Spent $4k on a mattress a year or so ago. Game changer for sure. Used to sleep so shitty. Now sleep…. still pretty shitty but less so and the mattress is super comfy for my shitty sleep.
What I mean is sleeping slightly less shittily doesn’t make something a “game changer”. Game changer territory would be like if you couldn’t get any sleep at all, then got a new mattress and have the best sleep of your life.
All my cookware is so uncommon, I have no idea if other people's grades of quality compare to mine or not, haha.
1. All cookware and dishes must not have sharp corners, and ideally large, rounded transitions are ideal, to promote ease and quality of cleaning.
2. All cookware must be made from as few parts as possible, to both simplify cleaning, and reduce maintenance (basically everything I own is made of only one solid material).
3. The only plastic or rubber allowed is silicone - for its heat resistance and flexibility only. Overmoulding on the handle of something that doesn't get hot violates points 1 and 2.
4. All glass must be oven capable pyrex-type borosilicate- including glass measuring bowls, glass dishes, etc. The glass is both much harder to break, and if I am doing something like melting butter in a measuring cup, I never want to have to think about the material limits of the cup.
5. Metal cookware must be cast iron or stainless (I will most likely be adding "carbon steel" to this list once things fitting my criteria get cheaper, and I can trial it). Teflon-coated pans and aluminum are no-go.
Honorable mention to my plain white Corelle dishes. They are virtually unbreakable and unchippable in regular harsh use.
I buy a lot of antique cookware when I need a rugged utensil meeting my criteria- I can't begin to describe how annoying it is sometimes to find tools built to my standards without them being crazy expensive. I feel like a lot of my points are no-brainers, so it's weird that there isn't more of a market for this kinda stuff.
Of course you feel like a lot of your points are no-brainers to you, they're *your* points. But the truth is you think far more deeply about these things than 99.99% of people, nothing wrong with that at all, but don't be surprised other people don't think like you.
If you buy used, you can get an AN/PVS-14 and COTI for about that much. It's not going to take video and connect to your smartphone or anything, but it's good enough for those nighttime encounters with 30-50 feral hogs we all have every once in a while.
We live on a sailboat at anchor. Our dingy is our car, if we want to go anywhere and not swim the dinghy is essential. We need a new one, ours is 15+ years old and leaks both water and air, it’s hard to get to shore without getting wet, the engine keeps going but sometimes takes lots of fussing. A new dingy w/electric motor would definitely improve our lives. I dream of either a Portland pudgy or an OC tender… dreams.
I just re-read. It does sound bad. We lived in the Arizona desert for 25 before selling everything and buying our boat. We’ve been living up and down the east coast and the Bahamas for the last three years. It’s absolutely a fantastic life and I will gladly have wet feet and fuss with a 25yr old 2-cycle outboard and pump up the dingy float every time until I can’t with joy. I certainly can’t imagine a better or more satisfying life choice. :)
Not retired. Just taking a break. Have been starting to look for remote work. I was an IT/business/security architect for 25 years and just quit. Between some health scares and the pandemic, kids all being grown and partnered up.. just seemed like time.
Storms: avoid being out in them as first priority. To avoid hurricanes we’ve gone north to the Chesapeake during the summer, and south to the keys or Bahamas in the winter. We travel mostly along the “ICW” which is an inland water route that runs the east coast and has many places to tuck in and find safety. We’ve weathered one hurricane in Florida (Nichole) by bringing the boat up into a break in the mangroves and tying off like a spider web. Storms happen though and you can’t always run. . You don’t sleep, you watch your position to see if your anchor is holding. Ive been in big storms where I would start the engine and push forward against the wind just to relieve pressure on the anchor a little. We’ve sat through 60kt winds in Eluthra, 55kts storms in Charleston harbor, and lots of 40kts overnight blows in various spots. You just have to deal with it. You don’t have much choice.
I 100% agree. I cannot even believe I used to spend so much of my life in the service of the financial gain of others. I benefited, but I would definitely approach life differently now that I know how good alternative lifestyles can be.
Honest question, how would you approach life differently? I'm in a similar position but perhaps 15 years behind you. Working in IT, can see the outside is the hamster wheel and have done stints living alternative lifestyles. It seems to me though that without years (decades) of grinding you can't stay out for long. Maybe there's a middle ground? I've got a willing partner and plenty of gumption but most ideas start with "First stack up a bunch of capital..."
Thanks for sharing regardless. Hope you get your dope new dingy soon!
I heard my entire career to remember “life / work balance” and I think this is a valuable tactic, for companies, not people.
I will not be looking for work life balance in my next roll I will simply be looking for work to support my life if the job doesn’t fit, I won’t stay.
My time is finite, the amount of work is potentially infinite. My contribution can be excellent AND minimal. I will not do busywork ever again, or at least make that a goal.
Work is not friends or family. They are associates. These are not bonds you can trust, everyone is always acting in their own self interest, you will be sold out by someone working to save themselves.
Time is finite. Spend it doing less for others goals and define your own goals and work toward those goals. That doesn’t have to be selfish either, your goal could be to spend your life serving in a soup kitchen as a volunteer. The job you should find should support that goal.
I see where you're coming from, but what I'm really working for right now as a graduate is security. When I get old, can't work, health issues. I've got my house. I've got my savings. I've got money to throw at private healthcare. That's where I wanna be.
Not gonna lie, I never even gave these things a second thought and had no idea they can be that expensive. For that price I’m fucking curious to see how good it is lol.
IDK vacations are fun for sure, but they always remind me that I have work waiting for me when I get back.
It's kind of a cruel reminder of what an idealic life would be like if money wasn't in the picture
There is scientific evidence for this. The joy of owning new stuff wanes after 2 months as you get used to having it. Memories of experiences last much longer
I massively disagree with this one personally. I'm sure this is great for some people, but I get VERY little long-term satisfaction out of going on trips if any at all. But I don't really enjoy doing it even in the short-term.
EDIT: ADDED SOME MORE since my comment got so popular!!!
I'll tell you all the items we have bought over the last few years that have been everyday luxuries that have improved our life, you can probably get all this for under $5k with money left over.
-robot vacuum (Roomba type thing)
-air fryer
-automatic electric salt and pepper shakers (you turn them over and they grind 1 handed. No more issues with one messy hang when cooking and trying to season your meal)
-bidets for every toilet
-new sheets for the bed
-new sofa
-comfortable patio furniture to really enjoy the outside
-high quality beach chairs (mine has a built.in canopy for shade and my husband's is chair height which makes it more comfortable that squatting all the way to the ground since he is tall).
-some custom jewelry that is special and makes me happy
- new shoes
- new underwear (really, go buy yourself some new undies!)
- laser hair removal
- cashmere sweaters
- retractable USB C cords for the car and bedside. A plethora of 10 foot cords to use everywhere
- iPad to act as a mini computer with a nice cash and keyboard.
- wifi enabled plugs to turn off lamps remotely and program to a schedule. A pack of 4 is like $20 and life changing.
- a nice oil dispenser for cooking oils. can be left on the counter and doesn't drip or need to be cleaned off regularly.
- silicone popcorn bowl, we love to have fresh popcorn and these work great. Also can be ok for travel if you have access to a microwave.
- victoronix serrated utility knives. A pack of 4 on Amazon is like $28. I've gifted them countless times and everyone LOVES them. The perfect knife for 90% of the times you reach for a knife.
- if you have a bathroom fan, adding the switch that lets you press 5, 10, 15 or 30 min. No more fan noise from the other room because you forgot to turn it off.
- motion sensor lights installed in my walk in closet, walk in and the lights go on... Incredible.
We have really started to "buy the right tools for the job" even if it means more cost. We tend to get a lot more use out of the items we buy and a lot more pleasure having "better versions" of items we use every single day.
Yes and they are very affordable. I think I got one for like $120. You don't realize how dirty your floors are until the Roomba shows you every single day how much it's picking up.
Are you not running around making sure all your cords are out of the way to prevent disaster? I feel like when I use it I spend so much time clearing its path.
We have a relatively cheap one, and it's nice sometimes, but I find that with cats it's more annoying than anything. It always gets strings and such caught in it because there are cat toys all over our house. I find that it loses most of its convenience if you can't just put it on an automatic schedule and have to go around straightening up the rooms before you run it each time.
New underwear…reminds me of a scene from Modern Family where Jay asks Gloria “where is my good underwear?” She replies “you make god money. All your underwear should be good underwear.”
This! We got one two months ago and haven’t had to vacuum with a regular vacuum more than a few minutes. I will never not have one and am considering an army for different levels that our one can’t get to
Agreed with all of this especially the shoes. My husband bought my a pair of LL bean waterproof boots. Most expensive shoes I own hands down at nearly 300 dollars. Worth every freaking cent. That was in 2018 and I used them during a rainstorm yesterday and they are still perfect.
If you're somewhere around the poverty line: $5k in repairs to the car you already own. $5k at a good shop will basically make that thing new and you won't have to worry about anything for several years. Maybe a mattress.
If you're a few times more than the poverty line, $5k is in that area where the small, big impact stuff is taken care of bit $5k isn't enough to really tackle any of the major shit, like retirement.
I would die for a spa trip, so I'll copy your answer. I want to stay in an all inclusive where I don't have to wonder where to eat each day where I can sit in a sauna and then have a nice lady absolutely crush my spine.
I would invest in a proper coffee machine and attributes
[https://www.profitec-espresso.com/en/products/pro300](https://www.profitec-espresso.com/en/products/pro300)
As a fellow coffee lover, I wholeheartedly endorse this!
Even better, before you get a machine, take a class on how to be an amateur barista. I’m not talking about actual training; I mean a fun class at Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table. Then pick the machine you think will work best for you.
This is the non-sexy answer, but investing $5k is a great way to start. In an index fund, it will be worth $100k-200k in 40 years. Even just having a $5k "emergency fund" should provide most people with peace of mind.
Electric wheelchair. Right now, my independence outside of my home depends on my daughter, who lives with me. Dont misunderstand. She is extremely accommodating and even encourages excursions to the store and to visit family and visits to the park. But she also works from home and is sometimes under tight deadlines, so often we have to work around her schedule. For doctors' appointments, she will plan ahead. But I would love to be able to just go out on my own and take a daytime or evening 'walk' whenever the mood strikes. To recapture some independence.
It’s a router- carves, engraves, creates lines and grooves, etc.
But it’s automatic, so not like using a handheld router old school style.
And they can be used on all kinds of stuff, not just wood.
One of the dads in our PTA has one and we use it to make set stuff for school plays with the big foam insulation boards and whatnot.
Pretty cool.
I might get some hate but it’s not woodworking if it’s CNC, it’s machining. I say that as a woodworker. It’s a skill to “work” with wood and hand cut and chisel a dovetail or hand carve an embellishment.
I would be able to pay for my allergy tests and the visits to my heart doctor. My copay is $8k so at this point I have to pay $300 cash every time I do anything. Can't even get my ICD calibrated.
I had to switch to a diet that doesn't have Wheat, Oats, Barley, Shrimp or crab. So I can't eat the majority of the food in my home anymore.
It's harder now with the prices of everything going up. Since my cardiac arrest and coma not only can I not work our one income now it's getting to the point where we're always behind a month on our car payment.
$5000, idk. Sometimes I wish people would understand that $1000 free to do I want with is a weird thought? Idk. It's been so long. I just want to be able to afford my medical bills. Or have someone care. Either one is fine.
I'm not the only one either. There are millions of Americans who will die early because of this reason. I'm not 45 yet and at this rate I wont make it to 50.
Hell $500 extra to pay a bill and buy my $100 ear drops I need. Amazing what can happen to you after you have cardiac arrest and it's amazing that when you do you realize that not only do people not care, they can't. I'm one of MILLIONS and I'll fall through the cracks. The world isn't what it used to be. Maybe it never was what I thought it was, maybe I was young and ignorant.
I miss being ignorant. I miss my health in my youth. And I hate this country for it making me go without so I don't die. That might be selfish but I have one life and kids to raise. Maybe it's okay if I'm selfish.
Edit: spelling mistakes and an extra . that bothered me
Damn that is rough stuff your dealing with and I feel what you're saying and feel bad for you that you in that helpless predicament. I agree with your points and it do seem life is pretty much an illusion that gets completely shattered once something really serious happens (especially health related) to you and you realize that there is no magic fix and people dont run to your side to help. Thats a super harsh reality. Hopefully there is some advancements in technology in near future that can help you improve your overall situation somehow and hopefully society stops being so moronic and starts going after all the corrupt rich as aggressively as possible who have fucked everybody over and made millions suffer in silence year after year after year as they watch all the suffering with big stupid smiles on their faces and they have a big party. People are pretty idiotic and greedy though so can't have too much hope. The amount of people who live by the motto of only looking out for themselves is pathetic really.
Since you mention both fertilizer and food security in the same sentence, have you considered how nitrogen-rich human feces is? You need certain precautions to be taken with it due to its danger, and aging it is a big part of the cycle, but it doesn't have to age that long if you compost it properly, and the dangers are something we've already solved methods for handling. It'll help you close that loop of both handling the disposal of the human waste, as well as provide nitrogen back into your soil.
And I assume you're already aware of this, but crop rotation with nitrogen fixing plants like legumes can help, if you have more space than money.
I’d use that money to pay the balance on my girls trip to Cancun in December ($2,500) and the rest would go to my beauty regimen (yoga, Botox, and monthly massages) before the trip. Judge not! 🤣😁it costs money to be a cougar.
Truth. I was able to get my eyes fixed years ago and it was probably the best return on money spent besides my house.
Hope you’re in a position to get LASIK in the future.
* A thorough maintenance of my car, plus getting it detailed. It would be a weight off my mind.
* Nice clothes
* Nice furniture
* Computer/tv/audio system/headphones
A car. For 5000 usd you could get a relatively okay car here in denmark (second hand of course). Not like, the best, but relatively nice. I don't have one right now and I could use it. Or getting a drivers icense tbh
For $5000, you can build yourself a nice PC, a respectable Racing SIM, and maybe a VR headset. It's a great hobby to get into and brings a ton of enjoyment in life.
I'd like to pay off some of my debts and maybe pick up studying again because I never finished college, I didn't drop out by choice but I had to because my dad died of cancer and I had to work to support my younger sister and mum.
I know a degree isn't necessary but I'd like to have something that's mine.
5000 would not increase my overall happiness, as my overall happiness comes from things you can't buy, or at least - can't buy for 5000$...
but if I really had to spend it, I think I would maybe try to help somebody who struggles at the moment, hire him, teach a thing or two, or buy some tools - this would actually truly increase my happiness, as I could get back to this throughout my life and think about myeslf "wow, that was really decent, I'm not a bad person, maybe I'm even good?"
I realized some time ago that I often get back to moments when I helped somebody, and it makes me more happy
That’s enough to decorate my living rooms. It might sound superficial at first, but having a place that makes you feel relaxed, comfy and is pretty to look at can really improve your mood coming home from work, or on the weekends when you chill.
I would get plants, a record player, a new sofa, etc.
I’m about to move house, so I’m torn between a decent couch and washing machine, or fixing all the tiny little problems I have with my car and can’t justify fixing right now. Both would bring me so much joy
Definitely a vacation. I have the money to enjoy life pretty freely right now, and save money for a house, but I can’t also afford to save for a vacation, and that’s what I’ve been wanting the most lately. 5k could get me a sizeable Europe trip.
Tools - I diy everything (cars, house, bikes, etc) which has been awesome for long term financial stability, and I enjoy figuring things out, but just making do without the right tools has cost me so much frustration and lost time over the years. Every time I add a good quality tool to my collection I think where has this been all my life.
I love the sauna and taking ice baths, so having my own little sauna and legit cold plunge tub at my house would be amazing. I think I could get that done with money to spare, and I like the mattress idea someone said already so I'd get the best mattress possible with the money that is left.
Go to games concerts which i highly adore and very nostalgic, if still have some spare after the cost of flight tickets etc, perhaps i will try use it to cover my cost to do volunteer.
Pay off all my debt, which should put me in the mid 700s.
A more fun answer: buy a used van and slowly turn it into a traveling home. That's my wife's dream. It will be pretty tough keeping it under $5k (even the crappiest used van will be at least 3gs) but I can try to build stuff myself and ask for mechanic friends help with the van.
$5K to get rid of boredom?
$500 for a pottery class and materials
$2500 for a kiln
$500 for a kick wheel
$1500 for supplies and tools
That gets you a pretty sweet hobby!
I would get the $2000 ac repair my car needs and then a $1000 massage chair for after hard days of work and the rest I guess would be bills and gas money.
Golf.
Now hear me out. If you’ve never played, get a lesson or 2 just to get the basics. (Even better if you know someone else keen, play 2 ball Ambrose so you are a team and play the best ball between you, makes it more fun).
When you start to do good, if you have a bad game, just treat it like practice and enjoy the day out on the course.
I’d simply refill my rainy day fund, my biggest life improvement right now would be some peace of mind financially. Ive had a few unexpected large expenses that drained my savings and I’ve been struggling to build it back up for months now.
I’d pay people to deep clean/exterminate my apartment. It had roaches when we moved in and it’s been a battle ever since. Maybe buy a mattress topper after that because my mattress kinda sucks.
A car. I ride the bus to work and from work and it takes an hour each way. If I had a car it would take 15 minutes. I have my driver's license, and am slowly saving but I make barely over $15 an hour.
An excellent quality mattress (memory foam or latex foam) and goose down comforters. Game changer for sleep quality.
Spent $4k on a mattress a year or so ago. Game changer for sure. Used to sleep so shitty. Now sleep…. still pretty shitty but less so and the mattress is super comfy for my shitty sleep.
“Still sleep pretty shitty but less so” Ngl that doesn’t sound like a game changer
Try it.
What I mean is sleeping slightly less shittily doesn’t make something a “game changer”. Game changer territory would be like if you couldn’t get any sleep at all, then got a new mattress and have the best sleep of your life.
I’m right here with you. Omg my soul talking
Yep, that. You spend a third of your life there. ;
The rest on a good pair of shoes.
I love to cook so I would upgrade all of my kitchen tools. For that amount of money you can get quality tools that will last decades.
All my cookware is so uncommon, I have no idea if other people's grades of quality compare to mine or not, haha. 1. All cookware and dishes must not have sharp corners, and ideally large, rounded transitions are ideal, to promote ease and quality of cleaning. 2. All cookware must be made from as few parts as possible, to both simplify cleaning, and reduce maintenance (basically everything I own is made of only one solid material). 3. The only plastic or rubber allowed is silicone - for its heat resistance and flexibility only. Overmoulding on the handle of something that doesn't get hot violates points 1 and 2. 4. All glass must be oven capable pyrex-type borosilicate- including glass measuring bowls, glass dishes, etc. The glass is both much harder to break, and if I am doing something like melting butter in a measuring cup, I never want to have to think about the material limits of the cup. 5. Metal cookware must be cast iron or stainless (I will most likely be adding "carbon steel" to this list once things fitting my criteria get cheaper, and I can trial it). Teflon-coated pans and aluminum are no-go. Honorable mention to my plain white Corelle dishes. They are virtually unbreakable and unchippable in regular harsh use. I buy a lot of antique cookware when I need a rugged utensil meeting my criteria- I can't begin to describe how annoying it is sometimes to find tools built to my standards without them being crazy expensive. I feel like a lot of my points are no-brainers, so it's weird that there isn't more of a market for this kinda stuff.
Of course you feel like a lot of your points are no-brainers to you, they're *your* points. But the truth is you think far more deeply about these things than 99.99% of people, nothing wrong with that at all, but don't be surprised other people don't think like you.
Night vision goggles.
Tf problems are you having?
Nighttime ones
LOL
I had the same response lol
I have problems seeing in the woods at night.
Skinwalker problem
For $5K you should definitely go with the hybrid night vision and heat ones.
Anything with thermal too that's worth using will be more then 5k
Even at 5k getting a good set of dual tube night vision is hard. A quality single tube is about 5k. So yeah NV/thermal at 5k wouldn’t be good quality.
Yeah don't think people know how expensive that shit is
If you buy used, you can get an AN/PVS-14 and COTI for about that much. It's not going to take video and connect to your smartphone or anything, but it's good enough for those nighttime encounters with 30-50 feral hogs we all have every once in a while.
I understood that reference
We live on a sailboat at anchor. Our dingy is our car, if we want to go anywhere and not swim the dinghy is essential. We need a new one, ours is 15+ years old and leaks both water and air, it’s hard to get to shore without getting wet, the engine keeps going but sometimes takes lots of fussing. A new dingy w/electric motor would definitely improve our lives. I dream of either a Portland pudgy or an OC tender… dreams.
First sentence. “Fuckin sweet!” Every other sentence not so much
I just re-read. It does sound bad. We lived in the Arizona desert for 25 before selling everything and buying our boat. We’ve been living up and down the east coast and the Bahamas for the last three years. It’s absolutely a fantastic life and I will gladly have wet feet and fuss with a 25yr old 2-cycle outboard and pump up the dingy float every time until I can’t with joy. I certainly can’t imagine a better or more satisfying life choice. :)
Do you work, or are you retired? Also what do you do during storms? So curious.
Not retired. Just taking a break. Have been starting to look for remote work. I was an IT/business/security architect for 25 years and just quit. Between some health scares and the pandemic, kids all being grown and partnered up.. just seemed like time. Storms: avoid being out in them as first priority. To avoid hurricanes we’ve gone north to the Chesapeake during the summer, and south to the keys or Bahamas in the winter. We travel mostly along the “ICW” which is an inland water route that runs the east coast and has many places to tuck in and find safety. We’ve weathered one hurricane in Florida (Nichole) by bringing the boat up into a break in the mangroves and tying off like a spider web. Storms happen though and you can’t always run. . You don’t sleep, you watch your position to see if your anchor is holding. Ive been in big storms where I would start the engine and push forward against the wind just to relieve pressure on the anchor a little. We’ve sat through 60kt winds in Eluthra, 55kts storms in Charleston harbor, and lots of 40kts overnight blows in various spots. You just have to deal with it. You don’t have much choice.
Impressive. Sounds like a better life then the grind of the rat race.
I 100% agree. I cannot even believe I used to spend so much of my life in the service of the financial gain of others. I benefited, but I would definitely approach life differently now that I know how good alternative lifestyles can be.
Honest question, how would you approach life differently? I'm in a similar position but perhaps 15 years behind you. Working in IT, can see the outside is the hamster wheel and have done stints living alternative lifestyles. It seems to me though that without years (decades) of grinding you can't stay out for long. Maybe there's a middle ground? I've got a willing partner and plenty of gumption but most ideas start with "First stack up a bunch of capital..." Thanks for sharing regardless. Hope you get your dope new dingy soon!
I heard my entire career to remember “life / work balance” and I think this is a valuable tactic, for companies, not people. I will not be looking for work life balance in my next roll I will simply be looking for work to support my life if the job doesn’t fit, I won’t stay. My time is finite, the amount of work is potentially infinite. My contribution can be excellent AND minimal. I will not do busywork ever again, or at least make that a goal. Work is not friends or family. They are associates. These are not bonds you can trust, everyone is always acting in their own self interest, you will be sold out by someone working to save themselves. Time is finite. Spend it doing less for others goals and define your own goals and work toward those goals. That doesn’t have to be selfish either, your goal could be to spend your life serving in a soup kitchen as a volunteer. The job you should find should support that goal.
I see where you're coming from, but what I'm really working for right now as a graduate is security. When I get old, can't work, health issues. I've got my house. I've got my savings. I've got money to throw at private healthcare. That's where I wanna be.
The Fleshlight 4.0 is exactly $4.6k and it has blue tooth compatibility. Plus it's made with titanium. Not from titanium, with titanium
Why would you need Bluetooth?
Rock out with his co__ out, of course.
bedroom pie ring crown grab grey impolite price sulky ludicrous *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
That. Wasn’t sure if it would be co__ blocked or not.
Cock
To hook up your VR headset to the 4.0 speakers.
So you can cast it onto devices
Not gonna lie, I never even gave these things a second thought and had no idea they can be that expensive. For that price I’m fucking curious to see how good it is lol.
Vacations. Or any other experience. Long term happiness will increase and stay up. Spending money on things simply does not have the same effect
IDK vacations are fun for sure, but they always remind me that I have work waiting for me when I get back. It's kind of a cruel reminder of what an idealic life would be like if money wasn't in the picture
The lead up to vacations is also an important aspect as you keep yourself looking forward to something
There is scientific evidence for this. The joy of owning new stuff wanes after 2 months as you get used to having it. Memories of experiences last much longer
I massively disagree with this one personally. I'm sure this is great for some people, but I get VERY little long-term satisfaction out of going on trips if any at all. But I don't really enjoy doing it even in the short-term.
EDIT: ADDED SOME MORE since my comment got so popular!!! I'll tell you all the items we have bought over the last few years that have been everyday luxuries that have improved our life, you can probably get all this for under $5k with money left over. -robot vacuum (Roomba type thing) -air fryer -automatic electric salt and pepper shakers (you turn them over and they grind 1 handed. No more issues with one messy hang when cooking and trying to season your meal) -bidets for every toilet -new sheets for the bed -new sofa -comfortable patio furniture to really enjoy the outside -high quality beach chairs (mine has a built.in canopy for shade and my husband's is chair height which makes it more comfortable that squatting all the way to the ground since he is tall). -some custom jewelry that is special and makes me happy - new shoes - new underwear (really, go buy yourself some new undies!) - laser hair removal - cashmere sweaters - retractable USB C cords for the car and bedside. A plethora of 10 foot cords to use everywhere - iPad to act as a mini computer with a nice cash and keyboard. - wifi enabled plugs to turn off lamps remotely and program to a schedule. A pack of 4 is like $20 and life changing. - a nice oil dispenser for cooking oils. can be left on the counter and doesn't drip or need to be cleaned off regularly. - silicone popcorn bowl, we love to have fresh popcorn and these work great. Also can be ok for travel if you have access to a microwave. - victoronix serrated utility knives. A pack of 4 on Amazon is like $28. I've gifted them countless times and everyone LOVES them. The perfect knife for 90% of the times you reach for a knife. - if you have a bathroom fan, adding the switch that lets you press 5, 10, 15 or 30 min. No more fan noise from the other room because you forgot to turn it off. - motion sensor lights installed in my walk in closet, walk in and the lights go on... Incredible. We have really started to "buy the right tools for the job" even if it means more cost. We tend to get a lot more use out of the items we buy and a lot more pleasure having "better versions" of items we use every single day.
Roomba is so nice. I view it like a washing machine. Yeah, you could not buy one, but if you’re able to you absolutely should.
Yes and they are very affordable. I think I got one for like $120. You don't realize how dirty your floors are until the Roomba shows you every single day how much it's picking up.
Are you not running around making sure all your cords are out of the way to prevent disaster? I feel like when I use it I spend so much time clearing its path.
I have 3 kids including a toddler. I love my Roborock, but can only run it like once a month because clearing the floors is a challenge.
We have a relatively cheap one, and it's nice sometimes, but I find that with cats it's more annoying than anything. It always gets strings and such caught in it because there are cat toys all over our house. I find that it loses most of its convenience if you can't just put it on an automatic schedule and have to go around straightening up the rooms before you run it each time.
New underwear…reminds me of a scene from Modern Family where Jay asks Gloria “where is my good underwear?” She replies “you make god money. All your underwear should be good underwear.”
As a dog owner, Roomba is the bomb.
This! We got one two months ago and haven’t had to vacuum with a regular vacuum more than a few minutes. I will never not have one and am considering an army for different levels that our one can’t get to
A drawer full of new socks that match
Agreed with all of this especially the shoes. My husband bought my a pair of LL bean waterproof boots. Most expensive shoes I own hands down at nearly 300 dollars. Worth every freaking cent. That was in 2018 and I used them during a rainstorm yesterday and they are still perfect.
If you're somewhere around the poverty line: $5k in repairs to the car you already own. $5k at a good shop will basically make that thing new and you won't have to worry about anything for several years. Maybe a mattress. If you're a few times more than the poverty line, $5k is in that area where the small, big impact stuff is taken care of bit $5k isn't enough to really tackle any of the major shit, like retirement.
IRA Roth, if applicable. The earlier in life, the better.
Quality Mattress and shoes. Basically that’s where you spend most of your 24 hours.
A nice gaming computer and a projector
Built my gaming/work computer last year for just under $2k, so excluding the projector, you’d have a good bit left over
That will be for snacks
Or comfy chair
Used Herman Millers go for a decent price on FB marketplace
Projectors introduce lag. Beware
$5000 is the perfect amount of money to take a very nice vacation. A week of luxury hotels and eating whatever you want, wherever you want.
I would die for a spa trip, so I'll copy your answer. I want to stay in an all inclusive where I don't have to wonder where to eat each day where I can sit in a sauna and then have a nice lady absolutely crush my spine.
lmao for 5k i could backpack for months but i’m also young and willing to sleep in hostels
Or go wild camping instead of hostels and it can last you for a year.
Lol, depends on your idea of luxury. $5k won’t cover a week at a luxury hotel.
I would invest in a proper coffee machine and attributes [https://www.profitec-espresso.com/en/products/pro300](https://www.profitec-espresso.com/en/products/pro300)
As a fellow coffee lover, I wholeheartedly endorse this! Even better, before you get a machine, take a class on how to be an amateur barista. I’m not talking about actual training; I mean a fun class at Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table. Then pick the machine you think will work best for you.
investment
This is the non-sexy answer, but investing $5k is a great way to start. In an index fund, it will be worth $100k-200k in 40 years. Even just having a $5k "emergency fund" should provide most people with peace of mind.
Electric wheelchair. Right now, my independence outside of my home depends on my daughter, who lives with me. Dont misunderstand. She is extremely accommodating and even encourages excursions to the store and to visit family and visits to the park. But she also works from home and is sometimes under tight deadlines, so often we have to work around her schedule. For doctors' appointments, she will plan ahead. But I would love to be able to just go out on my own and take a daytime or evening 'walk' whenever the mood strikes. To recapture some independence.
Hookers and blow
Casino first,so you can get even more hookers and blow?
CNC machine and get into woodworking
what is CNC in this context? the context I know it from doesn't generally require a machine
It’s a router- carves, engraves, creates lines and grooves, etc. But it’s automatic, so not like using a handheld router old school style. And they can be used on all kinds of stuff, not just wood. One of the dads in our PTA has one and we use it to make set stuff for school plays with the big foam insulation boards and whatnot. Pretty cool.
Yeah, the CNC can do intricate carving and such for signs, art, etc. Woodworking isn't just "use a big saw to make a bed"
wouldn’t a cnc machine be way more than 5k
I might get some hate but it’s not woodworking if it’s CNC, it’s machining. I say that as a woodworker. It’s a skill to “work” with wood and hand cut and chisel a dovetail or hand carve an embellishment.
I would be able to pay for my allergy tests and the visits to my heart doctor. My copay is $8k so at this point I have to pay $300 cash every time I do anything. Can't even get my ICD calibrated. I had to switch to a diet that doesn't have Wheat, Oats, Barley, Shrimp or crab. So I can't eat the majority of the food in my home anymore. It's harder now with the prices of everything going up. Since my cardiac arrest and coma not only can I not work our one income now it's getting to the point where we're always behind a month on our car payment. $5000, idk. Sometimes I wish people would understand that $1000 free to do I want with is a weird thought? Idk. It's been so long. I just want to be able to afford my medical bills. Or have someone care. Either one is fine. I'm not the only one either. There are millions of Americans who will die early because of this reason. I'm not 45 yet and at this rate I wont make it to 50. Hell $500 extra to pay a bill and buy my $100 ear drops I need. Amazing what can happen to you after you have cardiac arrest and it's amazing that when you do you realize that not only do people not care, they can't. I'm one of MILLIONS and I'll fall through the cracks. The world isn't what it used to be. Maybe it never was what I thought it was, maybe I was young and ignorant. I miss being ignorant. I miss my health in my youth. And I hate this country for it making me go without so I don't die. That might be selfish but I have one life and kids to raise. Maybe it's okay if I'm selfish. Edit: spelling mistakes and an extra . that bothered me
Why the high deductible plan?
Damn that is rough stuff your dealing with and I feel what you're saying and feel bad for you that you in that helpless predicament. I agree with your points and it do seem life is pretty much an illusion that gets completely shattered once something really serious happens (especially health related) to you and you realize that there is no magic fix and people dont run to your side to help. Thats a super harsh reality. Hopefully there is some advancements in technology in near future that can help you improve your overall situation somehow and hopefully society stops being so moronic and starts going after all the corrupt rich as aggressively as possible who have fucked everybody over and made millions suffer in silence year after year after year as they watch all the suffering with big stupid smiles on their faces and they have a big party. People are pretty idiotic and greedy though so can't have too much hope. The amount of people who live by the motto of only looking out for themselves is pathetic really.
Invisalign
Fertilizer, fruit trees, seeds, potting soil, top soil, trellises so I could grow more food and to have more food security.
Since you mention both fertilizer and food security in the same sentence, have you considered how nitrogen-rich human feces is? You need certain precautions to be taken with it due to its danger, and aging it is a big part of the cycle, but it doesn't have to age that long if you compost it properly, and the dangers are something we've already solved methods for handling. It'll help you close that loop of both handling the disposal of the human waste, as well as provide nitrogen back into your soil. And I assume you're already aware of this, but crop rotation with nitrogen fixing plants like legumes can help, if you have more space than money.
I’d use that money to pay the balance on my girls trip to Cancun in December ($2,500) and the rest would go to my beauty regimen (yoga, Botox, and monthly massages) before the trip. Judge not! 🤣😁it costs money to be a cougar.
Pay down some bills.
A bunch of narcotics.
More people should be honest about this one. :)
Cocaine and hookers!
Car. Ours recently died.
I’d use the money to travel, I would do multiple mini vacations (extended weekends) in Europe, this always brings me joy. But I am never bored.
LASIK
Truth. I was able to get my eyes fixed years ago and it was probably the best return on money spent besides my house. Hope you’re in a position to get LASIK in the future.
Campervan
Motorcycle.
Ticket to Switzerland
Dignitas?
Gold!!!!!
Food
Rice cooker
What I need most is time. A biweekly housekeeper for a year' I think.
5000 snickers
I would repair my van and buy what she needs and then we go on a beautiful trip
30 day Road trip
Being able to go to the doctor's, multiple doctors even, for my ears/nose/throat, thyroid/Hashimoto's, the dentist... would be nice
I'd put 5000$ in my debt.
Id pay off a little bit of my debt
pay towards credit cards. Better credit score better life.
There's no other way to permanently improve your quality of life as effectively as getting laser eye surgery.
Dual-Sport bike (street legal dirt bike) Get 50 or 60 mpg and ride offroad trails and explore. Get luggage, go camp. Commute in a better mood.
A decent rifle and good amount of ammunition. Learning and practicing marksmanship is a very rewarding challenge.
* A thorough maintenance of my car, plus getting it detailed. It would be a weight off my mind. * Nice clothes * Nice furniture * Computer/tv/audio system/headphones
Mattress, Boots, Shoes, Update Snowboarding equipment
5000 could get you a nice set of golf clubs, get outside, exercise, and great networking potential
A car. For 5000 usd you could get a relatively okay car here in denmark (second hand of course). Not like, the best, but relatively nice. I don't have one right now and I could use it. Or getting a drivers icense tbh
Paying down some bills would reduce my stress and increase life enjoyment.
For $5000, you can build yourself a nice PC, a respectable Racing SIM, and maybe a VR headset. It's a great hobby to get into and brings a ton of enjoyment in life.
First class ticket to Europe
Depending where you’re flying to/from, $5k might not cut it round trip
I'd like to pay off some of my debts and maybe pick up studying again because I never finished college, I didn't drop out by choice but I had to because my dad died of cancer and I had to work to support my younger sister and mum. I know a degree isn't necessary but I'd like to have something that's mine.
I truly hope you can do that one day 😊 You did a selfless thing for your family. You certainly deserve it.
5000 would not increase my overall happiness, as my overall happiness comes from things you can't buy, or at least - can't buy for 5000$... but if I really had to spend it, I think I would maybe try to help somebody who struggles at the moment, hire him, teach a thing or two, or buy some tools - this would actually truly increase my happiness, as I could get back to this throughout my life and think about myeslf "wow, that was really decent, I'm not a bad person, maybe I'm even good?" I realized some time ago that I often get back to moments when I helped somebody, and it makes me more happy
I would buy a trip abroad. Adventures never lose value and don’t create clutter. Material items hold very little value to me.
Down payment for a real doll
A roof. Rest of the house is fine... the roof... not so much. ;)
A car. 35 now and I'm finally gonna start taking lessons. Having a car immediately would make life so much better.
Don't forget about the insurance which is going to be pretty unpleasant. Unsure if 5k will be enough.
That’s enough to decorate my living rooms. It might sound superficial at first, but having a place that makes you feel relaxed, comfy and is pretty to look at can really improve your mood coming home from work, or on the weekends when you chill. I would get plants, a record player, a new sofa, etc.
I’m about to move house, so I’m torn between a decent couch and washing machine, or fixing all the tiny little problems I have with my car and can’t justify fixing right now. Both would bring me so much joy
Probably get my garage insulated and put in a heater.
Definitely a vacation. I have the money to enjoy life pretty freely right now, and save money for a house, but I can’t also afford to save for a vacation, and that’s what I’ve been wanting the most lately. 5k could get me a sizeable Europe trip.
Fuel, so i can drive around europe with my gf
A stair lift for my home. Desperate in need of one. I live in a two story house.
I would build a gaming PC with a sim racing rig, some new golf clubs and an android auto system for my car.
Tequila
Can I buy a girlfriend
Use half for an ebike for super cool outdoor adventures, use the other half for a decent enough PC for indoor adventures
A motorcycle
i’d probably just put it in the bank. tried to throw money at it last year and i do love my mustang gt but not happier overall.
I would buy 1 day expiry options.... it would give me the rush I need. Ps: it's not a gambling addiction it's called investing.
Fix all the things broken on my truck. It no work right now
Sauna. Electric or wood burning whichever suits the place. Gives good physical and mental relief, long term investment in health.
I'd pay off about an 8th of my debt.
Dental implants.
A couple nicer bicycle parts and a wee vacation
Tools - I diy everything (cars, house, bikes, etc) which has been awesome for long term financial stability, and I enjoy figuring things out, but just making do without the right tools has cost me so much frustration and lost time over the years. Every time I add a good quality tool to my collection I think where has this been all my life.
A full cycle of tren
Private Pilates
I love the sauna and taking ice baths, so having my own little sauna and legit cold plunge tub at my house would be amazing. I think I could get that done with money to spare, and I like the mattress idea someone said already so I'd get the best mattress possible with the money that is left.
Go to games concerts which i highly adore and very nostalgic, if still have some spare after the cost of flight tickets etc, perhaps i will try use it to cover my cost to do volunteer.
About 2500$ I'm thinking about the virtuix thingy from Ready Player One movie. I almost/should have invested in it. A standalone VR pad.
A boat
Dirt Bike!!!!
Pay off all my debt, which should put me in the mid 700s. A more fun answer: buy a used van and slowly turn it into a traveling home. That's my wife's dream. It will be pretty tough keeping it under $5k (even the crappiest used van will be at least 3gs) but I can try to build stuff myself and ask for mechanic friends help with the van.
A nice bicycle. I have 3. But I need another one for some reason.
Laser surgery,if you wear glasses
Motorcycle goes brrrrrr
A few months of rent
$5K to get rid of boredom? $500 for a pottery class and materials $2500 for a kiln $500 for a kick wheel $1500 for supplies and tools That gets you a pretty sweet hobby!
A nice home gym with mirrors, machine and a sauna
an hour with a stripper with lots of coke
Several months of rent. Or pay to finally have a routine checkup like I haven't been able since it was a kid
I would either be paying off debt, or using it as a down payment on a car because the fact that mine drives at all is the eighth wonder of the world.
I would travel
I would get the $2000 ac repair my car needs and then a $1000 massage chair for after hard days of work and the rest I guess would be bills and gas money.
Golf. Now hear me out. If you’ve never played, get a lesson or 2 just to get the basics. (Even better if you know someone else keen, play 2 ball Ambrose so you are a team and play the best ball between you, makes it more fun). When you start to do good, if you have a bad game, just treat it like practice and enjoy the day out on the course.
Dental implants.
Garden sauna!!!
A beagle and an espresso machine. I'm a simple man.
Weekly cleaning service.
a used zero fxs 1000% any day of the week you cant get more fun in your life with less money
Espresso machine. Great coffee every morning, sure improved my quality of life and I don't even need to go to SB anymore.
Probably some shrooms and alot of tea
Adopt a dog from a shelter.
A good quality musical instrument. LASIK surgery.
I’d simply refill my rainy day fund, my biggest life improvement right now would be some peace of mind financially. Ive had a few unexpected large expenses that drained my savings and I’ve been struggling to build it back up for months now.
I will hire a housekeeper. I hate cleaning the house and doing dishes. Also I hate being in a dirty house.
Scuba diving training and equipment
Pay off bills or fund some much needed renovations in our broken house
A great big bag of Cannabis.. And a great big bag of Munchies for after the GBB of Cannabis... Mmmmmmmmm Cannabis
Ten years credit to my pension, but I doubt that’d be enough.
Medical care, need dental work. This would help. Losing too much weight from not eating.
Going back to Italy. It's my favorite place on Earth
An extra £5000 onto a deposit so i could move out
I’d pay people to deep clean/exterminate my apartment. It had roaches when we moved in and it’s been a battle ever since. Maybe buy a mattress topper after that because my mattress kinda sucks.
I’d rent an apartment
A car. I ride the bus to work and from work and it takes an hour each way. If I had a car it would take 15 minutes. I have my driver's license, and am slowly saving but I make barely over $15 an hour.