Last week I wrote a blog post on the top three purchases I regret the most. So I thought I’d follow it up with some positivity and talk about some of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Whether they cost $50 or $500, these four items were worth every penny I spent on them.
Ping Pong Table
Table tennis was one of my favorite activities growing up and something my dad and I bonded over. So when I saw that Walmart was selling ping pong tables for less than $200, I had to snap one up for the nostalgia factor alone.
I didn’t think I would use it much, but my partner and I have been playing a couple of games of ping pong almost every day. It’s been a great way to beat the winter and quarantine blues, so it was definitely worth the money.
Save big for July 4th! Rollbacks & more extra-low prices at Walmart.com
Exercise Bike
I bought my exercise bike a couple of months before the pandemic. It’s not a Peloton, it’s just a basic stationary bike that I spent about $500 on.
I have to cycle for at least 30 minutes per day to help treat my chronic illnesses. I bought the bike because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick to my exercise plan if I had to drive to the gym every day.
Little did I know that in just a few months, going to the gym wouldn’t even be an option because of the pandemic. I’m so glad that I decided to purchase my bike when I did. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to exercise and take care of my health during quarantine.
SodaStream
Another purchase I love and use daily is my SodaStream sparkling water maker. My partner and I are big seltzer drinkers, so we were buying multiple packages of La Croix every week before we got our SodaStream.
Seltzer is surprisingly expensive and usually costs $4 per package in my area. Buying a SodaStream has allowed us to drink all the seltzer we want for a fraction of the price.
My House
My house is hands down the best purchase I’ve ever made.
I only wanted to spend around $150,000 on a house but wasn’t impressed with any of the properties in that price range. They were all pretty small and dark and would’ve needed a lot of work.
As soon as I agreed to up my budget by $30,000, my real estate agent found the red farmhouse I’m currently living in.
It was built in the 1970s, so it’s a bit outdated. But it has tons of living space, natural light, and character. Unlike the other homes I looked at, I can see myself staying here for a long time.
When you’re making a big purchase like a house, it’s a good idea to be flexible on the price if you can afford to. Upping your budget by a couple of grand won’t change your monthly payments much and could get you a nicer property.
Moving every few years is expensive, especially when you have to sell a home and pay a bunch of closing fees. So even if you have to spend a little more to get a place you want to live in long-term, it’s usually worth it.
What are your favorite purchases you’ve made over the years?
If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.
Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
Comments