Five Things I'll Happily Spend Money On Every Time

There's a trend making the rounds on TikTok where people share the five things they'll happily spend money on, no matter what.

Some of the lists are full of luxury purchases. Business class flights. Direct flights instead of layovers. Birkenstocks. Face creams that start around $75 a jar. Designer handbags. Fancy kitchen gadgets.

Good for them.

I'm not here to tell anyone they're spending their money the wrong way. If something makes your life better and you can afford it, enjoy every minute of it.

The older I get, the more I've realized my own list is surprisingly simple.

None of these are status symbols. None of them are meant to impress anyone. They simply make my everyday life a little happier.

1. My Buckwheat Pillow

This one isn't for everyone.

If you like a soft, fluffy pillow, you'll hate this thing.

A buckwheat pillow is about as firm as a pillow gets. Mine wasn't even designed as a sleeping pillow. It's a yoga bolster that's meant to support you while sitting cross-legged.

Somehow, I ended up putting my head on it one night, and I've never looked back.

It doesn't flatten. It doesn't lose its shape. Every night feels exactly like the night before. (Bob calls it my "Lucy-Stone Pillow" for those who get the reference.)

2. A Coffee Mug That Makes Me Smile

I'm writing this from San Miguel de Allende, sipping coffee from a hand-painted mug made by artisans a few towns away.

Could I drink coffee from any mug?

Of course.

But every morning I wrap my hands around this one, and it reminds me where I am. It reminds me why I chose this life.

It's funny how something so ordinary can quietly improve the start of every day.

3. Bath & Body Works Candles

Yes, there are candles that cost three or four times as much.

I keep coming back to Bath & Body Works.

The scent throw is incredible. A single-wick candle lasts around thirty hours, and when they go on sale for about five dollars, I stock up without a second thought.

Every evening, I light one.

The room changes. My mood changes.

For a few dollars, that's a bargain.

4. Skechers Extra-Wide Shoes

Bob says I have "Fred Flintstone feet."

He's not wrong.

Finding shoes has always been frustrating. I don't want to spend an afternoon breaking them in. I don't want to hope they'll become comfortable someday.

I want to slip my foot inside and immediately think, "Yep. These are the ones."

That's exactly what Skechers Extra-Wide shoes do for me.

I'm sure there are more expensive shoes with better technology.

I honestly don't care.

Comfort wins.

5. My MacBook Pro

Years ago, I bought Windows laptops every couple of years.

Eventually they'd slow down. Updates became a chore. Something always seemed to need fixing.

Then I switched to a MacBook Pro.

I've been using Apple laptops for years now, and they simply work. Everything syncs together. I spend my time creating instead of troubleshooting.

I know plenty of tech people have strong opinions about Apple.

That's fine.

I don't buy computers to win internet debates.

I buy them to get work done.

Bonus: Handmade Art From Mexico

If you've ever visited my home in San Miguel, you've probably noticed something.

Color.

A hand-painted headboard.

Bright clay pottery.

Tin hearts hanging on the walls.

Paintings from local artists.

Pieces collected from markets and workshops throughout central Mexico.

None of them are particularly expensive.

Every one of them makes me smile.

They give my home warmth and personality. They remind me that a house doesn't need to look like a furniture showroom. It should look like the life you've lived.

That's money I'll happily spend every time.

I'd love to know what's on your list.

Not what you think should impress other people.

What are the five things that quietly make your everyday life better?