Splurges are often looked down upon in the personal finance world, but what about the purchases you make that make you money, save you money, or help you out in general in the long run? Here are 10 of my best purchases:

  1. MacBook: My MacBook is probably my best investment yet. Before I got it, I had my laptop for 4 years and it was starting to slow down on me. My MacBook came with more memory, plenty of protection against viruses, and was a lot faster. Having a reliable computer has allowed me to start an online freelance business, which has paid for the computer multiple times over.
  2. Printer: I bought an all in one printer last year that was a wireless printer, copier, and scanner, but when it fell on the floor, it broke. In the mean time, I had been going to Kinkos/FedEx for my printing and scanning needs. It was starting to add up, and I knew I needed a printer ASAP. So for Black Friday, I bought a printer for $30. No more wasting gas and money to print a couple pages. And now I can use my printer to print coupons as well!
  3. Brita Water Filter: Instead of constantly buying cases of water bottles, I decided to buy a Brita water pitcher that uses a filter. The water tastes amazing, I’m saving the environment, and I’m saving money at the same time. We’ve had it for over a year, and we’ve probably saved several hundreds of dollars buying replacement filters instead of water bottles.
  4. CrockPot: Our CrockPot is one of our kitchen appliances that we had for a year before we even used it. You can make a delicious meal using the CrockPot without having to slave over the stove for hours. You put the ingredients in it, set it either on low or high for a few hours, and your meal cooks for you. One of my next meals I plan on making is beef stew since it’s getting colder. It was only $30 and makes an amazing dinner.
  5. Disneyland Annual Pass: For regular entertainment, my husband and I decided to get a Disneyland annual pass. We don’t live far from Disneyland, and tickets can be pretty expensive for one day. The annual pass ends up paying for itself by the second visit. Since we got it, we’ve been about 4 times, and it’s good for Disneyland and California Adventure. It’s impossible to experience everything in 1 day, so going multiple times gives us something new to check out with each visit. Our pass also has free parking, which continues to save us money.
  6. Crosstraining Shoes: I bought a pair of crosstrainer shoes a couple months back so I can walk, run, and work out. They’re very comfortable, and get the job done. They protect my feet from injury when I’m exercising. They’re easy to wash and they don’t deteriorate.
  7. Cool Mist Humidifier: I suffer from allergies and chronic sinusitis. That means I have a hard to breathing, especially when I’m trying to sleep. Nose strips don’t work and taking Benadryl every night is not an option. I finally broke down and bought a filterless cool mist humidifier. I’m glad I got it filterless because buying filters adds up. The humidifier has definitely helped me sleep through the night. It’s not an end all be all, but it’s improving my allergies and sinuses.
  8. Kindle: My Kindle was actually a gift for my birthday last year, and it’s one of my most treasured and prized possessions. It gives me the ability to read as many books as I want without having to go out to a bookstore. I can also get books for a discount, as Kindle versions are usually cheaper than paperbacks and hardbacks. At first, I thought I would miss having the hard copy in my hand, but the Kindle is so much more portable and easy on my eyes.
  9. Yoga Studio Membership: Memberships at yoga studios can get really expensive. Finding one for less than $100, at least in LA, is a feat. I bought a yoga studio membership and made a conscious effort to work out and relax on a regular basis. I had to cancel it when I moved, but I bought my own yoga gear, including a mat, blocks, and a strap. Now I can do yoga at home.
  10. Luggage Set: Another gift, I got a set of luggage for Christmas last year. I haven’t had a set of luggage since I was a kid, and instead I’ve been using old duffle bags from my cheerleading days. My 3 piece set of luggage is very roomy, durable, and fashionable as well. I got to try it out on a personal trip to Vegas, and also going to FINCON in the fall. A good set of luggage is great for a traveling business person.
What are some of your best purchases?

Briana

Briana

Briana Myricks is a 20 something freelance writer and blogger. Striving for financial independence as a newlywed, she blogs about young married life at 20 and Engaged.