Don’t go cheap if it separates you from the ground. Buying quality shoes, tires, sofa/ recliner, and bed will always be worth the investment.
Definitely a bed. Do not cut costs on your mattress, you spend a third of your life laying on one and if it’s not good, it will fuck your back up.
Finally bought a quality bed after many years of sleeping on a hand me down.
I absolutely regret waiting so long to finally sleep in comfort and wake up without aches and pains.
Absolutely. Been sleeping on a memory foam bed for a little over a year now and I find myself dreading having to sleep in other beds :/
I heard this saying decades ago and my god is it a good rule of thumb to live by. I’ve recently started investing in quality, long lasting shoes instead of fast fashion and it’s already made such a difference. Good, classic styles last and look nicer for longer. Plus my feet have less blisters and I feel like I can stand for longer without fatigue.
Would you be able to recommend some shoes/brands? I’m always on the lookout for longer lasting ones and have had a terrible time with it.
It’s best to research construction of the shoe as best you can. Check YouTube reviews where they’re actually holding the shoes in their hands, or find the communities of people that are OBSESSED with shoes and make friends with them like I did. Usually there’s a relation between price and quality, but not always if you’re picking out name brands. Currently I’m very happy with my Thursday Boots. They seem to be a nice construction for the price I paid. There are, of course, nicer ones out there, but I’m not in a position to drop $200USD+ on shoes just yet.
And advice for ladies, buy men’s shoes(If possible). It completely sucks but the fashion industry wants you to buy shoes every year. So they make our shoes like shit. Find your men’s size (if possible) and just make the switch. I haven’t looked back.
A bidet. Main con is having to use toilets not at home.
honestly only thing preventing me to buy bidet is that vision that after every other toilet visit will be disgusting.
long time ago I spent some time in japan and having integrated bidet in every toilet was amazing, but for me it is all or nothing, either want to live in the world of bidet or in the world of toilet paper, not in the middle.
It’s not that bad tbh. Sure, it kind of sucks since you’re used to being actually clean down there, but at least for me it doesn’t feel any worse to use public restrooms than pre-bidet days. It’s literally the exact same experience. The times I use my home toilet just feel way better now, don’t let that be the only thing stopping you, please. That’s like only buying cheap toilet paper so you’re used to the level of quality you find in public restrooms.
lmao i dont have that luxury i have no idea wtf you’re talking about
Bed. That is the “luxury” you should prioritise above anything else.
I’ve slept in all kinds of qualities of bed (and discussed it with others who have done the same.)
The quality of the bed you sleep in at night is a huge factor in the quality of the you that you are when you’re awake. The best sleep I’ve had on bad beds is still no better than the worst I’ve had on good ones and when you repeat that day after day, into week after week, into year after year, the cumulative effect on both your quality of life and physical health is immense. You should never make sleeping on a bad bed your long-term plan if you can possibly avoid it.
Every single day of your life is influenced by the quality of sleep you got before you started and therefore the quality and type of bed.
It is a huge gap in privilege between people who have lifestyles that make a good bed a standard expectation that is easily achieved and those who have to make do with what’s cheap. The former group will always just be healthier, happier, better rested and more prepared for the challenges in front of them than the other.
I’d recommend a good quality pocket-sprung mattress (you can’t really find cheap bad ones) over a sturdy wooden slatted frame although the modern foam mattresses are also very popular now and can be a good choice if you can’t easily realistically get a massive heavy inflexible mattress where it needs to go.
The mattress rabbit-hole runs deep. You can always DIY one if you want to save a bit.
If you’re in a position where you can afford it, Latex mattress w/ springs are almost life changing.
What do you mean by latex? Like a modern foam top section?
Latex is an alternative to memory foam usually used for the top or middle layers. It’s the best for relieving pressure and regulating temperature, but you pay a premium for the benefits.
I get top quality beds for 1/3 of the price. The secret is to visit a store which buys abandoned cartons of mattresses at your city’s port. These folks come into their wares at a 10th of the MSRP cost, so you can find an outrageous deal if you’re willing to visit stores that are typically in the back entrance of a warehouse, haha.
Try Brothers’ Fine Furniture in Southwest Philly, if anyone here is from the Philadelphia area.
Socks. I spent my life wearing cheapo Walmart socks but my partner bought me a few pairs of merino wool socks last christmas. Hoo boy are those things amazing, they keep your feet cool in the heat and warm in the cold, and it feels like you’re wearing silky little clouds.
Merino wool is the good stuff. My sock experience is the same. I also bought some fancy sneakers that are merino, treated to be water repellent. I wear them to the office all year and I’ve not had any smell issues. I used to always buy cheap shoes and cheap socks but here it seems that your choice of material really makes a difference. I’ll pay the price for that.
Oh, I didn’t know there were shoes made out of the stuff! Sounds lovely.
Nice socks are more comfortable and last longer. I think long term they’re even more economical
merino is a fantastic every day base layer comfort wise. cotton underwear is a prison for me now
I like a merino shirt for sleeping
the material is expensive and not very durable, but top notch comfortable
the material is expensive and not very durable
Which is why I think it is not necessarily worth the splurge. Specifically for socks, that is. For a base layer on your core? Sure, it’s awesome! Underwear, possibly as well (I cycle a lot so it’s a no for me). But socks? Man they are comfy, but I go through them faaast. I prefer good quality synthetic socks. :)
If you do a lot of blue-collar type work, I’ve had good success with Dickeys heavy duty work socks. It fills in the gap spaces in my work boots and adds additional cushion when walking around. They can get a little warm in the summer though.
They’re also great for hiking since hiking boots are similar in form factor to safety toed boots.
A bidet. I’m in America.
I’d also add a slow closing toilet lid. Never slam it again.
I got used to slow-closing toilet lids at home. It’s become a habit to get the lid moving down with a little flick of the wrist. Not too hard, but not nothing either. I recently stayed in a hotel room where the bathroom didn’t have this feature… When out of pure habit, half asleep and barely even realizing that I was closing the lid, I used my familiar flick of the wrist, the heavy, solid lid flew down like a bolt of lightning and slammed hard against the toilet seat. There amongst all of the acoustically reflective surfaces of the hotel bathroom the noise was so loud it actually made my ears ring. It was lucky that I had just relieved myself because had I still had any shit left in me, the surprise might have scared it right out.
Ha I have this exact same problem. I also do it when visiting other people’s houses. It’s always so loud!
Yes! Slow close lids are essential if sharing a home with anyone else.
Definitely getting a washlet if I buy my own house.
You can get bidets that don’t require any permanent modifications. We have had a brondell for years, including several years at an apartment. Just a t junction for the plumbing and an electrical outlet to install it.
Yup, I’ll add that it was worth the extra $50 for the Brondell CL99 ($90) over the Bio Bidet Elite3 ($40). The Bio Bidet had leak issues in under a year, while the Brondell is better made, easier to clean, and still going strong.
Yesss treat yoself!
Good coffee. It’s always worth it for me. There’s still an upper limit of super-expensiveness I won’t go past, but neither do I cheap out.
It took me a while, but eventually realized that the price of the good stuff was still maybe a tenth the cost of getting coffee from a kiosk.
Similarly, £1’s worth of really great chocolate is usually more satisfying than £1’s worth of cheap rubbish even though the actual quantities are vastly different.
I’ll add investing in good tools to brew your coffee with. A good grinder and a way to brew. Doesn’t have to be an espresso machine - you can get great coffee using pour over or an Aeropress
I’m the same with tea. Cheap tea is awful, good tea is amazing. Unfortunately expensive ≠ good. Thankfully I’ve found a good supplier, for a reasonable price (for the quality).
I’m a big fan of Harney and Sons for good black tea. Their Victorian London Fog is goated.
And a good coffee grinder. The difference in freshness is quite noticable when grinding whole beans right before brewing a pot.
Roasting coffee is a great hobby and has an incredibly fast ROI if you start with the popcorn maker method. I get best in class beans for less than half their roasted cost.
Where do you buy un-roasted beans?
I buy almost all my roasting stuff, including beans, from Sweet Maria’s
My rule is anything I use almost every day is worth splurging on. I will also splurge on specialized tools, like nail clippers.
For example, I got an expensive trash can for the kitchen and it’s just a nice object that adds a subtle bit of niceness to the day. The lid drops at the perfect speed, and the bag never slips off the opening.
Omg… Fancy cuticle nippers have been a game changer. No more biting at hangnails!!!
A nice keyboard, mouse and monitor. It’s the way you interact with your computer the most and yet many people seem content with bargain versions, even when they spend 8-10 hours a day using them.
Same for your computer chair. Get a comfy one, you’re gonna sit in it a lot.
Whats the best way to get a good chair without having to spend thousands? I know post is about splurging, but oof that’s a tough spend.
the Staples Hyken mesh chair is pretty much the most affordable mesh seated chair you can buy. Lots of chairs have mesh back but i find the mesh seat makes a big difference over time.
most gamers chairs are just marketing imho - but i am a manlet so i find the lumbar never hits the right spot and the backs are too high.
I also got one at Staples, rated 8+ hours. Good quality chairs provide a daily use rating in hours. It is an investment but much cheaper than the steelcases of the world.
Scout out fb marketplace and craigslist for Steelcase chairs, as they’re pretty common in offices and last forever. You should be able to find some without too much trouble, being sold after an office is closing/moving buildings. I got a leap v2 for about $100, but $250 is more common. The things are built like tanks, and even if the seat is in rough condition, you can buy replacement foam/covers and very easily replace it on your own
I went to IKEA and sat in a bunch of them for a while. Went with the Markus for just a few hundred bucks. Lower back problems are gone now. Ended up crossing a few off the list that looked really nice but just were not comfortable.
one hand up here as well for a Markus.
Bought one while having terrible lower back pain, they lasted an extra couple of weeks after starting to use that chair, then, all gone.
The only thing I’ll add is a better support for your neck.
Thirding Markus, I’m 6ft2 / 187cm and it’s lumbar support is a perfect fit for me.
I like Arozzi gaming chairs, I have the Vernazza Supersoft and it’s comfier than my couch, and it’s about 500 bucks so doesn’t break the bank.
getting an extra-long phone charging cable is such a silly purchase but it’s sooo useful. like i can’t live without one at this point. phone almost dead but the outlet is too far away? not anymore it’s not!
Why not just get a landline at that point?
Recurring house cleaning services.
I’d probably be divorced by now if we hadn’t made the investment. It doesn’t cost as much you think and whatever it costs the mental health and couples benefits of a clean home is worth the investment.
Amen. A good house cleaner only must charge slightly less than a divorce.
I’ve thought about this but always get turned off at the thought of strangers in my little messy 1 bedroom apartment.
Any tips for finding a good one or additional points to help me make the plunge?
They’ve likely seen a LOT worse. Just remember the difference between a maid and a cleaner. A maid clears up the mess, a cleaner cleans the place. If your getting a cleaner, you’ll need to make some effort to get the mess out of their way.
I’ve also found that’s a useful effect. If you’ve someone coming in to clean every week or two, then you have a deadline and motivation to do your tidying. I don’t want to pay a cleaner to waste time shuffling around my clutter.
The first time they come is really hard (so much shame), but it gets easier. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not sometimes up at 5am cleaning before the cleaner comes, though.
Just ask around and google. Word of mouth is your best bet for finding someone running a one person business, though you can look at any noticeboards in shops near you–my local coffee shop generally has someone with a flyer up. Yelp and Google will turn up worker-owned cooperatives, which makes me feel better about the ethics of paying someone to clean.
One of my luxuries is that I shave using straight and safety razors (it’s actually more economical & less of an environmental impact that using shitty gillette style razors) is to splurge a bit on the shaving soap and brush
Nothing like a nice, frothy lather!
Here’s hoping we can build a nice community like Wicked_Edge over here.
Still MUCH cheaper than buying Gillette razors…and a much better, more enjoyable shave.
Ironically my safety razors are Gillette brand but I bought a big pack years ago and haven’t had to buy any since. Recently misplaced the box in a move so I might need to order more if I can’t find them but “lost all my excessive amounts of razor blades in a move” is a lot nicer of an economic picture of safety razors than running out lol.
I’m a lady too… Lady razors are soooo expensive. Learning to shave sensitive areas was intimidating but the safety razor is amazing. I have super sensitive skin and boar bristle hair so the safety razor has been a game changer in terms of ingrowns and whatnot. I get an extra 12 hours or so without the stubble growing back too compared to conventional razors. Cut the outside of my ankle once but that’s the only accident I’ve had lol - the trick is not to apply pressure like with a conventional blade because the safety razor does the work for you, and don’t underestimate the delicate region on the outside of your ankle lol). It’s not just economics - dragging just one super sharp razor across your skin is much gentler on your follicles than 5 less sharp blades (since conventional razors have multiple blades, each one passes over the follicle). Shaving the same area 5 times with the safety razor would still cause less trauma because the blades are sharper.
It’s been 5 years and I haven’t bought new razors or had nearly as much razor burn or ingrowns ever since! And of course my legs are much smoother and the shave lasts much longer (which still isn’t much for me since I’m part sasquatch but still).
Love using my safety razor!
Good loose leaf tea.
This. Most retail teabags are made with “fannings” which is basically the dust left after they’ve made the actual proper tea. It’s cheap and brews very fast so it has mass market appeal but it tastes accordingly. Quality loose leaf tea is amazing and the flavour difference is huge. It doesn’t immediately get that burnt tannin flavour like fannings do.
Ever since a buddy turned me on to adagio.com, no turning back to regular tea bags.
Rock on! I just ordered a pretty wide variety of their samples. Thanks for the tip, Citizen!
If you like black teas, I recommend Harney and Sons. Specifically their Victorian London Fog, Irish Breakfast, and Scottish Afternoon teas.
A heating blanket.
Pros:
- It’s warm and cozy
- It keeps achy joints happy in the winter
- It attracts cats
Cons:
- Your cat will claim it and you will feel guilty taking it back
In the same family, I got a heated mattress pad. I’m sure it has paid for itself because I can keep the house cooler at night. There’s something so refreshing about sleeping in a warm bed with cool winter air.
Along this same vein, a weighted blanket. Really good for adding some additional pressure that is comforting like a big hug.
Perhaps it’s more of a hobby than a little luxury, but if you do any handwriting at all, a nice fountain pen and quality notebook. It’s just a nice feeling to write with a really smooth pen on good paper. And if you have RSI/arthritis like me, you may find that fountain pens are less fatiguing to use than a roller ball or gel pen. Sure, you have to clean and refill every so often, but that turns into a fun little ritual itself.
r/fountainpens was probably my favorite subreddit. Everyone was so nice and supportive of each other. During the time when Reddit gave out free awards, I made several accounts just so I could award new people who introduced themselves with entry-level fountain pens.
Aww! I never got up the courage to post but that’s so thoughtful and encouraging for newbies!
Yaaaasssss found r/fountainpens and decided to get one since I write a lot at work. Love refilling and changing colors :)
It’s pretty much always a great investment to give yourself the opportunity to try out different variations of a tool then upgrade to a great version of the style you like.
An air fryer, I now use it almost as often as my microwave. It can cook meat, fry potatoes, roast vegetables, reheat frozen meals (for my extra-lazy pizza bite days), toast bread… some leftovers even reheat better in the air fryer than the microwave (eg pizza). I actually just splurged on the DREO ChefMaker Combi Fryer based on an Adam Ragusea recommendation, basically air fryer++ with smart heat cycles, built-in thermometer, and a water container for programmatic steaming.
clearly you have owned an air fryer