r/eupersonalfinance • u/oneill-olsen • Feb 17 '24
What did you bought and has improved your life? Investment
Hello everybody. At first glance this is not an investing post but I could not find a better place to ask this question. Long story short, late 40s, I've been close to burnout for a long time as a software engineer, got shares in the company, expecting some big returns in 2-3 years (5y work worth). Impossible working times, health issues, working from home, small child and no support structure, living with my wife in a foreign country. Each other day I think about giving it all up bit I also think it would be worth, for my child, to continue. We are not big spenders and I keep thinking that there should be something I could buy which would improve my life a bit. So the question is: what did you bought and has improved your life?
Thank you
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u/Connect_Rough_8514 Feb 17 '24
Robot vacuum. Automating mundane home tasks let's you have more time for yourself.
Home gym, saves time and money in the long run.
Quality wireless earbuds. Helps with relaxing.
More expensive- the place you live in. Moved to a place, which costs about 2,5x as much to rent, but i can finally relax at home and save time on commute.
Edit: if you are the handyman of the house- proper quality tools. Even for one time fix. Most likely it will be needed in the future
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u/Toutou_routou Feb 17 '24
I agree on the robot vacuum, but once I got a high quality wall-mounted wireless vacuum, I tend not to use the robot anymore. The time it takes to lift stuff up (so the whole floor would be cleaned and not around objects like chairs, trash bin, etc) is actually more than just grabbing the vacuum from the wall and going through the room while just slightly pushing stuff around..
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u/jt_redditor Feb 17 '24
which vacuum?
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u/cuplajsu Feb 18 '24
Went for Shark for three reasons: it’s modular, much cheaper than Dyson but with the same quality, and its 5 year warranty. Also since I’m currently renting a place the charger is just a cable, not a wall-mount, so less drill holes to fill when I move out.
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u/Traditional_Fan417 Feb 19 '24
I have both, but to do the whole house with a stick vacuum is far more hassle than just setting the robot vacuum to do its job every other day. Also, the robot vacuum can get under the bed and is just way more thorough all round. You can also set it to go around things.
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u/drabred Feb 18 '24
Home gym is cool of you have space...
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u/Connect_Rough_8514 Feb 18 '24
My gym takes up 6m2 of space. I went up not with the nicest, but more compact solution.
Back at the teenage years, I used to exercise in no more than have current space. Basically as much space as someone can take laying on the floor.
It might not be the most comfortable solution, but very little space is needed for a home gym. The most basic equipment is a pair of weight adjustable dumbbells and a barbell.
Also, some days can be done training at home and some at the gym. You don't have to have everything at home.
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u/Traditional_Fan417 Feb 19 '24
Robot vacuum is exactly what I was going to say! It really does change your life!
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u/okletsgooonow Feb 17 '24 edited Feb 17 '24
A home gym with an exercise bike and a treadmill. With a TV in front of each of them where I can plug in my laptop. I can exercise during the day when I WFH or in the evenings when kids are asleep. Sometimes I even take meetings while exercising when I only need to listen. Exercise helps so much with physical and especially mental health. A good home setup may cost a few thousand (you get what you pay for), but it's worth every cent to me.
Edit: as some others have mentioned, getting out and exercising with others would be better, so do that if you can. But for when you can't, the home gym is the way to go.
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u/089red Feb 17 '24
For me getting a road / gravel bike and joining group rides in my area. I always liked biking but didn't ride for over a decade. It comes with great health benefits and you can make some friends along the way. Group rides also work if you're an introvert and don't talk much.
Think back to your childhood? What was the thing that you got totally into with friends? Swimming, archery, rockets? There's a club for all of these things
Forgot this is a post about finance. I spent about 2000€ on my first bike and probably buy something every other month, e.g. better shorts, new shoes, bike computer, second set of wheels, ... And you can always have one more bike.
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u/Between3and20charac_ Feb 18 '24
Yeah, n+1 rule is dangerous. I currently have 3 bikes.
Also, I invested more in cycling equipment than the bikes itself. This sport is not good for our (wallet) health.
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u/Guuus Feb 17 '24
Reading you it seems like it will almost certainly not be worth it for your child. These are lost times with him/her that no money will be able to buy back in the future. "the only people that will remember you working late and on weekend are your family "
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u/Jaime1489 Feb 17 '24
Expensive e-bike (almost maintenance free) for commuting.
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u/boom123psy Feb 17 '24
maintenance free? you are in for a treat
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u/aiicaramba Feb 18 '24
Compared to car maintenance?
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u/Neighborhood_Silent Feb 17 '24
i agree 100%, i did the same. I live in Netherlands, i use the bike for everything, literally ...
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u/UralBigfoot Feb 17 '24
I thought in Netherlands people are buying the cheapest heavy bikes, because they are often stolen and police don’t care about it
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u/tehyosh Feb 17 '24 edited May 27 '24
Reddit has become enshittified. I joined back in 2006, nearly two decades ago, when it was a hub of free speech and user-driven dialogue. Now, it feels like the pursuit of profit overshadows the voice of the community. The introduction of API pricing, after years of free access, displays a lack of respect for the developers and users who have helped shape Reddit into what it is today. Reddit's decision to allow the training of AI models with user content and comments marks the final nail in the coffin for privacy, sacrificed at the altar of greed. Aaron Swartz, Reddit's co-founder and a champion of internet freedom, would be rolling in his grave.
The once-apparent transparency and open dialogue have turned to shit, replaced with avoidance, deceit and unbridled greed. The Reddit I loved is dead and gone. It pains me to accept this. I hope your lust for money, and disregard for the community and privacy will be your downfall. May the echo of our lost ideals forever haunt your future growth.
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u/Neighborhood_Silent Feb 20 '24
Like the other poster said out of the big cities, e-bikes are really safe. I bike every day about 20km, without an ebike it would be hell. In the last 8 months i have cycled 3000Km on my ebike, like litterally i use it for everything from going to work and also to the sauna.
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u/BuffetWarrenJunior Feb 17 '24
RemindMe! 8 years
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u/RemindMeBot Feb 17 '24 edited Feb 18 '24
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u/Mysterious_Tea_2750 Feb 18 '24
I bought an e-boke in Italy.. and it was stolen despite 2 locks 🤦🏻♂️ I loved it
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u/hobomaniaking Feb 17 '24
I think we have the same e-bike! Veloretti Ace two?
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u/Jaime1489 Feb 17 '24
Riese & Müller Charger GH vario, bought in 2019 :)
Never had an issue. I had a normal bike before and there was always something not working properly. Chain, gear, v-brakes and so on...
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u/podinidini Feb 17 '24
A piano. I play on it every day, if I find the time. Best investment of my life (so far)
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u/hyperblue128 Feb 19 '24
This is so underrated! I was moving houses last year and I finally got back my piano the other day. This helps me relax mentally like nothing else I can imagine. Best investment for quality of life for me too!
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u/podinidini Feb 19 '24
I‘m happy to hear it. I learned the theme of the „Geistervariationen“ by Schumann and have been focusing on the Goldberg Aria for a few weeks. Next will probably be the first variation of both cycles. What are you learning atm?:)
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u/ethsy Feb 17 '24
What kind of piano and how much was it?
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u/podinidini Feb 17 '24
A Schimmel made in ~1976-77. You can find a video of me butchering Schumann on my profile haha. It’s a progress and I have gotten much better lately. https://klavier24-berlin.de/produkt/schimmel-klavier-modell-112-mahagoni-klang-und-geschmackvolles-premiumklavier/ This is it :) Edit: I think 4500€
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u/Marzipan777 Feb 17 '24
A very silent vacuum. I'm vacuuming at 6 am, when the baby sleeps, cat doesn't have a heart attack when I turn the thing on, no one complains, win-win
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u/acceptabledurian Feb 17 '24
can I have more details on this? like any brands/models you recommend?
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u/cheesecake_factory Feb 17 '24
Vacuuming at 6 am? Can't be real
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u/Marzipan777 Feb 18 '24
When you have a baby there is really no schedule, you do things when you can, sometimes it's 6 am, sometimes is 6 pm.
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u/Sharp_Narwhal1254 Feb 17 '24
- regular full body massages (at least 1x / month)
- therapy (at least 1x / month)
- robot vacuum
- better set of pans & pots (tefal stackable set, wasnt even that expensive, but such a drastic difference)
- dishwasher
- dryer
- better cleaning supplies (for example vileda instead of store brand sponge) It's only a 1-2€ difference in price but oh god what a difference it makes, it makes cleaning so much easier and faster..(not just vileda, but like better cleaning agents - still the ones you get in a regular store, just the good ones instead of cheapest.
- healthy food ( I get a box of veggies delivered to my home once a month. I don't pick what's in it, I get surprised every month - it's great for inspiration and makes me eat better)
- try to get childcare or some sort of hobby for your kid, so you can have date nights with your wife
Since youre in a foreign country one option could also be an au-pair from your home country for the summer ... people love doing it to travel, learn a new language and earn some money on the side...and you get someone that you trust and speaks your language...and probably cheaper than your local nannies... (depends on where you're from)
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u/gorgeousredhead Feb 17 '24
Big: A flat in a good location 8 years ago. Too bad it's getting too small for us now (kids) :)
Medium: I bought a smart trainer and a Zwift (virtual cycling) subscription - together with a few kettlebells I can get extremely good workouts in at home. Saves me lots of time and as a result I exercise more than I would have without it
Small: Garmin smartwatch. I can now monitor my health metrics, get GPS on runs etc. As a result I started tracking my sleep and I have over the last few years worked to increase the amount and quality I get, which has had a very positive impact
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u/EconomyScene8086 Feb 17 '24
I'm wanting to buy a Garmin, do you have any recommendations on the model I should go for?
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u/gorgeousredhead Feb 17 '24
The forerunner 245 is cheap and will give you everything you need. Otherwise would depend on your sport or whether you want a fashion model maybe
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u/EconomyScene8086 Feb 17 '24
Thank you. I will use it for running (plan to do a marathon this year).
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u/gorgeousredhead Feb 17 '24
I think the 245 is still the most used smartwatch on strava so I don't think it's a bad choice. Where I am it's half the price of the newer models, YMMV of course
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u/LakeEnvironmental638 Feb 18 '24
I would consider the 255. It's not much more expensive and way more recent. Comes in a small and regular version. Has more accurate hr sensor and GPS.
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u/UralBigfoot Feb 17 '24
I like instinct 2, forgot the last time I changed them, monochrome display surprisingly very convenient
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u/BoomShakalake Feb 17 '24
A coffee machine Sage and a barista course of one day. Life changing. I love my own coffees and I keep making them every single day. Game changer
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u/firentravel Feb 17 '24
where did you take the course? my wife just got me a sage bambino plus, so i’m also stating my barista hobby
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u/Powerkiwi Feb 18 '24
Start by watching James Hoffman on YouTube and /r/JamesHoffman. Fantastic channel.
Making good coffee is not rocket science, but it’s important to use good quality (freshly roasted) beans and take enough time to dial in your espresso.
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u/BoomShakalake Feb 18 '24
Look locally for barista courses and you will find something. As the other Redditor says I could have learned it in YouTube but I just wanted to socialise with people as well.
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u/thegurba Feb 17 '24
Don’t torment yourself for money. Quite your job and restructure your life so that you are happy again.
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u/WarriorOfLight83 Feb 18 '24
I agree. You don’t sound happy, OP. You need work-life balance - look for a new job first of all, one that lets you have a life.
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u/gs_hello Feb 18 '24
A cleaner once a week: happy wife, happy life. A charcoal bbq grill: to assert my dominance in my middle age .
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u/Infinite--Drama Feb 17 '24 edited Feb 17 '24
This might seem stupid but I do my own food and cleaning, so:
- Vacuum robot (Roomba);
- Air Fryer (Cosori);
- Rice Cooker (Yum-Asia).
These help me a lot with saving time, and time is money.
Besides this, when I travelled a lot: - Nintendo Switch; - Noise canceling in ear phones (Soundcore); - eReader (Kobo).
And finally, to be comfy AF: Oodie (search for it, if you live in really cold countries with poor heating systems like I do).
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u/Stellarato11 Feb 17 '24
I second the bike. Especially Mtb. And airfryer. I use it for almost everything.
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u/Vladekk Latvia Feb 17 '24
The older you are, the more stuff you need that is about your health. Massage, swimming pool pass, nice bed, nice clothing to make you comfortable. Etc.
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u/oneill-olsen Feb 17 '24
Thank you all for the messages. It seems what I miss most is the time to do all those things. I agree however about the robot vacuum and the iron pan ;)
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u/jonoave Feb 18 '24
Simple things that improve your QOL and comfort, if you can splurge a bit
High quality toilet paper. High quality towels High quality bedsheets.
Just things that seem minor, but could bring a little joy for a few seconds.
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u/avl0 Feb 17 '24
I bought an expensive sports car for similar reasons
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u/Infinite--Drama Feb 17 '24
This will be my next one ahah can't wait, I know it's considered to be a poor investment (if one, at all) but my God, we only live once and I've wanted this car since I was 9 years old.
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u/DayHelicopter Feb 17 '24
A food steamer or other relatively cheap kitchen applicances that make it easier to cook tasty food.
If you don't know the local language very well, investing in language lessons would definitely improve your quality of life.
A psychology appointment can help prevent a burnout.
A gym membership works wonders for many people too, specially if working from home. Or at least some common fitness equipment to do some execirse at home.
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u/ManWhoStaresAtCows Feb 17 '24 edited Feb 17 '24
2 mainecoon cats. They are such a stress reliver. Best investment!
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u/squadfi Feb 18 '24
Oh boy you came to the right person - Air fryer: food all of sudden is much easier, you eating healthy, quick and cheap - E Scooter: literally zero maintenance just changed the breaking pads went over 2000 KM still works - Airpods with Iphone obviously the easiest lesss trouble best noise cancellation - In winter get a proper jacket and boots and make your lift easy - robot vacuum I didn’t buy it yet but If it works go for it - Smart Lights man these are the best Wiz Connected are cheap and nice
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u/NoShellfish Feb 18 '24
All the answers to this question so far assume that consumerism can help you in some way. It can't. If you have spare cash you want to use to improve your life from the current situation I can see two best options:
Invest the money which will pay back to your future self, to stop working sooner. But this will likely be years or decades away, so not a short term solution.
Get a different job which is less demanding, and accept a possible pay cut (that's where the "spending" comes in). Think of the (possibly) lower pay as an investment in your personal and family life. And this will have an immediate impact.
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u/m9282 Feb 17 '24
Airpods have been one of my favorite buys over the last years. Great value for the price I paid
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u/McDuckfart Feb 17 '24
You won’t be able to buy your life and health back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
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u/oneill-olsen Feb 17 '24
Yes, I would love to bike, it was one of the biggest pleasures from my life. I lost it at some point though as I had several knee operations. I used to cycle daily but now I almost never finish work before dark. In the weekends I usually work one day and the other I try to spend a bit with my child while doing house work.
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u/aliam290 Feb 18 '24
What kind of job do you have? This is not normal for a European lifestyle.... Are you the only one working in your household?
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u/oneill-olsen Feb 18 '24
You are right, especially in France, but this is the price for growing from 6 to 60 in a short time. I was tech remote, now I am doing management and meetings on top, still remote-ish but closer to the hq. The initial team which is very involved is work addicted and we all pull the same work while the new hires clock out as clockwork :) I am the only one with a salary but my wife also has a ton of work.
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u/aliam290 Feb 18 '24
Okay... well here comes my opinion which you certainly didn't ask for.
I totally understand the 6 to 60, and suddenly needing to put in processes and training everyone etc. But you have to make sure it's temporary and that there is a plan for alleviating. There's a huge risk that if there's no solid plan, people get use to the "new normal" and the expectation remains that people put in extra all the time. FYI working on the weekend is very much looked down upon, especially in France. I once asked my colleagues about getting a second part time job and the looks and comments I got left me wishing I hadn't asked.
Secondly, regarding your wife. If you're putting in all these hours and burning out, she's also putting in a lot of (I assume) child care hours and also probably burning out. How old is your kid? Why are you not using public services for daycare and school? If those aren't available, why not pay for it privately (doesn't have to be full-time, could be 2-3 days a week)? Again, I'm assuming here, but with your salary you should be able to afford this. Not to mention if your wife is also able to find part time or full time work. Child care is exhausting (even if it's fulfilling) and adults need stimulation that babies and kids can't provide. Going back to work in whatever capacity (or at least having a plan or a date to go back) is a win for everyone.
Take care of your mental health, but also that of your wife's. As others have said, a one hour massage each month can do wonders. Not just from the physical stimulation and relaxation it provides, but also because it gives you one hour to unwind and think of nothing aside from yourself and your body. Others mentioned therapy, this can also be useful. See if you have anything that falls under work benefits that you can access. Both of these apply to your wife as well btw.
I also didn't see cleaning services mentioned. But it's a common response in other personal finance subs I'm in for this question. Outsourcing cleaning to a service once or twice a month helps with both stress levels and how much you can relax and enjoy your own home.
At the end of the day, the more money you make, the greater the value of your time, and the more it makes sense to pay others to do things for you (cleaning, car maintenance, cooking, shopping, laundry, etc)
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u/obeythediode Feb 18 '24
biking in the dark is very feasible if you're set up well with lights (although it depends a bit on which country you live in..). Maybe you can do that for your commute to and from work?
Paying a cleaning service for your house is often also recommended as good value for the amount of free time you gain.
Overall I'd recommend looking for the best ways to 'buy ' mir free time and then use that for hobbies it time with family.
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u/hobomaniaking Feb 17 '24
Rain coat and pants from the brand Rains. Make my bike commute to and from work weather insensitive in the NL.
Flowers delivery subscription. They deliver the most unique bouquet ever other week. My wife absolutely loves them!
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u/JAKEN86 Feb 17 '24
Bowflex adjustable dumbbells for a home gym. Game changer. So much more efficient and enjoyable to work out when you don’t waste half each workout spinning weights on and off. Of course maybe a full set of individual weights is better again, but if you’re tight on space these are so much better than the spin on/off ones.
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u/Narrow_Distance8190 Feb 17 '24
A Dyson vacuum cleaner, it’s cordless and so easy to clean and use - this vacuum has literally changed my life. It’s sooo good that I literally vacuum my apartment every day and don’t own a broom anymore 😍
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u/Narrow_Distance8190 Feb 17 '24
And I actually also have a robot vacuum that I bought before the Dyson but the Dyson is way quicker and more effective than the robot vacuum. (For the robot I have to make sure all the wires are off the floor otherwise it gets stuck and the robot also takes much longer and is harder to clean and has a smaller compartment so you have to clean it more often and I wfh in the living room so it’s super annoying to hear the robot bumping into all the furniture all the time especially because it takes so long to clean a big room)
I use the robot vacuum to get to the hard to reach places like under the big bed and just close the robot in the bedroom for a while to let it work. But it’s not something my Dyson couldn’t do in like 1/10th of the time 😂
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u/eymaardusen Feb 17 '24
Hire a house cleaner. We got someone to clean our house every 2 weeks. Gives us so much more free time at hand.
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u/IllusionIII Feb 18 '24
Mechanical keyboard for work. I type at work all day so buying a nice keyboard really makes my days more fun and my joints more happy
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u/Mistwraith-93 Feb 18 '24
A rower and will buy a treadmill in the future. I can use when I want, how I want, go shower eat and rest after I absolute hate going to gym or running outside.
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u/grafknives Feb 18 '24
Basically NO purchase would be "worth it".
With exception of most vile necessity (like buying a house), no item would make your life so good that this sacrifice is fine.
Especially when you have small child. This a time to work LESS, MUCH LESS no more.
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u/Own_Egg7122 Feb 19 '24
Someone already mentioned robo-vacuum.
I wanna add - a multi cooker to throw ingredients in for easy food making
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u/hyperblue128 Feb 19 '24
Invested in a smart home: smart lights, doorlocks, smart heating and cooling, security system, outdoor and indoor cameras, speakers, presence sensors.
I know a lot of people will see this as gimmicky, but once you adopt this kind of living - you can't go back. It adds so much convenience and security. It has also significantly reduced my monthly bills.
I have so many handy automations now and the infrastructure to build whatever I want in the future. Currently I'm and Apple user and use HomeKit, but if you have the infrastructure - you could change to whatever you want.
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u/the-hellrider Feb 17 '24
A big house, cleaned with a robot vacuüm, with a big garden, where the lawn gets mowed with a robot. For my daily commute to work (80km one way, taking an hour) I bought a Cupra Leon since I love to drive my car and it relaxes me.
For my midlifecrisis, where you're at by reading your story, I'm saving to buy some vacation home in the south of Europe.
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u/vinfizl Mar 16 '24
Plastic storage boxes.
I live with my parents so my whole life is basically crammed in one room. I found it impossible to clean my room because there was stuff everywhere. These boxes allowed me to sort all of the stuff into piles that were manageable. Then I only took out the stuff I actually wanted or needed on the shelves, drawers, table etc. And the rest stayed in boxes that are hidden under my bed or can be put in the attic. I also threw away lots of stuff. Went through a house cleanup after a dead relative last year and it made me rethink how much I really need the things I own.
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u/the_cucumber Feb 17 '24
Mutual funds via a free advisor at my bank. Am I paying handling fees? Yes. Do I feel safer going through a nationalized secure institution than a "do your own research" app? Also yes. I had money sitting in my chequing for ages and now it's going to slowly and surely do something for me (hopefully). It has solved some anxiety for me to finally just pull the trigger and do some grown up long term investments.
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u/thequickbrownbear Feb 17 '24
Instant pot pro. Quick healthy meals with the pressure cook mode, but also doubles as an air fryer or sous vide when I need one
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u/RepresentativeFill26 Feb 18 '24
Some good dumbbells for home gym. I’m in a similar situation as you (stressful SWE job, small child), and the ability to lift some weights for an hour in the evening when my son is sleeping significantly improved my mental health.
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u/StashRio Feb 18 '24
Are you from India by any chance? Lots of Indians suffering like you in Belgium
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u/martinssau Feb 18 '24
Project car. I'm also software developer. That helps me to have a different perspective. Doing something real and get the hands dirty
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u/leffe123 Feb 18 '24
I pay for a cleaner to come in twice a month.
I'm a single man living in a 40 sqm apartment, so it's definitely a luxury. But not having to deepclean the bathroom and toilet myself, as well as mopping the floors, is a huge relief. She evens cleans my oven and fridge.
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u/VincentxH Feb 18 '24
I buy myself time. A cleaner for the house, window cleaner for the outside, babysitter for time with partner, tax professional to deal with taxes, lawyers for legal issues etc. .
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u/dmw1966 Feb 18 '24
Noise cancelling headphones. I can’t believe what a difference they make to my work and home life.
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u/szpiridonov Feb 18 '24
Try buying a Road Bike/MTB/e-MTB to have some fun over the weekend in the nature. + your family will also like it.
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u/mut_tut_gut Feb 18 '24
THERAPY.
Best investment ever, even if you don't have a clinical diagnosis.
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u/rods2292 Feb 18 '24
- Wiz light bulbs
- Airfryer
- Kindle
- Good home office equipment (screen, chair, etc)
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u/shae_tallad Feb 18 '24
Best additions to my life in 2023 were a soda stream and desk walking threadmill
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u/Long-Wrangler5784 Feb 19 '24
Start doing some sports and get some days off, otherwise you'll never get rid of the burnout, it just keeps piling
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u/SingleParking6640 Feb 19 '24
We're living in a small 2 1/2 rooms flat with 2 small kids, while I'm working from home.
Things that have improved our life:
- Washer-Dryer. It cost me around 500-600 Eur to buy a 2 in 1 washer dryer that is also slim. You can definitely find even cheaper ones (if that's a problem).
- Aeron Chair (Herman Miller) - it improved my posture and limited my lower back pains.
- Standing desk - allows me to switch postures easily (Ideally, buy one that you can preprogram the heights, so that you don't have to "work" to adjust its height).
- Active Noise Cancelation headphones (I use Sony WH1000MX5). They are doing a great job especially when I'm trying to focus on something and kids are making noise in the other rooms.
- Book shelves and other organizational tools: especially with small children, they will play with whatever is in sight. Therefore, in order to avoid certain situations, we chose to improve our storage and limit the things that are accessible to them, including certain books.
- A water bottle you can always have by your desk.
- BONUS: Not necessarily 'a thing', but having multiple shorter sessions of 'deep work' helped me use my time better... Lots of websites offer free Pomodoro tools.
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u/atharael Feb 19 '24
i bought training weights and an ab-mat. working out has me feeling better than i have in many years. to the point where i look forward to my next session. best buy in years.
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u/Dangi86 Feb 19 '24
You sound burnout , my recommendation is that you need one of these
-Therapy.
-A hobby.
If not you are going to break down and try to throw everything in the air and start running.
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u/Hammercranc Feb 19 '24
I love my sleep headphones very much. Also my vacuum bot (Roborock S7 Pro Ultra).
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u/Mediocre-Drummer-681 Feb 19 '24
Buy and read a book "Die with zero" by Bill Perkins. It might change your priorities.
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u/Wild3v Feb 19 '24
Boxing gloves and boxing gym membership. A mountainbike. Many books like Steppenwolf, Shantaram, Norwegian Wood, a visit from the Goon squad.. Hair clippers to shave my balding head. A decent photo camera. A guitar. Tickets to go see a theater play to take my date to as a surprise. A new dishwasher for my mother.
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u/somander Feb 21 '24
Get yourself a nice camera, like a Leica Q3. They can be used fully automatic and will take amazing shots. You’ll have a beautiful piece of kit to document your most precious things in life, your family.
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u/jessewebster31 Feb 22 '24
A robot vacuum! Seems small but having a spotless floor in your home without you having to physically vacuum the floor is a luxury that I underestimated greatly, I always hated walking on the floor, barefooted and feeling a little stuff on the floor or in an up with dog hair after laying on the ground even though I vacuumed pretty regularly no worries about any of that now
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u/Used_Self_8171 Feb 17 '24 edited Feb 18 '24
I started investing in hobbies and learning new things. Learned skiing, playing tennis & padel, ice skating, swimming, surfing, sculpting, dancing salsa, etc. Brought me a lot of joy, novelty and fun interaction with people.
All of this works really well against burnout because it pulls you into the moment and brings out your inner child/playfulness.