People Reveal Which Things They Purchased That Vastly Improved Their Happiness
Reddit user Little-Two6210 asked: 'F*ck "Money can't buy happiness" BS, what did you buy that made you so much happier?'
Happiness is relative.
The idea that money can't buy happiness sounds good, but the reality is money can buy many things that contribute to our overall well-being.
And isn't comfort happiness?
Reddit user Little-Two6210 asked:
"F*ck 'Money can't buy happiness' BS, what did you buy that made you so much happier?"
Little Things
"My rice cooker."
~ perfectskycastle
"I always bought the cheapo $20 rice cooker and they’d under/overcook the rice and then eventually burn up and die."
"Saved up my pennies a few years ago and bought a nice Zojirushi model and it has been amazing. Absolutely love the Keep Warm function and the little song it sings when it starts/stops cooking."
"I was so impressed that I bought one for my mom who also loves rice with every meal. First she said 'oh honey it’s too expensive, take it back!'."
"Then she used it and refuses to 'give it back'. These cookers are absolute workhorses."
~ TheWildTofuHunter
"A bed."
"I moved into my sister's old house (family land) when she moved in with her boyfriend and just assumed she'd be back 'any day now'."
"Well, I slept on a 'floor mattress'/cot for a year before I accepted that it was okay to start making it my home, bought sheets, pillows, blankets, everything and holy sh*t it changes how sore you feel in the morning."
~ Windfade
"My dog."
~ Kiunan5
"Same, except my dog is a cat."
~ NativeMasshole
"So much this. I really feel like the only unconditional love relationship I've had in my life has been with my pets."
"I realize that's kind of a pathetic statement, but I'm grateful to have found that type of love in some way."
~ GetInTheVanKid
Big Things
"My first piano. It changed my life."
~ Monsieur_Brochant
"For me it was my first acoustic. I had been playing for a decade on electric."
"Discovering how to use tone- and the beauty that tone carries- was magical."
~ chopinomania
Getting Away
"Flight tickets to Barcelona. I landed, had a blast, contemplated 'forgetting' to leave."
"Wandering around the city, losing myself in thought in the Gothic Quarter, sitting on a fontain's edge at a square."
"Barcelona is one of my favourite cities. I rarely go there because the flight is rather long, but Athens is a good subtitute for a weekend getaway."
~ gerginborisov
Health
"I ruined my teeth thanks to depression and poor self-care."
"Money paid for my teeth to be fixed and my confidence improved so much."
~ CrabbiestAsp
"New foot."
"Walking is dope."
~ IncrediblyShinyShart
Anything
"I don't have a lot of money so it makes me so happy when I buy anything."
"Like the other day, I got sushi, it was awesome."
"And I got a beautiful comfy beanie."
"Makes me so happy I'm wearing it now. Keeps me warm."
~ Yasmin947
"When I was poor, like super poor, anything was the world to me!"
"My set of cheap pots and pans from Walmart, my first tv (small but awesome!) my first set of not donated sheets, my first new pillows, my first set of new flatware, a lot of firsts."
~ selfdestructo591
Home
"My own apartment."
~ OtHanski
"Feel like my parents, siblings and myself get along better after everyone got their own place."
"Having your own space to just shut off and not be bothered takes such a huge load off."
~ AfellowchuckerEhh
Time
"Time—help with housekeeping has been invaluable to keeping a sane household while working."
~ Mis8ryGutz
"Services...which to me is essentially buying time."
"So paying to have laundry washed dried & folded has brought me more joy than anyone could ever imagine. Or cleaning service for my house so that I can do other things."
"I've actually noticed that I'm much less grumpy when I don't have to do as much of my own house work."
"I can be so productive with other things I really need to do."
~ igotnothin4ya
"What is one thing that is the great equalizer between rich and poor people? Time. No amount of money in the world can buy someone time."
"We all have 24 hours days and we will all eventually die. The one thing in this world rich people cannot buy is time."
"So they spend their money conserving time."
"It's why they travel in private jets, have chauffeurs driving them around, a cook who makes their meals, a cleaner for their home, and personal assistants to take care of mundane tasks."
"They cannot buy more time. Only use their money to conserve what time they do have."
~ CodeNCats
Choices
"The most important thing money can buy is choice."
"With enough money you can choose to walk away from a sh*tty job or a toxic relationship."
"You can still walk away without money but it’s SO MUCH harder."
~ Kylindra95
Security
"Peace of mind.
"I grew up dirt poor."
"But I’ve had a pretty successful career. Unfortunately, my family has accumulated a lot of medical debt."
"And despite me having a low six figure income, we were living a low income life and worrying constantly about money and spiraling debt."
"The state I live in is very conservative, which translates to a general stance of 'f*ck poor people', despite being one of the poorest states in the country. So it took my spouse, who is a textbook case for the type of person for whom disability is intended, 7 years to finally get approved."
"After that, and refinancing the house, we’re no longer spiraling further into debt. We’re debt free except for the mortgage. And we’re actually growing our savings account."
"I can contribute to a retirement account now. And while we’re far from rich, the sheer relief I’ve been feeling for the last few months is just amazing."
~ -Posthuman-
What things have you bought that contributed to your happiness?
Purchases For Under $100 That Actually Changed People's Lives
Reddit user MapleLeafCollector asked: 'What life changing thing can you buy for less than $100?'
As consumers, we're always on the hunt for the best bargain and look to avoid being ripped off.
But sometimes it's worth forking over an exorbitant amount of money for certain indulgences to spoil ourselves with, like an exotic vacation getaway or fancy new clothes from a high-end department store.
While many of us scoff at throwing away our money on luxury items, did you know you don't have to drain your bank account for items or experiences that are absolutely priceless?
Strangers online came up with a slew of economical and helpful tips when Redditor MapleLeafCollector asked:
"What life-changing thing can you buy for less than $100?"
These can improve your way of living.
For Maximum Flow
"The squatty potty (or its knockoff). Truly changed my life."
– MeatballsRegional
"You don't even need a knockoff version - I've using a little plastic stool (lol) that I got for £1 at the Pound Shop down the road for the last 20+ years."
– Slinkywhippet
For Oral Hygiene And Foot Health
"A good pair of shoes/boots (on sale, just scored $275 hiking boots for $60) and a Sonicare toothbrush. Take care of your feet and teeth, you'll be glad you did."
– ketkate
Kicking A Bad Habit
"Nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking/vaping."
"Edit:please read the thread if you want info to quit smoking. Other commenters have some really good tips."
– notseizingtheday
You can avoid major suffering by purchasing these items under $100.
Major Life Alert
"Carbon monoxide detector. Plug it in your bedroom. That way if there's the 1/1,000,000 chance your appliance or heater or whatever malfunctions you'll at least wake up before you die from suffocation in your sleep."
"EDIT: I mean wake up before you die so you can LEAVE. The goal is to avoid suffocating."
– JacobiPoke
Emergency Kit
"A decent first aid kit. I take one with me wherever I go in the car. You can make your own with good supplies for around that much. Never know when you’ll need it."
– brotbeutel
Ultimate Protection
"A condom."
– 2be0rn0t2b
"We sell single condoms in my store. I have a couple of younger customers who buy them. I charge 1 dollar, no tax because I not about to try to haggle over 7 cents."
"And I don't say anything about it. Ever. Not even have a nice day or stay safe."
"I even told my boss not to say one word about it to their moms who also come into my store."
"I am not going to do anything to make them the least bit uncomfortable about it."
– daisy0723
Simplify your life with these.
Cruise Control
"A portable air compressor for your car tires."
– likeagausss
"Mine plugs into the car outlet. So I don't have to find an outlet."
– Gibbons74
Temporary Shelter
"If you have gone totally bankrupt and those are your last 100$, a gym membership. Gives you a couple of months of access to a locker and a shower for you to find a job in the meanwhile."
– burrrrah
"I've been homeless for 5 years and the gym is the secret to maintaining a semi normal life. If you can shower and do your laundry weekly no one will ever suspect that you're homeless, and when they do find out they're usually shocked."
– DickieJohnson
It's About Size
"10 foot phone charger cord."
– 2trashkittens
"Full circle, from corded phone to corded phone. It was bound to happen."
– F'k_you_Reddit_Nazi
Grate Solution
"I got one of those cheese graters with the hand crank (like Olive Garden) 🤌🤌🤌🤌"
– South_Bit1764
"So now you can have that awkward moment at home with family when you don’t know if now is too much cheese or a second ago…."
– Right_Plankton9802
Like A Big Warm Hug
"A heated throw. Honestly saves you so much money in the winter and makes you more comfortable. Life changing because who can afford to heat their house all day every day through winter."
– Eurghunderstandme
My husband and I bought GoSund smart plugs and paired it with our virtual assistant system.
Now, whenever we come home from a night out, either one of us can vocally command Alexa to turn the lights on in our home without us going to every lighting source to turn them on manually.
It's definitely a game-changer.
Every now and then, we fork over a rather large sum of money to buy something which we think will have a positive impact on our lives. This could be anything from a new home or car, an ice cream machine, or a super big flat-screen TV.
At the end of the day, we find ourselves justifying the purchase as money well spent, no matter how much damage the price tag inflicted on our bank account.
However, not all purchases which could have a hugely positive effect on your life require a loan or a second mortgage to buy.
Sometimes, something we find on sale or a discount store might prove to be the very thing we were missing all our lives.
"What’s something $100 or less but is a total game changer?"
For Safety And Sanity.
"Musicians ear plugs."
"Mine cut down the sound level by 2/3 or so and I use them at every concert, but also on the subway, at loud bars etc."
"They don't make things sound muffled, just quieter."
"Your ears can't regenerate, ever, and my work depends on my hearing so I gotta keep 'em safe."
"And my pair only cost about $25 Canadian!"- bjackilly
No Change Of Getting Tangled Up!
"Under-mattress clips to keep your bedsheet from coming off at the corners."
"It was recommended to me on Reddit and remains one of my favorite possessions."- Nepentheiii
Your Wrist And Fingers Will Thank You Later.
"Nintendo Switch Pro controller.'
'Huge difference over the joycons."- BocTheCrude
Video Game GIF by Fall GuysGiphyThe Good Kind Of Pressure
"A nice shower head."- Astrosloth92
When You're Not Ready For The Sun...
"Blackout curtains."
"Especially if you work second shift or graveyard."
"The quality of sleep goes up so much."- Fourloken
Three Simple Items, One Life-Changing Result
"Vinegar and Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle."
"It's absolutely 100% the best cleaner I have ever used."- evilpigclone
Window Spraying GIF by Leah DubucGiphyLet There Be Light!
"An electric, USB chargeable lighter."
'I don't smoke, but I do light a lot of candles, use it to light my fireplace, etc."
"No more dealing with the stupid ones that run out of fuel or whatever."
"Or the little tiny ones with the rollers that I could never freaking get to work."
"Plus there's no flame to blow back at you."
'If something pushes against the electrical current, it just goes out."- beepborpimajorp
Office Mobility
"Roller blade wheel casters for your desk chair."
"Quieter, smoother, and don't damage your floor."
"I finally just got some and I love them, 20$."- bingwhip
Surf With No Interruptions...
"PiHole."
"It Basically blocks every ad in your home network from loading."
"Combined with an ad-Blocking browser extension you will experience the internet on another level."- schobaloa1
Internet GIFGiphyIt's The Little Things That Get You, And The Thought That Counts.
"I bought my dad a $2 letter opener and he acted like it was the best gift in 20 years."- writingwrongs
As the saying goes, money can't buy happiness.
And it's the simple things in life which make us truly happy.
Value is subjective.
Manufacturing costs may be low to mass produce a product or item that is commercially sold anywhere, and depending on demand, prices can skyrocket.
But there are relatively affordable things that aren't the subject of an intense bidding war on the secondary market like eBay.
So what are these useful products that don't cost a fortune?
Fortunately for us, Redditor acidiclee asked strangers online:
"What item under $50 drastically improved your life?"
Practical lifesavers can be found at a next-to-nothing cost.
Laundry Room Upgrade
"It's a small thing: a closet rod installed above my washer/dryer, and extra hangers."
"Now clothes get taken out of the dryer and put on a hanger right away rather than end up as a pile on the floor, or in a basket never to be properly put away."
– bengine
It Really Sticks Out
"Curved shower rod."
– Beauregarden
Pet Owner's Dream
"A rubber bristled broom. I have two dogs and two cats, and my house is all hardwood and tile. A regular broom just sends the fur floating everywhere, but my rubber broom keeps it all nice and tidy and easy to pick up. It works on my area rug and upholstered furniture, too!"
– Boose81
Rinse With Ease And Comfort
"Shower chair. I've got a f'ked up back and I initially got it for that but even if my back was fine I'd still have one, they're so useful. If you shave your legs, you won't regret it."
– mad_fishmonger
Electronic wonders never cease.
Fancy Headwrap
"Head-band headphones. It's like a thin elastic fabric band with thin bluetooth headphones inside. Around £20 from the bald richest guy. So ear plugs weren't enough to stop the random footsteps and furniture noises through paper-thin ceiling at night, but adding those to the set with random "sleep music" from YT drastically improved my sleep."
– obviously_suspicious
Take Charge
"Battery pack to charge your phone."
"We’ve all been in situations where having your phone on is super important, and not having to be tied to an outlet is even better."
– blackmagic999
Presto Heat-O
"A cheap microwave and coffee maker for my work van. I have an inverter for my tools that I use to run them. Hot coffee and hot lunches make a huge difference, especially on bad days."
– outlaw-gentleman
Solutions to these headaches were well within these Redditors' budgets.
Meds Management
"My 9$ pill organizer."
"Friends have laughed at me because it seems like an old people thing, but I‘ve finally managed to stick to my meds (yes, ironically my ADHD is so bad I couldn‘t even get that done). To me this was a real life changer!"
"Bonus points: I‘m the only one who knows which day it is during the pandemic."
– Sweetholymary
Kitchen Space
"My apartment has like 0 counterspace, in reality only a total of 5 feet spread through three areas next to the sink and stove. I spent like $15 on a 4 foot table. That now holds all my kitchen stuff like toaster, distiller, crock pot, and instant pot. It has just enough room for all that."
"Since it is a common question, the distiller is for purifying water. It boils water then collects the steam and condenses it back to water in a pot on the side. It is the exact same process as how to make stronger alcohol, but this is a higher temperature so it leaves behind solids that I clean out once a week. I like pure water and I get all my minerals from my foods. I enjoy cooking so I choose menu items that get all my minerals."
– Nicholi417
Measure Of Success
"11 pound capacity digital kitchen scale. For baking, cooking and correctly identifying portion sizes."
– HokeyPokeyGuy
Heat Pack
"Hot water bottle. I live in cold Scandinavia and have chronic pain. It gets used pretty much all year around."
– melkesjokolade89
An apple slicer drastically changed my life.
The thought of coring an apple prevented me from eating the one thing everyday that supposedly keeps the doctor away.
Now, all I have to do is place the handy tool above the apple, press down, and viola! A healthy snack in seconds.
So, what's a similar tool to use on whole pineapples??
When I was seven-years-old, I decided to use my allowance to buy one of those disposable cameras. It was less than $10, and my life was never the same!
Since I was so young, I wasn’t allowed to use my dad’s Nikon, in case I dropped it, so I never understood the joy he got from taking pictures until I got my own camera. Once I took my first photograph, I never stopped.
Now, I’m the one who gets pictorial evidence of special events or documents family trips. I’m the one who makes sure memories are preserved, and I love it.
You never know what purchase is going to be life-changing, but chances are, something was. Usually, these life-changing purchases aren’t even that expensive.
Curious about this or perhaps hoping for a recommendation, Redditor stampoutreality asked:
“What life-changing item can you buy for less than a hundred dollars?”
Kept Me In Food
"Rice Cooker. That kept me fed during covid when I barely had the energy to get out of bed"
– ArkadyKirilenko
"Chinese families know this. Got addicted when I married into one. We keep soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar around for condiments."
– ihbarddx
For A Good Night's Sleep
"A good pillow"
– wilsonianuk
"Completely changes the way you sleep am I right?"
"I had trouble for months getting good sleep, brought a under pillow and a memory pillow for the top and I swear a nuke could go off and I'd just sleep through it."
– viking_raider94
To Heal
"First aid kit. They are handy when you least want them to be."
– ThePhoenixBird2022
"My family is very outdoorsy, and my grandpa was a medic in the National Guard. He always stressed having a basic first aid kit wherever you go, and making sure to throw out anything that’s expired. That bag has more mileage than my grandpa’s ‘55 Chevy lol"
– IllurinatiL
"Exactly, you never want to need it but when you keep it handy it turns form a minor inconvenience to have near you to a potential literal lifesaver."
– MrPers0n30
"Yep. My freshman year of college I used lots of band aids on myself and my floor mates, and once had a girl come to my apartment at 2am to splint her broken hand until she could get to the doctor in the morning as she couldn’t go to the ER."
"Ironically I didn’t have it the day I ended up in a serious biking accident and had a nasty head injury. The off duty EMT who found me had a first aid kit with him and did more to actually treat me then the crew that showed up in the ambulance."
– IronDominion
Caught It On Camera
"A decent dash cam. I scoffed at the idea of a dashcam for years. A friend told me to try it out and it helped me out when I got in an accident a couple years back."
– Froggy-of-the-butt
"I keep thinking about getting a dash cam, but I also have an irrational fear that as soon as I get one I'll really need it like I'm tipping probability somehow."
– RomanSeraphim
Protect Yourself
"Condoms"
– DucoNdona
"Not buying them would be more life changing"
– rippin12000
"An even cheaper birth control method is to tell your potential mate how you spend 8 hours a day on reddit. Works every time."
– FartingBob
Arthur Said It Best
"A library card--free if you live in the library's district, a fee if you are a non-resident. So many resources for self improvement and growth...and so many free alternatives to paid services."
– TheSanityInspector
"Hot tip: Librarians want you to have a card, so they are very often willing to very liberally interpret the requirements to prove that you are in district."
– TrineonX
"Having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card!"
– psiv92
Can We Fix It?
"Basic tool set."
"A little youtube/Google work, a $100 worth of tools and you'd be amazed at the things you can fix on your car, around the house, etc."
"Bonus points if you're a man - chicks dig dudes that are handy"
"Bonus points if you're a woman - dudes dig chicks that can turn wrenches with them"
"Everyone wins!"
– 86Logs
"people love people who can handle their own sh*t**"
– granth1993
Once You Grind, You Never Go Back
"Pepper grinder. Seriously I will never use regular pepper again"
– Deleted User
"Same goes for coffee!"
– realityGrtrThanUs
"Recently got a salt/pepper grinder set and bulk peppercorn medley and pink Himalayan salt off Amazon and it’s been a great decision. We also buy bulk dried Thai bird chilies and grind our own for spice at home."
–swimsuitsamus
Run, Run, Fast As You Can
"Running shoes."
"Can easily get a quality, long-lasting and versatile pair under 100."
"Running can have such a massive positive effect for anyone struggling with their mental health I can’t recommend it enough."
– forreverendgreen_
"Been running a mile a day for the last few months. It may have unnoticed benefits to my mental health outside of the time spent running, but on a conscious level it's brought nothing but misery - whether hating the act of running itself to the tiredness that follows."
"I hope someday to feel the mythical runner's high. So far it feels more like a kick in the gut."
– texanarob
"Blackout curtains"
– Ny_Mike27
"Every time I date a guy and spend the first night over the next morning I’m always like “we gotta get some black out curtains for this room.” Knew I met the love of my life when he already had them lol"
– AndyJCohen
"I'm going to ask for this for Christmas."
"Here in the UK especially in the north, it can get sunny from about 4AM onwards in summer"
– Peniche1997
All of these are totally justified, but that last one is definitely the best!