"It Saved A Friend From Financial Ruin": 20 Purchases That Seem Like A Splurge At First, But Absolutely Pay For Themselves Over Time
I'm all for strict budgeting, but sometimes, paying a bit more upfront for something will save you so much stress (and maybe even more money!) down the line. Recently, one redditor asked the r/AskReddit community to share the things that seem expensive but are actually worth it. Below are the purchases they will always splurge on.
1."Waterproofing when your house is being built. Don't skimp on the extra layers because if it's shoddy and you find water leakage through your concrete slabs, you're going to be in a world of pain."
2."Hiring movers."
"As someone who works as a mover in the summers, I totally agree. Even as a mover, I'd hire someone once I get older and no longer do this job.
It's hard to just move an entire house if you're not used to it, whereas when you do it all the time as a job, your body builds all the right muscles, and it gets easier (it's still hard work, though).
That said, it's a good idea to provide drinks or offer to buy them lunch or something. It sounds weird, but moving is a fairly intimate process, and we often end up getting to know the homeowners fairly well."
3."Hiring roofers. 'They want how much?!' Pay it. Roofing is very physical, dirty, hot, slow, and if you fuck it up a little, it's a huge problem."
"I'd say this goes to anything dealing with your house. A good plumber is expensive; a good electrician is expensive; good tile guys are expensive; and good window installers are expensive. It might feel good to save a couple of grand now, but the expense when something goes wrong is far, far more than what you'd be paying up front.
4."A good mattress. Sleep is important."
"Not only a mattress: pillows, duvet, and sheets. Just get the good stuff. If you have spare income, you will never regret it.
My mattress is a thing of sheer excellence, but only when I spent on good pillows, a summer and winter duvet, and two sets of quality sheets did it make every night a joy. I legitimately get excited every night going to bed.
5."As a woman, a good bra in a neutral color."
"I bought my first expensive-ish bra (~$75?) in the correct size. It has an underwire, but it is like a breath of fresh air whenever I have it on! I even fell asleep in it when I changed into jammies because it was so comfy I forgot I had it on."
6."A dash cam for your car. It's completely useless 99% of the time, but it's something you wish you had when something happens."
7."Dental work."
"I have a friend who is a dentist. He always says, 'Sooner or later, you'll come to my office. You can come twice a year for a regular inspection and dental hygiene or come in 10 years with a very expensive and painful wreck.'"
8."A gym membership that you use."
"I paid two times as much for a membership at a gym that was between my office and my house rather than one out of the way. One hundred percent worth it because the result was that I actually went to the gym."
9."An umbrella insurance policy. It saved a friend from financial ruin. I have one now and will probably never use it, but having one million dollars in extra liability insurance gives me peace of mind."
10."When you have the means, a professional cleaner to come to your house once or twice a month."
"We pay $80 every two weeks for our housekeeper, and it has quite literally saved my marriage because we no longer argue over who has to clean what. They also clean the stove, which, as a frequent home cook, is worth it alone."
11."A colonoscopy whether you have insurance or not."
"My 36-year-old wife with stage 4 colon cancer would absolutely agree. Colon cancer is exploding in the young community worldwide. If you have ANY symptoms, push for a colonoscopy no matter how young you are."
12."Divorce lawyer. Do you know why divorce lawyers are so expensive? Because they are worth it. I’m not saying marriage is bad and not worth doing. I’m saying that if it comes to needing a divorce, a quality divorce lawyer is worth paying for."
13."A nice set of knives. Take care of them, and they will last a lifetime."
14."TSA PreCheck."
"So worth it. I travel internationally for work semi-frequently, and Global Entry plus TSA PreCheck is worth every penny. Not having to take off my shoes or my laptop, etc., from my bag is worth it alone, but the shorter, faster lines also make airports so much smoother. And with Global Entry, I get to zip through customs."
15."Costco membership. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a family of 12 to benefit from Costco. I'm pretty sure toilet paper, paper towels, and Q-tips savings pay for my executive membership every year."
16."Windshield wiper blades. Get the good ones."
17."A good electric toothbrush."
"My teeth have never been cleaner. I can't feel clean with a regular brush anymore. It's not even close to the same."
18."Therapy!"
"And what a lot of people don't realize is that, like with restaurants, shoes, mechanics, or anything really, you can shop around for a therapist too. Go to one or two, maybe three sessions, to figure out if they're for you, and if not, get another one."
19."High-end vacuum. My old Miele still works better than any new vacuum I could buy today."
20."Physical therapy. I had a shoulder injury from years of playing sports, especially contact sports. For 10 years, I've lived with the pain that would come and go. Some days, I couldn't lift my shirt up because of the pain. I eventually tried physical therapy four years ago. After eight sessions, I haven't had pain since. I can't even tell which shoulder was in pain."
What are some purchases you believe are genuinely worth the splurge? Let us know in the comments, or fill out this anonymous form.
