What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Questions on how we spend our money and our time - consumer goods and services, home and vehicle, leisure and recreational activities
brian91480
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by brian91480 »

PoppyA wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:51 pm A pair of very light, rimless prescription glasses.
Sadly... you have to have a certain prescription to pull that off. Most people can't get those 👎
chazas
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by chazas »

I just dumped my second cheap Chinese Masterbuilt smoker and bought a scratch and dent Cookshack electric smoker for that range. I’m hoping it’ll be fun.
montanagirl
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by montanagirl »

I hope it'll be the $600 broom closet add-on to the cabinets we got in 2019. Delivery next month.

Been 19 years here with no dedicated place to put my mop and broom. Even the old dump I used to live in had that. :x
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NewMoneyMustBeSmart
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by NewMoneyMustBeSmart »

neilpilot wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:11 pm
LiveSimple wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:57 pm Puppy !!!
Maybe where you live. Where I live there are way too many puppies that can be had for <=$100 from various rescue agencies.
Cheap to buy; expensive to own!
-- | Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts - Einstein | *Everything I write here is an unreliable opinion*
Intrepyd
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Intrepyd »

Paddle board!
Wings5
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Wings5 »

Concept2 rower and a few horse stall mats. Lots of calories burned and our general health and fitness has improved.
“Spending money to show people how much money you have is the fastest way to have less money.” - Morgan Housel
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Toons
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Toons »

Michelin Agilis Tires
Sumo Springs
Little over 1k
:happy
"One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity" –Bruce Lee
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OuterBanks
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by OuterBanks »

$100 spent three years ago on two LED Under Cabinet Lighting Kits, Hand Wave Activated. Every morning I wave them on and keep them on all day. It helps me see everything on the kitchen countertop and at night sets the mood for the entire house when I turn off all the other lights 8-)
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Padlin
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Padlin »

Just today we were talking about a canoe/camping trip down the Penobscot in Maine for a week taken when the kids were teenagers. Great memories even 20+ years later for all of us. Looking back it turned out to be a well spent $1000 or less.
Regards | Bob
abner kravitz
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by abner kravitz »

Full set of electric landscaping equipment - mower, blower, trimmer. $850 and worth every penny.
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illumination
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by illumination »

Several smaller purchases under $1000:

AirPod Pro headphones ($250)-almost hard now to have a longer conversation on the phone without them. Use it constantly, especially when I travel. I was pretty dismissive when they first came out and it was basically a gift.

WiFi Enabled Irrigation Timer (B-Hyve $150ish)- Should have had this years ago, have a large yard with a lot of watering, had an old school sprinkler timer. Really nice to have such precise control and saves an enormous amount of water with a variety of tools like a rain sensor, weather service, and just being able to flip off the sprinklers from my phone.

Synology NAS ($300)- basically a home server/cloud. Just really handy to use, I can stream movies from anywhere in the house, grab files while traveling, etc

Milwaukee M12 FUEL battery powered tools - just a variety of power tools that are small and lightweight but have plenty of power for even an aggressive homeowner that likes to tackle a lot of projects, pocket impact driver (every home needs one) power drill, impact gun (can easily take off lug nuts and suspension bolts), powered saw, even a small shop vac

Quality luggage (Victorinox) ($300-$500 range) worth it over cheap luggage, just makes travel easier. Quality rollers, light weight, durable construction.
WhiteMaxima
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by WhiteMaxima »

Qubuz muisc subscription. $1000 buys be 8 years of HiRes music streaming.
Marseille07
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Marseille07 »

BofA Travel Rewards 25000 bonus points for spending $1000 on the card.
Somethingwitty92912
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Somethingwitty92912 »

modest_man wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 4:14 pm
nigel_ht wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:59 am
modest_man wrote: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:07 pm
Currently, the veterinary industry is strained. ER wait times are typically 6-8 hours for stable patients. General practices are often closed to new patients and book several weeks in advance. In fact, several general practices are closing because retirees can't find buyers.
So going to vet school is a good plan? Darn, it’s 8+ years away for my high schooler…
Depends on several factors. My short answer is 'no.' Just prior to the great recession, I graduated with a $130,000 in student debt and started my first full-time position at $68,000/year.

Nowadays, vet school costs upward to $200,000 - $250,000. Vets are making more, but nowhere near enough to justify the debt load. There are ways to make really good money, but those individuals are typically the exception to the rule.

In addition, take a look at the statistics regarding suicide among veterinarians https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/ ... .254.1.104

Just my 0.02
What’s with these statistics? Causation?
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jabberwockOG
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by jabberwockOG »

Epiphone Les Paul Modern plus Positive Grid Spark amp. Easy to play and fun meter gets pegged at just under $1k.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... hite-black
https://www.positivegrid.com/spark/?bundle=none
Nicolas
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Nicolas »

WhiteMaxima wrote: Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:28 pm Qubuz muisc subscription. $1000 buys be 8 years of HiRes music streaming.
I can get that for $800: Apple Music, which is now also HiRes. It’s $100/year if purchased as an annual subscription rather than monthly.
Barefootgirl
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Barefootgirl »

BofA Travel Rewards 25000 bonus points for spending $1000 on the card

Can I ask if that's a targeted offer or publicly available?
How many retired people does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Only one, but he takes all day.
cjcerny
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by cjcerny »

Waterpik, hands down. Second choice would be rubber floor mats if your car currently has carpet floor mats.
neilpilot
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by neilpilot »

cjcerny wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:44 pm Waterpik, hands down. Second choice would be rubber floor mats if your car currently has carpet floor mats.
You definitely overpaid. I could easily buy both for way under $1k
Silk McCue
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Silk McCue »

neilpilot wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:58 pm
cjcerny wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:44 pm Waterpik, hands down. Second choice would be rubber floor mats if your car currently has carpet floor mats.
You definitely overpaid. I could easily buy both for way under $1k
It simply proves you can have “your best quality of life improvement” for far far less. Very Boglehead-like if you ask me.

Cheers
neilpilot
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by neilpilot »

Silk McCue wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 4:09 pm
neilpilot wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:58 pm
cjcerny wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:44 pm Waterpik, hands down. Second choice would be rubber floor mats if your car currently has carpet floor mats.
You definitely overpaid. I could easily buy both for way under $1k
It simply proves you can have “your best quality of life improvement” for far far less. Very Boglehead-like if you ask me.

Cheers
OK. I made the mistake of reading, and believing, the thread's topic.
JC Denton
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by JC Denton »

Resmed Airsense 10 cpap machine
jsapiandante
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by jsapiandante »

I spent $600 converting an old bicycle of mine into an ebike. Man is it fun and I get to have some exercise out of it. In fact, once it isn't so damn hot, it'll be my regular commuter to and from work. What's awesome is that it takes much less effort to reach and maintain top speed or if I'm simply too tired, I just use the throttle.
FandangoDave5010
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by FandangoDave5010 »

I updated my 20 year old master bathroom. Buying from a big box store with installation would cost about $1000. DW got two Toto lavatories and two Hansgrohe faucets on eBay and I got 3 diamond bits for my jig saw, drill and router to alter the granite countertop for DIY installation. Cost was $500.

During these months of Covid-19 self-imposed isolation, home improvement and yard work have been a life saver. WE ENJOY DIY! DW also enjoys shopping online...for everything. .
sabhen
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by sabhen »

Electric Hair cutter. Purchased from Walmart 7 years ago for like $30 and still working. I stopped going to a barber years ago. My wife likes my haircuts :happy.
Last edited by sabhen on Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bobby206
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Bobby206 »

High quality dress shoes for work and high quality running (or other athletic) shoes for after work. Leave you $500 to save!
mouth
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by mouth »

JC Denton wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 4:42 pm Resmed Airsense 10 cpap machine
This specific model as a replacement for another?

Or just finally getting a CPAP?

I've had a Philips Respironics System One since 2013 (so its a workhorse!) but wondering if there's something better.
YeahBuddy
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by YeahBuddy »

Quality of life? Good memory foam mattress with comfy sheets and blankets, microfiber sofa with recliners, treadmill, TV, gym membership.
Light weight baby!
modest_man
Posts: 81
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by modest_man »

Somethingwitty92912 wrote: Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:23 am
modest_man wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 4:14 pm
nigel_ht wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:59 am
modest_man wrote: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:07 pm
Currently, the veterinary industry is strained. ER wait times are typically 6-8 hours for stable patients. General practices are often closed to new patients and book several weeks in advance. In fact, several general practices are closing because retirees can't find buyers.
So going to vet school is a good plan? Darn, it’s 8+ years away for my high schooler…
Depends on several factors. My short answer is 'no.' Just prior to the great recession, I graduated with a $130,000 in student debt and started my first full-time position at $68,000/year.

Nowadays, vet school costs upward to $200,000 - $250,000. Vets are making more, but nowhere near enough to justify the debt load. There are ways to make really good money, but those individuals are typically the exception to the rule.

In addition, take a look at the statistics regarding suicide among veterinarians https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/ ... .254.1.104

Just my 0.02
What’s with these statistics? Causation?
It's a combination of the type of personality the vocation draws, the cost of vet school, the abysmal pay the industry offers, the stress we face on a daily basis, the sheer amount of things we're expected to know, and our access to sodium pentobarbital.
Somethingwitty92912
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Somethingwitty92912 »

modest_man wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 9:24 pm
Somethingwitty92912 wrote: Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:23 am
modest_man wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 4:14 pm
nigel_ht wrote: Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:59 am
modest_man wrote: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:07 pm
Currently, the veterinary industry is strained. ER wait times are typically 6-8 hours for stable patients. General practices are often closed to new patients and book several weeks in advance. In fact, several general practices are closing because retirees can't find buyers.
So going to vet school is a good plan? Darn, it’s 8+ years away for my high schooler…
Depends on several factors. My short answer is 'no.' Just prior to the great recession, I graduated with a $130,000 in student debt and started my first full-time position at $68,000/year.

Nowadays, vet school costs upward to $200,000 - $250,000. Vets are making more, but nowhere near enough to justify the debt load. There are ways to make really good money, but those individuals are typically the exception to the rule.

In addition, take a look at the statistics regarding suicide among veterinarians https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/ ... .254.1.104

Just my 0.02
What’s with these statistics? Causation?
It's a combination of the type of personality the vocation draws, the cost of vet school, the abysmal pay the industry offers, the stress we face on a daily basis, the sheer amount of things we're expected to know, and our access to sodium pentobarbital.
Brutal, I’ll be nicer to my vet.
Slacker
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Slacker »

Best Quality of Life Improvement for $1000?

Second hand equipment to put together a home gym pre-pandemic scarcity.
My wife and I strength train together on it and I was coaching my teens on this gym as well (until they moved away to college).

Great hobby, decreases your healthcare costs later in life, improves your ability to do everyday tasks (like climbing stairs, carrying heavy items, getting through heavy crowds), boosts confidence, and allows you to set short term goals and achieve them which is quite satisfying.
duffyinvestor
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by duffyinvestor »

A reliable house cleaner. Frees up so much time and mental energy.
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Taylor Larimore
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Taylor Larimore »

carloslando wrote: Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:55 pm We have received an unexpected $1000 bonus. It is a gift card to spend on any purchase, so looking for spending ideas, else would have VTSAX'ed it away.
Wanted to spend it on something that improves our quality of life at home. Any recommendations for what you would buy (or have bought), that costs around $1000-$1200 and is something most or all members of your family enjoy?
carloslando:

Many years ago I purchased a small Sunfish sailboat for less than $1,000. It introduced me to the world of sailboat racing which improved the quality of my life for many, many years.

https://www.velasailingsupply.com/laser ... sMQAvD_BwE

Best wishes
Taylor.
Jack Bogle's Words of Wisdom: “I challenge the growing trend in our society to give numbers a credence that they simply don’t deserve, all the while assigning far less importance to the things that can’t be expressed with numbers – qualities such as wisdom, integrity, ethics, and commitment.”
"Simplicity is the master key to financial success." -- Jack Bogle
mike@jb
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by mike@jb »

I mow my own yard, and take good care of my mowers (they typically last 12+ years).
Last year I bought my fourth mower ever, and it is awesome!
Snapper self-propelled with an 8.5 HP Briggs and Stratton for around $650.
JC Denton
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by JC Denton »

mouth wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:16 pm
JC Denton wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 4:42 pm Resmed Airsense 10 cpap machine
This specific model as a replacement for another?

Or just finally getting a CPAP?

I've had a Philips Respironics System One since 2013 (so its a workhorse!) but wondering if there's something better.
It’s better. Well, it seemed better but now I am mysteriously having trouble keeping it on all night with few events.

My philips dream station was recalled for safety issues, check yours.

The real solution is the Inspire implant.
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sunny_socal
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by sunny_socal »

Macbook Pro (must still kick in $1k of your own money)
SueG5123
Posts: 219
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by SueG5123 »

Doggy door.

It improved the quality of our lives by freeing us from having to let the dogs in and out on their schedule. It enabled us to take day trips without having to ask a neighbor to let the dogs out.

Yes, definitely. Doggy door.
Figuring_it_out
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Figuring_it_out »

A portable generator big enough to power the entire house during an outage. I was stuck in the Texas freeze this spring and lost power for a day and a half with sub freezing temperatures. Had to run the gas stove for heat and was on pens and needles worried about carbon monoxide. Wont put myself through that again over a simple investment.
Minty
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by Minty »

New Panasonic cordless phone system to replace an older model. The excellent junk call screening is worth $1,000 even though it cost around $100.
Core Four w/ nominal bonds & TIPS. Refi Rampage: Purchase: 3.875% 30 -> R1 3% 20 -> R2 2.375% 15 -> R3 1.99% 15 -> R4 1.875% 15
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Bammerman
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Spend the money on an EXPERIENCE

Post by Bammerman »

I have always wanted to go on a hot-air balloon ride. My wife won't do it and I don't really want to go without her. I bet $1000 would cover that for sure, especially if combined with a mini-vacation, like a long weekend somewhere beautiful that you could soar over in a hot air balloon.... Instead of buying a "thing", spend that free money on an experience that you'll remember and treasure as long as you live.

PS: We used to go to estate sales on weekends, just for something to do. Seemed like (judging from what we saw in so many of those homes) many old people lived by the motto, "Whoever dies with the most stuff, wins!"
dekecarver
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by dekecarver »

Just spend it anyway that fits your needs or wants based on what you enjoy doing.
james865
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 10:32 am

Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by james865 »

Pellet grill
iPad
Elliptical trainer

Recently considered espresso machine but passed
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TxAg
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Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:09 am

Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by TxAg »

We've planted a lot of trees in our yard. Some I planted when small, some were free, and some I planted when they were $300+.

2 Cedar Elms
1 Chinquapin Oak
4 Cherry Plums
2 Desert Willows
2 Red Oaks
3 Crape Myrtles
2 Japanese Maples

I love them, we get to enjoy them every day.
mouth
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Re: What was your best quality of life improvement for $1000?

Post by mouth »

JC Denton wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 2:19 pm
mouth wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:16 pm
JC Denton wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 4:42 pm Resmed Airsense 10 cpap machine
This specific model as a replacement for another?

Or just finally getting a CPAP?

I've had a Philips Respironics System One since 2013 (so its a workhorse!) but wondering if there's something better.
It’s better. Well, it seemed better but now I am mysteriously having trouble keeping it on all night with few events.

My philips dream station was recalled for safety issues, check yours.

The real solution is the Inspire implant.
Wow only just seeing this. Guess what's on its way per a phone call just today by my supplier ... a recall replacement! So we'll see what I get.
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