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.
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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It was built in the 1970s, so it’s a bit outdated.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 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?
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