Most shoppers encounter this problem while they are shopping for a product they need: They can’t decide whether to splurge and buy a high-quality product or save money by buying the cheaper alternative.
Saving money is important and buying the cheaper alternative is an easy way to cut costs, but it is also important to treat yourself once in a while.
There are also many benefits of buying expensive products.
Benefits of buying expensive products
- Higher quality
- They typically last longer
- Can make you feel better
- They usually look nicer
- You will be inclined to use them more often
- Higher re-sell value
Luxury items and services that are worth the price
1. High-end bed sheets and pillow cases
High quality luxury sheets can be costly but they are worth every penny. They are not really that expensive when you consider how much time we spend in bed and how long they last.
Below are the best bedsheets that we recommend:
- High thread count cotton bed sheets (At least 1500 thread count)
- Linen bed sheets (for the summer)
- Flannel bed sheets (for the winter)
- Silk bed sheets
- Bamboo bed sheets
A good night’s sleep is important and having a comfortable sleeping environment can help. Get some quality sheets to help you sleep better.
2. Comfortable mattress
You spend a third of your life sleeping so it’s a really good investment.
Buying a comfortable mattress will change your life. This is not something you cheap out on, it’s worth the splurge.
Your back will thank you later
The most difficult part of buying a mattress is figuring out what is comfortable to you.
Do you prefer a soft or hard support structure? Memory foam, inner spring, hybrid, gel or pillow-top?
Casper Sleep Original Hybrid Mattress
3. Bidet Toilet Attachment
This might sound odd, but a bidet is a lifestyle upgrade. It’s like a shower for your butt and it will change your life.
It’s hard to use other bathrooms after using a toilet with a bidet attachment. You just don’t get as clean wiping with raw toilet paper.
Although traditional bidets tend to be very expensive, there are very affordable bidet attachment models on Amazon for under $25.
If you’re willing to spend more you can buy some fancier smart bidet attachments with heated seats, temperature controlled wash and warm air dryers.
Bio Bidet Bliss Smart Toilet Seat
4. Heated Towel Rack or Towel Warmer
This was one of my biggest dream purchases and it was totally worth it.
A towel warmer is not necessary for every household, but coming out of the shower to the luxurious feeling of a warm towel is just bliss on a chilly morning.
You can either purchase a bucket-style towel warmer, a wall-mounted towel rack or a standing towel rack. All options will do a good job heating up your towel.
The bucket-style towel warmers are the most convenient and easiest to set-up. They also do a great job evenly heating the towel so you don’t have any cold spots.
Sometimes I even throw my clothes or bathrobe in the towel warmer so they are nice and toasty when I put them on.
Here is the towel warmer I purchased. I can’t recommend it enough:
Zadro Ultra Large Luxury Bucket-Style Towel Warmer
5. Luxurious Bathrobe
Wake up to comfort by wearing your bathrobe in the morning. Don’t worry about what you are going to wear for the day, just throw on your bathrobe and get cozy with your morning coffee or tea.
Bathrobes keep you warm while getting in and out of the shower.
Polo Ralph Lauren Men’s Microfiber Plush Robe
6. Apple AirPods (Wireless, noise canceling headphones)
If you listen to music a lot they are totally worth it.
Wireless bluetooth headphones allow you to listen to music while working, running or working out without the annoying wire getting in the way.
Also, taking phone calls on the Apple AirPods and similar wireless earbuds is a much clearer and enjoyable experience.
I don’t know how people stand listening to music on laptop or phone speakers. It does not compare the sound quality of high-end headphones.
It’s impossible to go back to cheap earbuds or headphones after you try them.
You will discover your favorite songs again!
Apple AirPods
7. Cleaning Service
If you struggle keeping up with household chores, hiring a professional cleaning service can do wonders for your home and your mental health.
Imagine coming home to a clean and sparkling home every two weeks.
The price for a cleaning service is usually about $50-200 per visit depending on the size of your home.
8. Hiring Movers
After you hire movers, you will never go back to moving on your own. Hiring a moving company puts your mind at ease during a stressful time. The movers are experienced and make the entire process run smoothly.
You won’t need to worry about asking friends to help you move, renting a truck, making multiple trips, damaging your belongings or getting injured from lifting heavy furniture.
You just sit back and relax while you tell the movers how you want your new home arranged.
9. Patio Furniture
A patio setup is great for inviting guests over and grilling meals outside. I dine outside every night when it is warm enough. I even bought an outdoor heat lamp so I can dine on my patio year round.
10. High quality ingredients for cooking food at home
Instead of spending $50+ per person on dining out or ordering out, try buying high quality ingredients and cooking a nice meal at home. You can actually prepare more extravagant meals yourself for a fraction of the cost. A nice steak at a fancy restaurant might cost you $40+ while you can get a comparable steak from a local market or butcher shop for $15-$25.
Tip: Try making quality spaghetti with real parmesan cheese (parmigiano-reggiano). Upgrading your ingredients will turn your boring pasta dishes into fancy Italian meals.
11. Rideshare Services (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
Using a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft is like having your personal chauffeur. Just press “request a ride” in the app and a driver will arrive to pick you up within minutes.
It is a convenient, cashless and safe experience. You don’t need to worry about finding a parking spot or driving home after a night of drinking.
If you’re looking for another alternative to owning a car for commuting or local travel, electric bikes are an excellent investment. The popularity around electric bikes has exploded over the past few years and companies are making higher quality bikes at a lower price point. Rad Power Bikes makes a very affordable electric bike for around $1000.
RadMission 1 by Rad Power Bikes
12. Grocery Delivery Service
Grocery shopping takes a lot of time and effort. Sometimes the process can take up a few hours between making a grocery list, driving to the grocery store, finding the products you need, waiting in line, loading up the car, unloading the car and putting the groceries away.
There are many advantages of getting your groceries delivered. Using a grocery delivery service can save you a lot of time and it is surprisingly affordable at about $5-10 for the delivery. Some delivery services like Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods are free for Amazon Prime members. You just need to tip.
You can select your groceries from the comfort of your own home and get them delivered in about two hours.
13. Boat Rentals
Did you know you can experience the enjoyment of boating without the headaches of owning a boat?
Renting a bow-rider or cabin cruiser boat is affordable in most locations. You can rent a small basic boat for as low as $40 per hour or $200 per day.
14. Comfortable Footwear
You spend a lot of time standing and walking. If your feet feel bad, you will probably be in a bad mood.
I stand all day during my job and I recently started wearing running shoes to work. The comfort upgrade was life changing and significantly improved my overall mood while working.
15. Polarized Sunglasses
It is very difficult to go back to normal sunglasses after wearing polarized lenses. Polarized sunglasses filter the glare off of reflective surfaces like water and snow. They are a must-have if you spend a lot of time at the beach or boating.
Ray-Ban Rb3025 Classic Polarized Aviator Sunglasses
16. Professional Massage
Getting a therapeutic massage is absolutely worth the price.
The benefits of massage therapy are endless. It will help reduce stress, anxiety, headaches, pain and increase your circulation.
It’s important to relax and spend time on yourself.
You will leave feeling better than you walked in.
17. Warm winter jacket
Buying a high-end winter jacket may seem unnecessary until you wear it outside in freezing weather and you are warm & dry. They are typically breathable, lightweight and have more mobility.
Fjallraven – Women’s Nuuk Parka Winter Jacket
18. Keurig Coffee Maker
If you love coffee but don’t enjoy making it, you should consider purchasing a Keurig. The machines and the k-cups can be pretty expensive compared to making regular coffee. The coffee machines cost anywhere from $100-200 and the k-cups cost around $0.75 each.
The real value of a Keurig is the convenience. They are totally worth the price if you are rushed in the morning and need a quick cup of coffee to-go.
Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker
19. Comfortable Office Chair
If you have a desk job and spend most of your days sitting, a comfortable and supportive office chair will help alleviate any back pain and improve your posture.
A simple chair upgrade can make your work days a lot more enjoyable.
La-Z-Boy Delano Executive Leather Office Chair
20. TV
It might be time for you to upgrade your TV. The investment is absolutely worth it when you consider how often you watch TV.
If you are considering buying a TV in 2020 you should buy a 4K TV to prepare for the future. 4k resolution is quickly becoming the standard and upgrading now
Surprisingly, you can buy a 4K Smart TV on Amazon with a pretty low budget.
SAMSUNG Crystal UHD – 4K UHD HDR Smart TV
21. Cookware
There are many benefits to buying expensive pots and pans. Typically, higher-priced cookware means that it is higher quality, more durable, lasts longer, easier to clean and provides an overall better cooking experience.
Ninja Foodi NeverStick Premium Hard-Anodized 12-Piece Cookware Set
22. Loungewear
Let’s face it. We all love lounging around the house on a Sunday morning or curling up on our couch after a day of activities.
Everyone has their “comfy outfit” which probably consists of a worn-in college t-shirt and sweats.
I’m sure those sweats are pretty comfortable compared to your day clothes, but upgrading to luxury loungewear can really enhance the experience.
During the Fall and Winter, a comfortable hoodie and sweatpants can really make lounging around your home a more cozy experience.
This super-soft bamboo loungewear was named one of Oprah's favorite things.
Cozy Earth Women’s Bamboo Loungewear
Cozy Earth Men’s Bamboo Loungewear
23. Weighted blanket
Do you love the feeling of lounging under a pile of blankets? If that sounds like you, a nice weighted blanket is absolutely worth purchasing.
Weighted blankets are super comfy and they have many additional health benefits. They simulate deep pressure touch which helps relax the nervous system, relieve pain, reduce anxiety and improve mood.
Weighted Blanket Twin Size 15 Pounds, for Adults
24. Espresso Machine
Being able to enjoy espresso in the comfort of your own home without leaving is a treat.
Purchasing a home espresso machine is worth it if you drink espresso a few times per week and enjoy making your own coffee in the morning. It will eventually end up saving you a lot of money if you normally purchase espresso from coffee shops.
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine
25. Insulated Coffee Travel Mug
For everyday coffee or tea drinkers, a nice insulated coffee travel mug is a must-have. Keeping your morning moment warm for hours is a luxury that is worth every penny.
YETI Rambler 20 oz Tumbler For Coffee & Tea
26. A nice shower head
A powerful, dense shower that covers your entire body is a very satisfying experience.
If you are not happy with your shower water pressure or shower head, there’s an easy solution.
Buy a nice shower head. It’s worth the splurge.
You shower everyday so a small investment to drastically improve the experience is totally worth it.
Check to see if you are able to unscrew your shower head. You might need some tools, but the replacement process usually only takes a few minutes.
Kohler K-22169-G-CP Forte 1.75 GPM Multifunction Showerhead
27. Spices & Seasoning
While spices aren’t exactly a luxury item, they can help make your home-cooked meals taste like they were made in a gourmet restaurant kitchen.
You just need to purchase the basic spices so you have them in your cabinet and learn how to use them.
Gourmet Organic Spice Rack Refill Variety Pack
28. Light switch Dimmers
Light switch dimmers can make any home seem more luxurious. They add ambiance to any room with the ability to freely control the tone and light levels.
They also save energy and make your light bulbs last longer.
LED+ Dimmer for Dimmable LED, Halogen and Incandescent Bulbs with Wallplate
29. At Least One Tailored Suit or Dress
You should own at least one nice tailored suit or dress. Think about all the formal personal and work events you will attend during your life.
Your appearance is important and you want to look good for notable events like weddings and conferences.
Remember, those wedding photos last forever!
30. WiFi Smart Plugs
Wifi smart plugs are the easiest and most inexpensive way to turn your home into a smart home.
Smart plugs enable you to turn appliances on and off remotely from an app on your smartphone.
You can check to see if you left an appliance running after you’ve left your home or just turn off a lamp without leaving your bed.
Smart plug – Mini Wifi Outlet Works With Alexa, Google Home
Are these expensive items worth purchasing?
These are all valuable things that are worth the price to many people, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth it for you.
If you are deciding if an item is worth the splurge, it’s important to consider these questions to weight out the value vs. cost:
- How often do you use it?
- Will it make your life easier?
- Will it save you time?
- Will it improve your lifestyle or health?
- Will it make you happy?
