because they were so much better in the snow and slush!
Many kitchen items. Lately I've bought several OXO branded items to replace cheaper ones. Although the OXOs tend to cost twice as much, they also seem to last forever and they just work! So that is my recommendation, consider the OXO item when buying things for your kitchen.
The Phillip's light is 1000% worth it! I've had it for over 10 years - it is always gentle and I never get tired of the bird chirp and sunrise - so gentle
I would be interested in a "cheap things that are beneficial" presentation from you!
I would also like to see this video.
5:15 These are all season (Europe) / all weather (USA) tires and not summer tires. You can read on them, Michelin Cross Climate.
Winter tires are definitely worth it. The Focus ST I bought 6 years ago came with summer rated tires. I had to either purchase winter tires or replace the summers with all season tires. I opted for winter tires on separate rims. Driving through snow and wet winter roads was exceptionally better than driving on all season tires that I had on previous vehicles. Only downside is swapping them out twice a year. I do it myself and it's a drudgery, but it is worth it.
Holy moly. 7 out of 8. I have a real Dyson though. Thanks for validating my purchases. Don’t have the alarm clock, retired 4 years. I’ll show this to my wife. Btw, I use and enjoy all of my devices. The shoe orthotics were a game changer too. My new and pricey Michelin All Weather tires are great in the snow.
I got snow tires for the first time. I'm excited to see the difference. Earbuds yes. I cannot in any world see how I lived with out them. Now I even have backups.
i lost my wireless earbuds in less than 3 months.
There are two things I can think of right now that can be expensive, but I think are worth it. 1) if you live somewhere cold with the potential for snow etc, invest in a good quality winter coat. I cheated out for a few years when living in NYC and then finally closed my eyes and spent $650+ on a real waterproof winter coat and it made all the difference. 2) if you’re someone who wants or needs to get in shape or just want to improve your physical fitness, but find you don’t have the discipline to go to the gym or work out at home - Hire a private, professional trainer. When you’re spending that money and you’re taking up someone else’s time you’re much more inclined to follow through and you get the push you need to work harder or try something you might not do on your own.
This is a recent purchase but so far it’s been fantastic. “Zlumber lock sheet holders.” I have had trouble keeping sheets on my bed and have used “sheet stays” which are basically elastic cords with clips, and they kinda worked, and made changing sheets a pain. These sheet holders cost about $60 USD so they’re kind of on the expensive side but they’re brilliant! Not only do they hold the bottom sheets on, they hold the top sheet as well. They’re absolutely worth every penny, AND I don’t have to chase the elastic cords under my mattress any more! :)
Totally worth it: 20 years ago I had extreme anxiety about spending what I thought was a lot of money on a full yard irrigation system. I felt lazy. However, it had turned out to be the best thing we’ve purchased for the house. Benefits include: reclaimed time, more efficient watering (varied heights and behavior of output depending on zones), no worries about meeting town water restrictions (just set the new days and times and forget about it), no worries about vacations or business trips, and no hose-damaged flower beds.
My coffee maker was a $20 pour over carafe from Amazon. I love it! I use a kettle to boil the water, and ground coffee from Aldi like their German roasts.
Might try that I just use a kettle and no name instant coffee it’s what I always drank my whole life
For me it is a few items that are not so much expensive as regarded as unnecessary by a lot of people however have been an absolute blessing in my own life:
- automatic cat feeder: it's electronic, timed with 6 small meals per day only needing to be refilled once a day as I can track her food intake and I don't have to bother except once a day to refill it)
- Instant Hot Water Dispenser: it's expensive compared to a kettle however unlike a kettle there is no wait time and I am constantly boiling the water after it cools! I am an avid tea drinker and this is basically like your coffee machine where it's made my life a tonne more easier to make and drink tea. As much as I enjoyed the ritual of boiling the kettle, it sucked I had to do it so many times a day. This creates less friction. I also couldn't find a kettle that could hold as much water (3L) as this dispenser.
- 8L water filter container: I did the math between an on top attachment vs the external and the external is best), doggie water fountain (both the dog and cat drink out of happily and has lasted me over a decade of use
- A 40W USB C Fast Charger, 4-Port USB Wall Charger Plug. Due to how many devices require charging and with limited power points, this has been super helpful!
Your post scream i am lazy and forever single.
I also agree on the good espresso machine. I went with a Gaggia Velasca super automatic (put beans in the cup and it grinds the beans and makes the espresso for you). I used a Christmas bonus to buy it in 2017 and I figure I’ve make around 6000 cups so far. I use it for Americano’s and Lattes. I figure I’ve save thousands over the years vs. the up-front cost of about $600. It’s better than Starbucks and a LOT cheaper.
oh boy, a set of good snow tires in the winter is totally worth the money. as someone who sh*t my pants once driving up a snow covered hill, i can tell you i learned the hard way. i thought i'd be ok in an AWD car, i discovered i was wrong when i came to a stop sign on top of the hill.
Bed. Sheets. Boots. Chef knife. Pots/pans.
Quality cat food, good mattress, video gear, headphones, frying pan (the Rock), rice cooker (Cuisinart), can opener (Starfrit)
Great vid. I've used a Philips alarm for 7 years - it's a game changer for waking up, but also a really chill light for bedtime.
I agree with most of these.
I ditched orthodics for barefoot style shoes, which did way more to eliminate my back pain. I have since completely swapped out my shoe wardrobe for barefoot shoes. They're expensive, but worth it.
I ditched sunglasses after I changed my diet. It turned out that I found the sun painful/my eyes were light sensitive because my diet was causing inflammation of my optic nerve. I got rid of inflammation in my body, and now I no longer need sunglasses.
All the others are things I have and I agree completely!
Superfeet insoles are an excellent OTC/ non custom option - good foot/ankle alignment affects everything up the chain. Totally worthwhile!
Bought the most expensive running shoe I’ve ever had a few months ago (about $170) : Mizuno wave horizon 6. I can’t see ever changing brands . So durable (700 miles and counting) and incredibly comfortable.
Love the alarm clock suggestion. Total game changer for me too. And winter tires are probably the best investment you can make for your safety on the road.
As someone who doesn't wear glasses, I've somehow managed to misplace every pair of expensive sunglasses I've owned. Maybe one day I won't be devastated afterwards, but for now that's why I stick with the cheap pairs.
I really like my house slippers. Teva makes a good pair that keep my feet warm in the winter and protected from stubbed toes. The arch support in them is good too.
Sunrise alarms are the greatest. I’ve had mine for more than 20 years. Best purchase ever.
Newly subbed. I do spend on certain things. Mattress is mandatory, sun glasses of course, comfy footwear, but the biggest expense is for quality food. Why have a soya burger when you can have a wagyu steak? Nicole as you get older you will find the finer things life has to offer. Congrats on your back pain solution. Remember, health and experiences. Ty b
Thnx for the tip about stick vacuums, I just got mine, I actually enjoy vacuuming now! I can see the appeal of a canister vacuum with a long hose, but the stick is next level! My old upright goes into storage!
I agree about the Phillips wake up clock. I used to have one and I loved it. After it broke I got a cheaper one off Amazon and it’s just ok. When it breaks though,I’m going back to philips
Totally agree with the Ray Ban choice. I've had a lot of sunglasses, always go back to Ray Ban.
Same. Plus the lenses are darkest
Wool sweater. Will keep you warm forever.
And inline skates if that's your hobby. The higher end models are so much better than the ones you get at the supermarket...
I have a pug...a very expensive hobby (according to my husband). Worth every cent.