Best Money We Spent This Year
They say money can’t buy happiness, but I’m not sure. Certain purchases can make your life easier or more enjoyable, which contributes to overall happiness. Don’t believe me? I asked the Lifehacker staff which purchases they considered the most valuable this year (apart from the essentials, of course). From one-time spending to ongoing investments, these purchases show that if you spend your money wisely, they can actually make your life a little happier.
Here’s what we bought and loved:
Waterproof sneakers
“All my life I have suffered on rainy days with wet toes,” said social media editor Tim Mulkerin. “I have a pair of rubber boots, but they don’t breathe well, and it always seemed silly to me to wear such specialized shoes for the minutes I need to walk from the subway to the office.” Then he discovered the Allbirds , Mizzle waterproof sneakers ($ 115-135). They keep his feet dry and warm. “They just look like a winter boot – not too bulky or too shiny,” he said. “Now the rainy days don’t seem so heartbreaking.”
Best vacuum cleaner
This year, parenting editor Megan Moravchik Walbert finally replaced the bulky vacuum cleaner she’s been carrying around since she got married more than a decade ago. Instead, she picked up a Dyson V7 Motorhead cordless vacuum cleaner (about $ 250) . “It’s wireless. It can be mounted (the shaft is mounted in a cabinet). It’s lightweight. It has enough battery power so I can vacuum the whole house at once, ”she said. And most of all: “This is fuchsia; and this alone brings me enough joy, and I think that all vacuum cleaners should be made in bright, cheerful colors. “
Cast iron dishes
When Lifehacker member Nicole Dicker moved two years ago, she bought an inexpensive cookware set because the price was right to get started in a new location. “It took about a year before I had to throw one of the pots in the trash because the non-stick coating began to peel off in giant strips,” she recalls. “Other plans looked mostly satisfactory, then less successful, and then I cooked up a bunch of scrambled eggs that had black bits in it.” She threw away the pan (and eggs) and bought Lodge’s cast iron cookware set, which she said, “This is what I should have done from the start.”
Gym membership
A gym membership can quickly turn into a money pit if you’re not careful. But editor-in-chief Virginia K. Smith is making the most of her options. “I always wanted to do powerlifting, but I was afraid of getting hurt and didn’t want to fork out for personal training,” she said of group training at the gym where she joined (the initial package was $ 360 for two months). “It was the perfect compromise and after just a few months I feel much stronger and more energetic.” She now opts for a regular membership, which doesn’t cost her much more than she paid for ClassPass (about $ 160 a month).
Cat feeder
Writer Josh Ocampo adopted a cat (her name is Milkfoot) this year and admits to pampering his first pet. “She has been leading Annie’s lifestyle after being adopted by Dad Warbucks,” he said. He recently spent some money on a Wi-Fi-enabled PETKIT automatic feeder ($ 99.99): “Because I hate to think she’s hungry and waiting for me when I’m late,” Ocampo said. He uses a smartphone app to dispense dry food at any time of the day and is measured every time. “If you think I’m spoiling my cat by buying her a Wi-Fi feeder, you’re probably right, but she’s now a much happier and more well-fed kitty,” he said.
Smartwatch for trail running
Emily Long of Lifehacker found that her Apple Watch didn’t work well with her workout apps, and her old Suunto watch crashed on her computer every time she connected it to sync. What should a trail runner do? Upgrade to the Garmin Fenix 5 Plus smartwatch . At a starting price of $ 499, this is definitely an investment, but Long loves his. “Wireless syncing was the push for Garmin, but it also has a very long battery life (required for very long adventures / no need to remember to charge every night), all the features of a good smartwatch (sync notifications, contactless payments, etc.) .) and a good watch for fitness and adventure, ”she said.
Big flat
After three years in a studio apartment next to a commercial construction site – where my small kitchen table became my desk when I started working remotely – I felt cramped and exhausted at home. When I started looking for a new location, I pounced on the first apartment that fit my budget, aesthetics, and the area I wanted, which meant I paid for two apartments within two months while waiting for my old lease to expire.
Now that the upfront costs are over, I’m paying $ 200 more per month than I did before (plus a little more on utilities and insurance, of course) for nearly double the floor space . Instead of walking seven steps from bed to table every morning, I do a solid 16 or so. This is a really enjoyable little trip. Since I spend most of the day at home, the additional rental costs are well worth it. In addition, there is no construction in the neighborhood – at least not yet.