1. vasectomy
2. divorce
3. campervan

Kindle - all the books, all the time.

Sony WH1000-XM3 (I guess newer models are still good) - excellent noise cancelling, perfect for flights

Steam Deck - play almost any games, anywhere, and with a full desktop mode too.

In the past I'd have put the Acer Aspire One, I loved the netbook form factor, now I use either the Vivobook or Steam Deck like that.

The Aeropress is also great for quick, simple coffee.

I bought a 97 Ford Taurus off a friend for $800 back in 2008. Her dad thought it was on its last legs at 155k miles so he wanted to sell it. I drove it for four years. It was running fine until someone blasted it out in front of my girlfriend’s house and drove off. At the time it had 206k miles. 50k miles for $800 was certainly one of my best purchases.

A computer — no other item I own has changed the course of my life as much as owning my own computer has.

1. Back in 2017 while stationed in AZ I adopted a dog who was the cutest little Blue Heeler, for $5 we have been inseparable since and she is the single greatest thing that's happened to me.
2. Last year in April my Powerstrokes transmission failed and on a whim I bought a 98' 4 runner with 245k miles. We have now built the hell out of that little rig and have put 15k miles on it in 11 months
3. 100 pairs of socks on Amazon. This sounds nuts but, I got 100 pairs of black socks 2 years ago for $60 because I was tired of my socks always missing. I still have 50 socks I haven't touched.

1. A plot of land in a place I like. Nothing fancy or huge, just a place to be by myself and enjoy a nice bonfire away from people.

2. Headphones. The old clunky ones that cover your whole ears. I love them! They feel like a hug and I use them all the time while listening to spooky stories. Bought them in a sale about four years ago.

3. A hello kitty backpack. Bought it as a birthday gift for a friend's daughter, we had a fallout and I kept it. One day I needed a clean backpack and this was on hand so I grabbed it in a whim and have been using it ever since. I have a pair of Columbia, silver ridge and tetons laying around but this fluffy cute backpack makes me so happy and has the perfect size.

1. My horse, Lola. She’s an amazing 9yo grey quarter horse mare. “Retired” barrel racer, she’s the perfect trail/ranch horse. She’s got the best quirky and silly demeanor, she loves to hang out, and she’s playful, but never gets crazy under saddle.

2. My guitar. 2012 PRS 513. I absolutely love that guitar, and it got me back into playing after almost 20 years off. It’s my “do everything” guitar, and the difference in sounds between pickup combinations makes it incredibly versatile.

3. A good mattress. I spend a solid 1/3 of my life sleeping (or trying to) and a great mattress helps so much.

1. Smart vacuum cleaner - you pay a reasonable amount once and don't have to vacuum anymore

2. Vaporiser - switched to vaping weed instead of smoking joints which is not only nicer in many ways but also allowed me to quit smoking cigarettes

3. PlayStation - after sitting 8h by the desk moving a mouse for work, I didn't want to sit in the same position another few hours playing games. With PS I can comfortably sit in my armchair and play on a big tv scrreen using a controller

4. Ergonomic mattress - healed my hurting back. This should be on the top of this list.

My recliner that I bought with one of the first Covid check. I have horrendous back issues (3 major surgeries and constant pain) and having another resting/sleep area has been a lifesaver many times. Currently pregnant and it’s one of the only places I can sleep.

This set of 2 grabbers from Amazon. They weren’t super expensive but nicer than other grabbers commonly bought by others. They have been used daily by me, my toddler plays with them, they get dropped, etc. and they perform so well. I can pick up the tiniest item off the floor, a piece of paper, etc. with no issues. Had them 3 years. I keep one on each floor of the house and they save my back so much. It’s one of the only ways I can do chores and keep the floor clean from a toddler.

Silly, but this last year I really appreciated having a laminator at home. It’s nothing fancy- just a simple one from Scotch from the store. I’ve laminated different rules for games (card games where we wrote out the rules) and my son absolutely LOVES when I draw him characters and items from his favorite shows, laminate them, and then he plays with them for months. It’s saved us a ton of money buying toys he doesn’t need, stores easily, and he loves it. It also gets out some of the creative side that I kind of lost the last few years.

Steam Deck - since having kids I was really struggling to play games at all. I had gotten to where I was only playing phone games and switch games, but the Steam Deck has really enabled me to start enjoying my steam library again. If it broke I would buy another one instantly.

Bone-conductive headphones - I wear these all day. I listen to audiobooks, take calls, have them read out notifications, etc. It's also great to know that if I open a random meme video on my phone, I don't have to worry about the sounds of the video being inappropriate for my surroundings. They're so much more comfortable than traditional headphones.

My house - I got an insanely good deal on my house, less than what many people pay for cars. It's not the fanciest house, and it needed some fixing up when we bought it, but it's enabled me and my family to live with extremely low bills which has made my life very low stress. Houses are generally cheap where I live, but I lucked out and got the best house deal I've seen, and it's made everything so much easier.

Boring answrs but.. A computer. It's the 2nd most expensive thing I own and it's provided me thousands and thousands of hours of entertainment and use as tool.

A car. The most expensive thing I've brought and very useful. I've been able do a lot more with my time and get into many new hobbies.

Power rack. 3rd most expensive. Having a power rack in my garage allows me to safely lift heavy by myself which is awesome.

Bonus cheap thing. Screw driver set. Allowed me to fix many things around my house and easily saved me 10x the cost.

1. My vasectomy. Hands down the best ease-of-mind investment ever

2. My computer. Easy choice, I use it daily, sometimesmore than 8 hours

3. Good, high quality spices

By order of lasting positive effects,

1. First vape (a cigarette-shaped item from the corner store, cherry flavor). I had been smoking with suicidal enthusiasm for 18 years. I was out of breath, coughing, stinking, and (at $7 a pack) broke. A decade later, I still vape, but I can breathe now.

2. First not-fully-depreciated used car (3-year-old 2012 Focus SEL hatch with 30K mi). Apart from warranty transmission work, the car's been stable, and pretty. The real change was introducing me to finance and lending. I grew up poor with a debt addicted dad. At 32, I had never had a credit card. I've still never given the bastards a dime, but I've pulled in thousands in rewards and have an outstanding credit score.

3. Passport / first international airline ticket. I mean, yeah. I hadn't had any desire to leave my state, let alone see the world. At 20, I grudgingly flew to Europe to visit my girlfriend who was studying abroad. We didn't last, but the travel bug did.

Honorable mention, only because it isn't technically a purchase would be my first union payment. Best deal ever.

Edit: how do you add line breaks? It worked, magically, when I made the list heading bold, but that was hella annoying.

1. Dog.
2. Dog.
3. A really beautiful handmade necklace with a piece of glass salvaged from the waters of Charleston harbour. It's gorgeous.

HP48GX scientific calculator, damn old, still works great still use it a lot

Steam Deck, handheld gaming computer, barely use PS5 anymore, this one is so quick and convenient to just pause and resume games and take gaming everywhere and the SteamOS Linux is awesome. I use the desktop mode with full KDE Plasma desktop as my portable computer a lot when on the go. Also with the dock station I can use it as a gaming console when going on holidays.

And the flat I live in. Good thing as I bought it quite a few years ago since the home prices are just criminal and highly unjust now. This stuff does not belong on markets to be sold for profits or some criminal short-time renting crap like AirBnB

1. My house. Bought it in 2019 right before the market went completely wacky. More of a lucky timing situation, but I'm extremely thankful to not be renting anymore.

2. A really high quality mattress. You're supposed to spend about a third of your life sleeping, and the quality of that sleep has a huge impact on your physical and mental health.

3. A really good set of kitchen knives. I hate having to cook at other people's places because of it, so many people have cheap, dull knives that do not do the trick. At my in-laws house I basically have to hammer tomatoes in half with their knives. FYI, you're more likely to cut yourself with a dull knife rather than a sharp one.

1. Electric toothbrush. When I don’t have it with me, brushing manually is such a chore. A device performs better than I do and I embrace it.

2. Prescription glasses. I remember getting to look at a tree with improved sight, and it was wonderful.

3. Air purifier. Has really helped my allergies.

• A good coffee maker (moccamaster)
• Steam Deck OLED
• Battery powered lawn mower (eGo)

1. A bicycle. I have saved so much money over the years on cars, gym memberships, and therapy. I ride every day for most destinations, and I think that getting regular exercise has saved me from the aches and pains of middle age. I still haven't experienced the horrors that await (if Lemmings are to be believed) of turning 30. And it makes getting places enjoyable.
2. My first computer, an Amiga 500. I learned so much about software, IT, and human nature by persevering with an oddball (for the U.S.) computer.
3. A trailer sailboat. Aside from the hours spent on the water, along with it comes a whole raft (hah!) of hobbies/side pursuits: Marlinspike work, sewing, electrical wiring, navigation, weather forecasting, fiberglass repair, radio communications, and such. Strangely enough, it also served me well through years of low income, by providing a lot of hours of enjoyment for the money.

1987 ford “exp”: bought it for $500, drove a few years, got hit and insurance paid out $500 and let me keep it, drove it with damage for another few months, sold it for $500.

Breville oven. Found it at a consignment shop for $17, looked to have been used once.

House: bought in 2017 in a rural area to get away from the city occasionally. Moved there permanently during Covid.

1. E-reader. I'm not reading 4-5 books a month as I did before but it reignited my desire to read after losing it in college (plus: it's way cheaper).
2. Chemex. I was used to burnt gas station coffee and it gave me a new hobby.
3. First DSLR as well. Helped me think about composition more in my paintings, as well as contrast. I haven't touched a camera in years though. Little opportunity or desire.

Roomba. That is all.

Like OP, my camera, phones don't cut it and the pictures I've been able to get of my kid with it have made it invaluable. I got the Canon Powershot MKIII and it's gotten some professional quality shots of him and captured a lot of precious moments.

My electric kettle, I drink a lot of tea and it's so damn useful. I got one with an all metal interior and no visible heating element, it has a bad pour but I still would have a noticeable dip in my daily quality of life without it.

This one is random but a three foot tall solid wood Balinese dragon statue. I got it at an import shop that was closing, it had some damage and so had been marked down and marked down again. I paid less than 10% of the original price of an intact one. We didn't have a car so my boyfriend at the time and I had to take it with us on the subway. It's like 75lbs. On our ~mile walk back to our apartment someone asked directions to a local Asian art exhibition and we had to tell them we didn't know where it was while holding this thing between us. It's beautiful despite the damage and it makes me happy every time I see it. Plus, whenever someone comments on it I have a fun story to share.

1: My motorbike - hands down my best purchase. That has single handedly done more for my mental health than the last 9 years of various anti depressants.

2: My PC - the same as others. It's just nice to be able to have the option to do just about everything.

3: A car - I didn't really buy this. My mum gave it to me as a first car. It's not the flashiest. It's just the most basic type. But I love it. I spent 23 years just putting off getting my licence until I just decided to get it just to get it out of the way. And I have missed put on so much by it. The sense of freedom, not having to rely on getting lifts, or getting public transport. (Not opposes to public transport. It's just that where I live, it's a pain for commuting)

1. Mountain bike - on my second bike now, my favorite hobby and form of exercise, excuse to get in nature with my dog, explored a lot of my state because of it.

2. Kobo e-reader. The night light is amazing, I used to use a neck light for night reading to not wake my wife but this is way better. Easier to travel. The dyslexic font helps my dyslexic ass like 10% too which makes a huge difference in me reading more.

3. My first raspberry pi in Jr high led to a career in software. Still love pis, and have even more toys now

In no particular order...

My Panasonic Lumix GX80, it is the camera that made me take a deeper interest and develop my skills in photography. I had a Canon EOS 400D as my first decent camera but due to work my interest fizzled out for a few years. Then at another job I got my GX80, and started learning for real, last spring I upgraded to a Lumix S5, and I am considering complementing my camera setup with a Sony A7 IV for it's excellent AF.

My Philips Hue system has been absofuckinglutely amazing, I live alone and being able to turn my lights on before I open my apartment door during winter after work really makes a huge impact on my mwntal health, getting to open my front door into a cozy apartment instead of a black hole is fantastic

DDR dance deck. I have used it regularly to this day and it's my primary exercise. I have replaced the panels as they broke with new hand cut pieces and the electronics have seen 4 or so revisions of diy before settling on a Arduino clone based USB input with 3d printed shell.

Nothing else really. It all seems okay at first but breaks down and diy repairs are rarely an option these days. Sometimes I can 3d print parts but I can't just recommend that method to anyone.

1. inline skates - it is gift from god, period.

2. Supersonic cleaner - it can clean anything, it is simply amazing.

3. Lumix GX80, a M43 camera - it has everything right, the grip, the compactness, easy menu, the mechanical switches..etc on top of that, inexpensive. It allows me to carry it as if it is an action camera.

3d Printer - I print lots of useful thing for work (brew beer).

Espresso maker that I use as a single cup coffee maker (no pods all steel).

eBike - makes me want to bike instead of drive my car around

1. A flight ticket out of the US (it’s been 7 or 8 years since… not sure if I will ever return until there is an important funeral)
2. Wired IEMs with a Harmon target
3. Tea kettle with variable temperatures to make green tea properly without burning it

-swinging couch -puppy -AAPL stock in 2008

My Garmin Fenix watch, it was during the first month of wearing it that I realized my life and fitness can be like a video game and I get badges and points for doing things. It drives me to move and even after 4 years, it still is making me motivated.

A nice wallet, I looked for a long time and ended up with a Trayvax wallet. I just love the damn thing, it'll last me forever and it's unique and functional. Each time I pull it out of my pocket, I appreciate it's look and feel and form.

My osprey back pack. I've carried it to and from work, on boats, kayaks, walking, for camping and to my friends houses. It is just so functional and comfortable in a way that a less expensive one isn't. It's made to be comfortable AND hold things.

1. Quality electric toothbrush. I can't get my teeth feeling clean without one anymore.

2. A rice cooker. Doesn't need to be fancy, but it lowers the barrier to cooking substantially given how many dishes use rice.

3, A phone with a camera that's at least mid-range, as it's the camera you'll have on you most. I used to always use phones from cheap brands like Umidigi and although some of them did perform quite well others left me with gaps of my life where none of the photos I took have any detail.

1. Noise cancelling headphones and earbuds. By far the best quality of life improvement I have ever gotten from a single product.
2. Whet stones for sharpening knives. It's a fun process and my knives are in perfect condition.
3. Mobile phones.

1. My bike. I use it daily to get to work, to the super market, visiting friends. It keeps me healthy I do not need a car and I can drive wherever I want all the time. It cost me 500€.

2. My Bodom french press. I use it daily to quickly make 2-4 cups of coffee, it tastes fantastic, provides coffee and is high quality. 35€.

3. My Amplifier and Wharfedale speakers. I bought them 2 years ago for 500 €. All my life I had cheap active computer speakers or bluetooth boxes. Everytime I tune them up, it get's a little warmer in my tummy.

All 3 things are far away from high end, people spend the multiple on what I spent. Still they all make me super happy and I will watch and keep them until one of us dies.

1. 8 Sleep Bed—it’s liquid cooled and heated based on your sleep stage. I know it’s expensive, but the sleep it’s given me has been unrivaled by anything else I’ve ever used to regulate my sleep. I work shifts so good sleep is priceless. You spend a third of your life asleep, so it’s worth an investment.
2. Hue lights for my entire home—privacy issues aside, it’s a game changing investment. We replaced the recessed lighting with recessed hue lighting fixtures as well. It’s insane how having multiple lighting settings and colors for times of the day/moods can change your entire mindset.
3. Home gym—if I were pressed for one component it would be the power cage and Olympic bar, but investing in a fully functional home gym has given me much more in return than what I’ve put into it (whether that be physical work building equipment or money).