Hey Chelsey, cis straight male in his 30s here, Immigrant and POC, your advice has helped me a lot your main audience is women but I think everyone coming to the US should listen to it.
Yeah, I'm a guy in my 30's too and this place has the best financial advice on the internet. Money advice targeted to men tends to be insane macho nonsense about day trading crypto or something, so Chelsea's grounded, well informed advice is much needed. I've struggled with my lack of financial literacy and this place gives me advice and insight that I'd struggle to find of my own.
1:50 - LLC for The Financial Diet 3:32 - An investment account 4:49 - Mona 🐶 7:20 - Kelly Cutrone Memoir "If you have to cry, go outside" 10:42 - Staub Dutch oven 13:12 - Language tutor (Spanish) 17:01 - Financial Advisor (particularly for timeline strategies) 18:35 - Anne Rundel Community College 22:03 - Repairing Clothes and Furniture 24:08 - Accutane 25:53 - Pilates instructor 28:12 - Second Hand Furniture 31:09 - Her home 🏠
My best purchases! 1 - A yoga mat. I bought mine from SUGA, who makes them out of old shredded wetsuits. That one piece of equipment has allowed me to work-out from home and I have NEVER been this in shape in my whole life. 2 - A Diva Cup. Aside from the many benefits and the much lower cost per use, it also triggered a massive change in my life regarding Eco-friendliness. Thanks to it now I'm in a phase where I just prefer to make all my cosmetics myself (soaps, body cream, make up remover....) 3 - A stainless steel french press. I had a couple of glass/pyrex french press and I broke all of them, but the stainless steel one is UNKILLABLE! I never buy coffee anymore, mine is just better. 4 - A diagnosis. Sucks that I didn't get assessed when I was a child cause the assessment would have been free for my parents and I would've received the help I desperately needed in school. But I paid for a private evaluation and finally received a diagnosis, allowing me to have accommodations and finally go to Uni at 30yrs old. I always thought I was too stupid (and too poor) for higher education, but now I'm here and I'm doing it!
Yes!! My menstrual cup has been life changing for my own comfort, my environment impact, and has saved me SO much money! Definitely one of my best purchases, and such a small investment.
BIG shout out to getting to a financial point to access diagnosis/proper health care. I scored super high in exams/state testing and fats tracked for college prep, but no one bothered to assess my myriad other symptoms of ADHD because I wasn’t destroying the classroom. But I was a “wasted potential” kid, and it took accessing therapy and then medical professionals (out of pocket) as an adult to realize all the struggles were normal symptoms. Diagnosis & medication alongside therapy landed me dean’s list through an entire bachelors degree 😅 Here’s to all the support that’s useful, and best wishes on your academics!
I’m so proud of you!!! My daughter is a non-traditional student at 30. It’s so hard, but she’s almost done!! We both think she could use accommodations, but she’s fighting her way through. I’m always here to cheer on non-traditional students!!
As someone with a PhD in STEM, the only reason to go to a fancy university is if you want to do a practical degree and the university is the only place where they have funding for a lab. If the university money doesn’t translate directly into a resource you can’t easily get outside it’s not worth it. Do not waste your money there are cheaper ways to get the skills…
That's a great point. I only thought that the degree to which paying a university is a good or bad investment is not only about how quickly it pays off in the short and long term.
i moved to the US 5 years ago. all by myself, left everyone behind, haven't seen my mom since than, and lost most of my friends. this channel is helping me adapt financially here. thank you.
Thank you for mentioning fostering as a good first step in a dog-owning journey. It’s a life changing decision and it’s not for everyone. Another option is to become a dog boarder, as I have. It’s a great side-hustle. It allows me the joy of having the presence of a dog in my life. But I’m one of those people who also enjoys sending the dog back home after a week to have my space back. Not owning a dog also allows me the freedom to travel on a whim without having to carefully consider their housing during my time away. So, to your point - know yourself. They’re beautiful creatures who deserve quality care and consideration. 🐶💕🐾
Best purchases for me: adopting my cats, upgrading furniture piece by piece to better reflect my tastes and needs, and my Terry Pratchett novels that helped me during my deconstruction from my religious upbringing.
Life changing, just bought a car for the first time in my life. I’m in my late 20’s. I live in a major city that’s not really public transportation friendly. The bus runs every 30 minutes… a ten minute drive becomes an hour bus ride which made my days run longer. Additionally, I relied on grocery delivery because I couldn’t carry my groceries. Even ubering was at least 500.00 a month. I am finally glad that I’m able to buy groceries, save time, and I’m only a week in, and I have a sense of relief that I didn’t know I was even stressing about.
My cat has helped me so much. When I was deep in trauma/ptsd she could snap me out of an anxiety attack just by playing or wanting food. These days when I'm cured I still value the fact that when me and my bf have nothing to talk about, we just talk about or look at our cats. They are little chaos machines, they get sick, vet is expensive, but damn they are so worth it ❤❤❤
As an English, Igbo and Italian speaker - there is absolutely a new world unlocked when you know another language. Highly recommend what you said, a language tutor..but a tutor who discusses with you life in the local language, not going by the typical learning book. You learn by conversing.
Are you a native igbo speaker or did you have the help of a tutor? Im a first gen igbo American and would love to know where I could find an igbo tutor
Your outfit is so cool today. My best purchase was a service, a good professional wedding photographer for our wedding. Due to budget we had to pick between rings or a photographer, the pictures were totally worth it. After my wedding, a good friend passed away, and I still have some gorgeous photos from her, being happy at my wedding.
I still don't understand why university is not accessible as it is in Europe. I had a merit scholarship, but I didn't pay any taxes, basically I got my bachelor and master's degree for free plus benefitting from a scholarship for 5 years. Education should be accessible for everyone.
Because you are so scared of anything that feels like "socialism". Making university free of charge for citizens, is socialism. I did not pay for my university, other than for food and housing. In Europe. The one backside is that you don't truly appreciate the value, of something that is "free". In my case, I did not treat university with the seriousness it deserved, because itwas gicen, no questions asked. That is something that could easily have been remedied though, by the universities themselves, and by preparing students to attend with the right attitutude.
It depends in CA it’s free if you graduate from a public high school, make less than 70K and are going to a community college. The bigger colleges have higher costs because there’s been less funding since the 80’s
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I was really struggling with managing my emotions for a long time and was losing control several years ago. My anger and depressive episodes were increasing in frequency and severity, and I was finally in a position to afford therapy. I am so glad I spent the money and the time.
I did a DBT group therapy a couple years ago and it was a fantastic experience. It was expensive ($80 a session), but I feel like I have a much better head on my shoulders.
I think it's worth trying! The progress is quite slow at first because there are a lot of emotional regulation skills to learn. It requires patience and commitment to move forward with it, but once I started seeing the change in my behavior, I felt like a new human.
Most of the education in Russia is free, so I've got my bachelors and masters in math and computer science without paying anything. And I went to a 2nd tear university, nothing crazy competitive. In the end, my education was so solid that I got a job in a FAANG company. Basically, it doesn't matter how much it costs. It doesn't even matter if the school has a good name. What made all of the difference for me were the people who taught there. The head of our department created such an amazing atmosphere there, that the graduates who landed jobs in the top IT companies would come back a teach classes part time, basically for free, just because they love the department. Those people are smart and passionate, and they've taught us a lot of stuff that old professors from the top uni had no idea about.
I got into vintage when I was young . I love 2nd hand . The quality level is much higher at a lower price . You can buy great furniture at auction houses . Here’s one not mentioned : food. I had constant constipation when I was a kid . 30 years ago I switched from buying white bread to a multigrain and switched to whole grain cereals . No issues since then . The bread is more expensive than some of the white but you could bake it yourself I suppose. I figured my colon was worth a few more bucks a month .
I am a very keen sewist and the best investment for me was the purchase of a self threading overlocker (serger) Threading my old machine was an exercise in frustration and now I get so much more use out of what I now have.
Laser hair removal and small, minor cosmetic procedures. Not worrying about shaving makes my showers more enjoyable and cosmetic procedures make my makeup/getting ready time less time consuming.
I regret to inform that our Peloton has literally changed my life for the better. Spouse spent years convincing me, and I can't believe I resisted so hard. I'm 35 and have never been this mobile, healthy, or energized.
@@TheMntnG (1) the instructors are really helpful at pushing me and planning exercises, (2) the strength, stretching, yoga, and outdoor running classes are also incredible. I get equal if not more from the strength classes! (3) I actually do also bike outside now - a daily commuter since getting in shape on the Peloton! Again, with my deepest regards, I wanted to hate it haha
Thank you so much for advocating for fostering/adopting! So many dogs and cats are killed every single day in shelters because of overcrowding. Fostering and adopting opens up space at shelters so more animals can be taken in. And fostering is a fantastic way to test drive and see how the animal will fit into your life. Just please PLEASE remember that these dogs and cats will take time to decompress. Just like humans take time to heal after trauma, so do animals. They need time to settle in and open up.
Great video. One of my best purchases was a menstrual cup. Not having to continue buying tampons and pads, or worry about not having them to hand if I forgot to restock, and being able to pack it easily so I never get caught out when on holiday, knowing that I'm not adding more waste to the environment, the health benefits of being more aware of the menstrual flow as well as not having the risk of toxic shock and other negative side effects of tampons which I only realized after stopping using them. So many reasons why this has been an excellent investment. It seemed like an expensive alternative to disposable products at first, but calculating cost per use alone, without taking into account all the additional benefits, has definitely been worth it. This swap to reusable from disposable is probably a good general approach - when it's something you use anyway. For example I don't tend to use straws, but bought some reusable steel ones when zero waste was a big thing, thinking that they'd help me save the planet! But I never use them, and no surprise because I rarely used disposable ones either! So a better approach to simply replacing with all reusables would be to only replace disposable items for reusable when you actually use them frequently - like menstrual products.
actually i have the opposite experience with straws. i find that i drink more water with them so my glass straw collection grew quickly from 2 to 6 in my household HAHA. (and i used to not use disposable ones either). im also more conscious of yellowing teeth these days since i drink copious amounts of tea, so that might be why. +100 on the menstrual cup, it's saved me so much money!!!!!
My sewing machine! I don't sew for work it is only an act of pleasure and when I create it brings me so much joy. I receive even more joy when I can share those creations. 🤗
I love this prompt. I am 29, I grew up so much in my 20s so far. I got a driving instructor and got my license. My IUD. Proper running shoes, thank you Asics! Got fitted for a bra, thank you Knix! My kobo ebook, what a win. And for a short stint i got a personal trainer, worth it, shoutout to lifelong gym skills!
My kindle is at the top of my list. It’s allowed me to read soooo many more books this year. And borrowing ebooks from the library is convenient AND free
I had a quarter life crisis and went to yoga teacher training and then worked as an office temp after and as yoga instructor after hours. It was good for me because I taught me I can hustle and improvise and still get a good outcome.
I purchased a second hand piece of furniture for the first time over a year ago and was the best purchase I’ve made. I found a dresser on Facebook market for $150 the original price was close to $2000! It was made of actual wood. I didn’t like the dark wood color so I painted it and I love it.
My best purchase was buying my first home at 24. I was fortunate to live in a lower cost of living town and was eligible for down payment assistance through the state i lived in. Fortunately, after 5 years i sold the home when i got a new job in a new town, but i learned so much through the trials and tribulations of owning a home (thing breakings, diy projects, natural disasters). This isnt the experience for everyone so I'm grateful for the growth i went through with this home!
For anyone who wants a trial run on a Dutch oven, I got one around this time last year from Home Goods for like $26 and Ive used it at least once a week since then, the inside is still as nice as when I got it
Best purchases: 1. Our house at 23 years old. It has now doubled in value. 2. A Dyson vacuum, the best thing with little kids and two pets! 3. The cargo bike (Dutch) which we use almost every single day. 4. My wool house slippers. Warm feet is a need! 5. My Macbook. I used to have windows laptops but those always broke down within 2/3 years. My Macbook is now over 4 years old and still working great. I've even thought about upgrading it. And the Macbook was the same price as my older windows laptops.
My best purchases have been my membership to the pole dance studio where I work out, and then getting certified as a pole dance instructor three years ago (so now I also teach there!). It's a hobby that brings me so much joy, and of course it's great exercise; teaching is the best thing I've ever done with my life. I love my students so much and I am so proud of their achievements. It's not my full-time job, but it is my passion job. It unequivocally changed my life, entirely for the better.
I think something missing from the education conversation is that yes, to some degree, you get back what you put into it, but the other thing is that educational accreditation is something that is primarily judged by others, not ourselves. By that I mean I could pour my heart and soul into 30 MOOCs on engineering, but an engineering firm isn't going to hire me based on that if I don't have a degree to show for it. I think going to community college worked for Chelsea (and would work for some others) because she's self-employed. This means that she is judging her own credentials and not reliant on the views of others for whether she should be hired. I think many people pursue certain forms of higher education because they are responding to the real judgments/requirements companies have, not because they're necessarily irrational about it.
I bought an e-bike a year ago, I’ve put 1,000 miles on it already and it’s the best purchase I’ve made. It reduces my transpiration costs, does wonders for my mental and physical health, and makes me feel so much more a part of my community.
Maybe my ADHD is flaring up really bad. But I feel like I’m hearing your 13 favorite things you bought are actually the services & stories of others & aren’t “things” at all! This is the best lesson I’ve ever received about investing in EACH OTHER. This is the type of reshaping my finances truly need. THANK YOU!❤
My best purchases were, hands down, my birds. All 5 of them. They are all such unique personalities and have made my life so happy. They remind me every day that I am loved and give me purpose in taking care of them and making sure they are happy, healthy and have all their needs met every day.
My best purchases 1. Supplies for my knitting hobby- absolutely pivotal to my mental health and sense of self. Investing in a small stash of nice yarn really is worth it for me. 2. chest binders- top surgery is well outside of my budget for the next few years and the relatively small investment of chest binders makes me feel so much more comfortable and confident in life. 3- glasses- put it off for years because my sight really wasnt too bad but as soon as i got them i stopped getting migraines 4- really good sunscreen- im a very pale person living in Africa. This is fairly self explainatory 5- my education- this has been so pivotal in my life, its let me live in several countries, travel a tonne, and do work that fufills me. 6- sewing machine- i sew as a hobby but even without this it has paid for itself in a year with the amount of clothes i have been able to repair and alter.
Great list! I especially loved what you said about your dog and community college. You're right that pets (whether it be dogs, cats, or anything else) help us maintain structure and responsibility in our lives, and they're good for our mental health too. Especially if you live alone, having a furry, feathery, or scaly companion can help you feel less lonely. And adopting especially makes you feel good knowing you're giving a home to a creature in need. Definitely worth the money. What I liked about the community college section is that it really emphasizes the point that you don't need to go to a prestigious private university to get a good education. There's value in going to a state school or community college too, and it's cheaper too. I went to both a community college and a state university and the quality of education was about the same in both. In a lot of cases, the community college classes can even be better because they often have smaller class sizes so you can get more individualized help and instruction from professors.
Hello from Eastern Europe! I bought my apartment in 2018, and there was no dishwasher. Two years ago, my boyfriend moved in with me, and we decided to buy one. This led to renovating the whole kitchen and spending around 5-6K euros. Still, I must say, my amazing dishwasher is my best purchase-it saves so much time and avoids arguments about who will wash the dishes! Plus, the entirely new kitchen that came with the renovation is amazing, and I’ve been cooking a lot more since. Definitely worth it!
Two more huge fans of AACC here!! Both me and my daughter went to AACC before transferring to UMD but we absolutely loved the atmosphere of AACC and missed it when we moved on. I still go to the library on campus because it’s so nice.
1. My cat for sure, it showed me that i could care for somthing else and be more emotionally available. Be more kind, open, and learn about myself. 2. Therapy. Its pretty new to me but already I have made some progress. Should I have gone years ago? Absolutely. If i hadn't hit rock bottom, I wouldnt have gone though. Its a step for me to address issues and be the person i want to be. It can be expensive and painful but i think its worth it. 3. An Instant Pot! When I'm busy or on call, it gives me no excuse to not cook healthy meals for cheap. You can literally do it all. Braise meat, makes soups, make yogurt, bonebroth, even veggie dishes and eggs! You have to be safe with it but it isnt bad and i recommend one to everyone. P.S. Get an older one. Yes the new ones are cool but the old ones are eay cheaper and made to last
Traveling has been my biggest investment. My husband and I traveled the world for the past 10 years…now we have a son and we travel with him. We prioritized travel before owning a home. We purchased a home just 2 months ago and it has been timely decision. Also, I have a huge book collection. Some of them are rare editions and valuable. When I travel, as a souvenir I take a cookbook with local recipes. Some for me, some to gift to friends. It is a nice reminder to places I have visited. So to sum up for me: 1. My son 2. travel 3. home 4. book collection 5. grand piano 6. routine to entertain people at home. (This includes cooking, nice kitchenware, dishes, cutlery, wood boards)
My first house was an excellent financial choice. My second, not so much, but it was what we needed at the time. Hoping my third will be my last. Finding other people (ie government agencies) to pay for my education is part of why tertiary education second time around is working better than my first attempt. I think education should have a nominal financial fee because that reminds people to do their homework and not throw that money away, but it shouldn't be more than what you can afford each year - which means it shouldn't incur debt, and it should be adjusted to the individual's capacity to pay. My cow was one of the best purchases ever. Milk, calves, and keeping the grass down in an extreme fire risk area. The milk especially, because keeping my own cow is the only way I can access raw A2 milk and it's had a huge positive impact on my life, as well as keeping me fed while the government pretends I'm not disabled so I don't need a disability pension.. but pretending I'm not disabled doesn't actually enable me to go and get a job. So we're back to the initial reason humans took up dairy farming: this animal can convert that rough grass you can't eat, into really high quality food you can, as a daily supply that (unlike meat) you don't need to kill the animal to obtain, and that will feed you when you would otherwise starve to death. Thank my ancestors for bequeathing me lactase persistence in adulthood! If I can keep studying, I will get to the point of having an economically useful qualification. At that point I'm going to have to find a way to convert it into a freelance wfh business, because I'll still be too disabled to go to work anywhere, but I guess learning that part is more study.
I shrieked when you said “Dutch oven.” I’ve been eyeing one for ages and love that you constantly use yours. I think it’s time for me to make that purchase!
I’ve had a pair of green doc martens Gibsons shoes for over 30 years now. Still wearable, although I’m thinking about getting them repaired because the backing has finally become weak. :)
I second repairing; I love my couch and when a spring came loose it felt almost impossible to find someone willing to do what was considered a "small" job. I ended up paying quite a lot of money to repair the couch considering how much I initially paid for, but it will end up saving me a ton of headache in the future because I won't have to look for an alternative (anti-consumerism), I remain comfortable (memories with a dearly beloved possession!) and I now know a reputable company to do such work (supporting small businesses!)
A lot of mine are similar to yours. My home, some sessions with a personal trainer a few years back, really really excellent boots that I'll be able to keep re-soling for years, and almost exclusively used furniture. I will add therapy, a hybrid car that is saving us a shit ton on gas, and a soda stream. I drink SO MUCH SELTZER and the soda stream helps keep me hydrated at adequate levels.
Mine are: 1) Aeropress, coffee grinder and coffee scale: I now HATE drinking coffee outside unless it is from a really good coffee shop 2) My engineering degree: it already made a return 3) Gym class membership: I hate going to the gym but found out group classes actually work for me, and I now work out 3-4 times a week 4) My higher quality clothing items: I wear the same 10 pieces basically every day. They were all very expensive but they make me feel good, they are high quality, and I will have them for years
Just to put my experience out there: I took Acutane when I was 13, I later found out that my horrible cystic acne was caused by PCOS, and I ended up being a part of the 0.002% of people that Acutane makes your acne so much worse. I still have keloid scars all over my chest, back, arms, legs, and of course, face from the Acutane 15 years later. Of course, most of the time Acutane helps and is a great option! I just felt called to share that it unfortunately is not a for sure guarantee to help.
Getting my TESOL cert. was one life changing investment. It helped me to prepare as an ESOL instructor. I agree with you about community college too. I had instructors who worked at my school and the big named universities while I was a student. It was a rewarding experience. 🙂
Two purchases I really love are my instant pot and my recumbent trike. I was already spending a lot of time cooking for myself before getting the pressure cooker, and I eat a lot of legumes and whole grains (wheat berries are delicious, especially cooked in veggie broth, which I also make in the pressure cooker). I love that it takes care of itself, shuts itself off, and I can make real food while getting other things done. The trike was not cheap. I fell off my bike years ago and got a bad concussion, and I’d spent several years trying to get over the trauma enough to start riding again. I got my two wheels out and started working on the fear, spending an hour having a panic attack before making a 7 minute ride to work in low traffic. I was dedicated this time, and looking into buying a bike that would be good as a car alternative since I live in a city near a trail. My friend insisted I test ride a bunch of things before spending money, and the recumbent trike… I felt happy. I felt safe. I went in circles in the parking lot in a way I wouldn’t have the nerve to do on two wheels. That trike cost me three times what a two wheels would have, and that was buying used. But I ride it several times a week. I got a trailer and went on grocery runs without having to work up to it. I’m happy riding again. I get exercise built in to my life. I spend less on gas. I occasionally think it would be useful to work on bike skills so I can do things like take a rental bike somewhere and not have to worry about parking the expensive trike, but… I don’t want to. The trike is too awesome to want anything else. But note that I also have done winter hiking for years so I already had experience at dressing for the weather all year ‘round, so figuring out how to ride a trike in winter, I’m not starting from scratch. This was the right time in my life to get a trike.
I had a good experience with accurate/isotretinoin, and I want ppl to know that there are better versions now. First of all, look for one which includes oil, as the oil aids in take-up in the body and therefore the dose can be lower. Second, get a cream with lipids, it will help with the dry skin so much. My friend used the la Roche-Pausey one, I used a non known brand, we both got our lipids and did well. Third, the treatment is said to be worse for teens than adults. So if you're an adult and have your friends stories about how it was for them as teens: remember that it's often easier for adults and that they experienced an older version of the product. I am so happy I had it done, I really recommend it, but also make sure to listen to your doctor.
Chelsea, I love you, but telling people who have fears about bed bugs from second-hand furniture to "just grow up" is kinda shitty. Bed bugs are a fucking nightmare & have left me with serious PTSD. I do still buy (and sometimes am lucky enough to be gifted) second-hand furniture but I'm very cautious about it & I don't judge anyone for flat-out refusing to do so. Yeah, it's unlikely to get bugs from a lamp, but it's a serious concern with most types of furniture
It is so interesting to read everyone’s answers!! Personally, for me my best purchase has been therapy (with a tried and true certified amazing therapist). Might I add that there’s ways to get higher ed for free/cheap! I left my ft job to go work at Starbucks to essentially start over and qualify for free tuition to ASU online and am halfway to earning my bachelor’s degree 🎉
Currently saving for my most important purchase : a 1 bedroom flat in Edinburgh, Scotland. ❤ Other best purchases : all the travelling I did in my 20s, a vacuum robot, second hand gold jewellery I never take off.
My version of Chelsea's dutch oven is my sewing machine! I started out with a second hand old one my grandma was giving away, and after learning to sew and loving it, I upgraded my machine to a newer model that is more versatile and functional for my needs.
Can you invest in people? I met my husband 30 years ago...he was a poor student and I was engaged to a wealthy C.P.A, but we saw each other and fell in love. I broke up with C.P.A. and he broke up with his girlfriend and my friends thought I was crazy but the ❤ wants what the ❤ wants. Fast forward to 30 years later, and still married. Also, I forgot to mention that my poor student boyfriend major was Computer Science. Timing is everything and he graduated right before the tech boom that literally changed the world. And we were in the Bay Area, center of the it all. So, for me, I invested my heart and more in that poor student and it worked out very well for us!❤❤
I have spent, what most people consider a reckless amount of money on travel when I was young, I don't regret it at all. If I had waited till I was older there would be no way I would be willing to sleep in the super dodgy accommodation I could afford and see a city on a bicycle rather than the hop on and off bus is amazing!
Great video, Chelsea! I have been investing in swimming lessons for the past 6 months and it has absolutely changed my life and the perception I had of myself. Absolutely agree with your point on language learning. I would add that any expense associated with nurturing meaningful friendships is money well spent.
LASIK! Getting my sight back after 17 years of gradual decline - probably my best personal investment. Spending $3K on a cross country drive with my mom. Buying my first 2 investment properties at $10K each in the South Side of Pittsburgh! I can’t believe such prices existed 10 years ago and I remember haggling!
I have taught at universities as a full time faculty member. I never went to community college until I was in my late 20s because I assumed like you said that they weren’t as good because they were accessible. But my opinion shifted as I aged and learned more about research institutions (most universities) vs teaching institutions (most community colleges). In my late 20s I went to community college as I explored a career shift. The teaching in those community colleges classes was leaps better quality than most of the teaching I received as a university student in General Ed classes.
My cats have caused me a lot of stress (they can be annoyingly naughty at times, and the financial stress - hello urinary blockages and expensive prescription food…) but they helped me so much with structure and have completely reshaped the way I go about my life. I am more responsible, more stable, and better at problem solving. They also taught me A LOT about patience…😂 despite their quirks I love them dearly and am willing to empty out my bank account for them if need be. Pets are expensive as hell but they are equally life changing
Kelly Cutrone book! It’s so good. I found a lot of similar energy in Self inflicted wounds by Aisha Tyler - very funny, very honest, just a pleasure to read. One of my best purchases was actually a lack of one - I stopped buying fast fashion. It still happens occasionally, but it completely changed my outlook on my clothes as a whole. Buying quality clothes (second hand, vintage and sustainable) made me completely reevaluate the quality and fabrics of my existing clothes (which were generally FF) and recoil in shock. If we’re talking actual money exchanging hands purchase, my instant pot has been profoundly useful for close to a decade now. If it broke, I would feel its loss in my kitchen right away.
Lol Most of my furniture comes from charity Shops and FB Marketplace. It helps that my Personal aesthetic is rich grandma, so im the Person who Freaks Out at the sight of warm mahogany and Brass handles. Ours two armchairs were 180 Dollars total and theyre the comfiest Thing ive ever sat on and the Rose Print is gorgeous
Purchasing an electric food scale really made me realize how much I was overeating and thus saving on my grocery bill. Secondly, purchasing a menstrual cup helped save money on tampons.
A fellow Accutane user who went to community college. I do not regret going to the local community college at all. Got just as good an educational experience for way less $$$. Now, as far as the Accutane, that was a doozy. Was on multiple times and am so glad that I will never use it again. It did help bit at some serious mental health costs. My personal choices: 1) payment for both rounds of life changing surgery 2) my condo 3) experiences I missed until #1 allowed me
definitely my gym membership (not only my confidence and my body image gotten better, I also met a lot of people in the fitness classes), my favourite cinema's "friend card" (discounts on tickets and coffee - definitely made me spend much more time doing what I enjoy and learning things about things ;) ), and - mostly for free - going to a post-secondary school to learn accounting (again - met people, learned a lot, made me better at my first serious job). now I bought a flat and will have to learn how to function in that situation after 10 years of comfortable renting
One of my best purchases was my bike! I got it in 2015 for $600 and it has been the best money I have ever spent. Not only is it just fun to ride but I have also used it as a commuter bike instead of driving. I also used it to ride a 200km charity ride two years in a row.
Completely agree about community college. I'm so glad I went 2 years there first before transferring. There's so much more to education than just the traditional 4 year school.
best things I ever bought (I think): my two dogs and on that topic the tent bed for my whippet as he would always get cold and cry in any other bed (I had to tuck him in several times a night), my dryrobe - no more excuses to do a sea swim even in cold weather, painting supplies - started my art career, noise cancelling headphones - the quality of my concentration and thus my work has improved so much, my large le creuset pan - I cook absolutely everything in it, silk pyjamas - improved my quality of sleep :)
A book that changed my life: A guide to fishing and hunting for girls, by Melissa Banks. It Chronicles a woman's relationships through life and it taught me to forgive myself for past bad relationships, and that I wasn't alone, that I didn't have to put up with "that" and that I would grow and have better loves in my life ❤. Her other book The wonder spot, was less of an aha moment, but it really stuck with me when I and the main character both fell for the same guy, and when she tells her brother about him he just sighs and tells her to never trust "those guys". Which felt validating, cuz yeh I've met those guys who say the perfect thing and then ghost etc. They don't want sarelationship, they just want to see you fall for them. Neither book is so dark or graphical that it made me cry, but it still showed some painful moments I had experienced and helped me to get past them.
My best “purchase” were my bunnies(adopted from owners who couldn’t keep them). On a strictly financial basis one could argue they were the dumbest, but they really help organise my life and keep me on track, as it’s not just me who will suffer from my bad decisions.
My Staub Dutch oven was absolutely life changing 11/10 agree. I also got mine fresh out of college, it was one of my first big purchases after starting my first “real” job
I have a degree from a state university, but the best and most useful classes I took were those at my community college. Excellent instructors, memorable classes.
This video indicates you don't need a high IQ to be a good investor, just 2 qualities, self discipline and a lot of patience. Investing is mostly about behavioral psychology. How can I generate more income to retire with at least $3m for long term care?
We share common goal, making sure you are ready for your later years is very important. That's why passive inves.ting works, low costs, better diversification and it enables people to overcome their behavioural bias especially if they engage professional help.
It's unfortunate most people don't have such information. I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $45k passively by just investing through an advisor, and I don't have to do much work. Doesn't matter if the economy is misbehaving, great wealth managers will always make returns.
I've stuck with the popularly ‘’Victoria Louisa Saylor” for about five years now, and her performance has been consistently impressive. She’s quite known in her field, look her up..
Thank you for sharing, I must say, Victoria appears to be quite knowledgeable. After coming across her web page, I went through her resume and it was quite impressive. I reached out and scheduled
My pressure cooker is amazing. I didn’t buy it: it was a wedding present to my parents in 1948. My mother used it weekly, if not more often, and now that I’ve inherited it, I do the same. Eventually my niece will inherit it and this pressure cooker will still be going strong for the next 50 years. Also, my sewing machine and my waffle iron came from my grandmothers and are each over 100 years old and still working perfectly. Every once in a decade or so, an o-ring or cord needs to be replaced. I don’t know how they chose what they did, but my grandmothers definitely bought for the long run.
When you talked about learning a new language, I realized that I read news very differently than someone who only knows their own native language. I am German and mainly read German news sources, but when it comes to important topics, I like to check how other countries report on German or international issues. That's why I always have the New York Times and the CNN app on my phone.
I ve learned a lot about finance through this channel and while i am no where near your levels of being good with finances but this video made me realize that investing in all my kitchen gadgets was tbe best decision i made in my 30s as i cook more and expanded my palette so hugely. So thank you for that :D
Our Labrador is the best investment we've ever made, he's affectionate, protective and my son's best friend. He's been a great apartment dog with lots of exercise, but he's about to get his own big backyard at the end of this month!
In a similar vein, my best purchases were my inexpensive state college education (shout out Cal Poly), my various pups, currently 2 COVID rescues - best dogs ever!, and my giant 150-year old house in wine country. Wasn’t sure about it at the time, but nothing beats living in the country!
This year I'm finally relearning French, or at least putting it to use because my daughter is going to be raised French first, so ESL (hub is French). It really does change your perspective! I love my crueset, I used it tonight, and with a baby, slow cooking meals are a necessity! After watching a few of your videos something I look back on and reflect on throughout my years of purchases I always think of all of the clothing I bought and then didn't like because they were such low quality. I've decided that each month I am "allowing myself" one nice piece of clothing without factoring in the price (within reason, I ain't about to drop hundreds of dollars on a t-shirt) and first thinking about the long-term wearability. I'm hoping that in a few years I'll reflect again and notice a real change.
Hey Chelsey, cis straight male in his 30s here, Immigrant and POC, your advice has helped me a lot your main audience is women but I think everyone coming to the US should listen to it.
Yeah, I'm a guy in my 30's too and this place has the best financial advice on the internet. Money advice targeted to men tends to be insane macho nonsense about day trading crypto or something, so Chelsea's grounded, well informed advice is much needed. I've struggled with my lack of financial literacy and this place gives me advice and insight that I'd struggle to find of my own.
Another cishet male in his 30s here! Love this channel
I'm in the Philippines and have been learning about finances through this channel 4 years ago. Cheers!
Omg thank you :')
-C
Adding on here, Chelsea! Guy here who enjoys your perspective on everything
1:50 - LLC for The Financial Diet
3:32 - An investment account
4:49 - Mona 🐶
7:20 - Kelly Cutrone Memoir "If you have to cry, go outside"
10:42 - Staub Dutch oven
13:12 - Language tutor (Spanish)
17:01 - Financial Advisor (particularly for timeline strategies)
18:35 - Anne Rundel Community College
22:03 - Repairing Clothes and Furniture
24:08 - Accutane
25:53 - Pilates instructor
28:12 - Second Hand Furniture
31:09 - Her home 🏠
thank you!
Thank you❤
thank you! Time is precious, this is good content but sometimes I wish she could create shorter videos for those who cannot spend 30 mins on UA-cam.
It’s Anne arundel
not all heroes wear capes
My best purchases!
1 - A yoga mat. I bought mine from SUGA, who makes them out of old shredded wetsuits. That one piece of equipment has allowed me to work-out from home and I have NEVER been this in shape in my whole life.
2 - A Diva Cup. Aside from the many benefits and the much lower cost per use, it also triggered a massive change in my life regarding Eco-friendliness. Thanks to it now I'm in a phase where I just prefer to make all my cosmetics myself (soaps, body cream, make up remover....)
3 - A stainless steel french press. I had a couple of glass/pyrex french press and I broke all of them, but the stainless steel one is UNKILLABLE! I never buy coffee anymore, mine is just better.
4 - A diagnosis. Sucks that I didn't get assessed when I was a child cause the assessment would have been free for my parents and I would've received the help I desperately needed in school. But I paid for a private evaluation and finally received a diagnosis, allowing me to have accommodations and finally go to Uni at 30yrs old. I always thought I was too stupid (and too poor) for higher education, but now I'm here and I'm doing it!
Yes!! My menstrual cup has been life changing for my own comfort, my environment impact, and has saved me SO much money! Definitely one of my best purchases, and such a small investment.
Yesss the menstrual cup is a life saver 🙌
BIG shout out to getting to a financial point to access diagnosis/proper health care. I scored super high in exams/state testing and fats tracked for college prep, but no one bothered to assess my myriad other symptoms of ADHD because I wasn’t destroying the classroom. But I was a “wasted potential” kid, and it took accessing therapy and then medical professionals (out of pocket) as an adult to realize all the struggles were normal symptoms. Diagnosis & medication alongside therapy landed me dean’s list through an entire bachelors degree 😅
Here’s to all the support that’s useful, and best wishes on your academics!
Thank you for the idea of SS French press!
I’m so proud of you!!! My daughter is a non-traditional student at 30. It’s so hard, but she’s almost done!! We both think she could use accommodations, but she’s fighting her way through. I’m always here to cheer on non-traditional students!!
As someone with a PhD in STEM, the only reason to go to a fancy university is if you want to do a practical degree and the university is the only place where they have funding for a lab. If the university money doesn’t translate directly into a resource you can’t easily get outside it’s not worth it. Do not waste your money there are cheaper ways to get the skills…
That's a great point. I only thought that the degree to which paying a university is a good or bad investment is not only about how quickly it pays off in the short and long term.
This feels like one of the classic TFD videos from years ago and I mean that as a compliment! I missed this format :)
yes!! 100% agree
Right, I get that Op Ed Video Essays are the UA-cam norm now, but these feel so intimate and relatable.
i moved to the US 5 years ago. all by myself, left everyone behind, haven't seen my mom since than, and lost most of my friends. this channel is helping me adapt financially here. thank you.
Thank you for mentioning fostering as a good first step in a dog-owning journey. It’s a life changing decision and it’s not for everyone.
Another option is to become a dog boarder, as I have. It’s a great side-hustle. It allows me the joy of having the presence of a dog in my life. But I’m one of those people who also enjoys sending the dog back home after a week to have my space back. Not owning a dog also allows me the freedom to travel on a whim without having to carefully consider their housing during my time away. So, to your point - know yourself. They’re beautiful creatures who deserve quality care and consideration. 🐶💕🐾
Best purchases for me: adopting my cats, upgrading furniture piece by piece to better reflect my tastes and needs, and my Terry Pratchett novels that helped me during my deconstruction from my religious upbringing.
Life changing, just bought a car for the first time in my life. I’m in my late 20’s. I live in a major city that’s not really public transportation friendly. The bus runs every 30 minutes… a ten minute drive becomes an hour bus ride which made my days run longer. Additionally, I relied on grocery delivery because I couldn’t carry my groceries. Even ubering was at least 500.00 a month. I am finally glad that I’m able to buy groceries, save time, and I’m only a week in, and I have a sense of relief that I didn’t know I was even stressing about.
My cat has helped me so much. When I was deep in trauma/ptsd she could snap me out of an anxiety attack just by playing or wanting food. These days when I'm cured I still value the fact that when me and my bf have nothing to talk about, we just talk about or look at our cats. They are little chaos machines, they get sick, vet is expensive, but damn they are so worth it ❤❤❤
As an English, Igbo and Italian speaker - there is absolutely a new world unlocked when you know another language. Highly recommend what you said, a language tutor..but a tutor who discusses with you life in the local language, not going by the typical learning book. You learn by conversing.
Are you a native igbo speaker or did you have the help of a tutor? Im a first gen igbo American and would love to know where I could find an igbo tutor
Your outfit is so cool today. My best purchase was a service, a good professional wedding photographer for our wedding. Due to budget we had to pick between rings or a photographer, the pictures were totally worth it. After my wedding, a good friend passed away, and I still have some gorgeous photos from her, being happy at my wedding.
I still don't understand why university is not accessible as it is in Europe. I had a merit scholarship, but I didn't pay any taxes, basically I got my bachelor and master's degree for free plus benefitting from a scholarship for 5 years. Education should be accessible for everyone.
Because you are so scared of anything that feels like "socialism". Making university free of charge for citizens, is socialism. I did not pay for my university, other than for food and housing. In Europe. The one backside is that you don't truly appreciate the value, of something that is "free". In my case, I did not treat university with the seriousness it deserved, because itwas gicen, no questions asked. That is something that could easily have been remedied though, by the universities themselves, and by preparing students to attend with the right attitutude.
It depends in CA it’s free if you graduate from a public high school, make less than 70K and are going to a community college. The bigger colleges have higher costs because there’s been less funding since the 80’s
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I was really struggling with managing my emotions for a long time and was losing control several years ago. My anger and depressive episodes were increasing in frequency and severity, and I was finally in a position to afford therapy. I am so glad I spent the money and the time.
I did a DBT group therapy a couple years ago and it was a fantastic experience. It was expensive ($80 a session), but I feel like I have a much better head on my shoulders.
Oh, I am so curious about DBT and DBT group therapy. The results seems amazing!
I think it's worth trying! The progress is quite slow at first because there are a lot of emotional regulation skills to learn. It requires patience and commitment to move forward with it, but once I started seeing the change in my behavior, I felt like a new human.
I really like these old style tfd video format
Most of the education in Russia is free, so I've got my bachelors and masters in math and computer science without paying anything. And I went to a 2nd tear university, nothing crazy competitive. In the end, my education was so solid that I got a job in a FAANG company.
Basically, it doesn't matter how much it costs. It doesn't even matter if the school has a good name. What made all of the difference for me were the people who taught there. The head of our department created such an amazing atmosphere there, that the graduates who landed jobs in the top IT companies would come back a teach classes part time, basically for free, just because they love the department. Those people are smart and passionate, and they've taught us a lot of stuff that old professors from the top uni had no idea about.
Wow that's amazing
I got into vintage when I was young . I love 2nd hand . The quality level is much higher at a lower price . You can buy great furniture at auction houses .
Here’s one not mentioned : food. I had constant constipation when I was a kid . 30 years ago I switched from buying white bread to a multigrain and switched to whole grain cereals . No issues since then . The bread is more expensive than some of the white but you could bake it yourself I suppose. I figured my colon was worth a few more bucks a month .
I am a very keen sewist and the best investment for me was the purchase of a self threading overlocker (serger) Threading my old machine was an exercise in frustration and now I get so much more use out of what I now have.
Laser hair removal and small, minor cosmetic procedures. Not worrying about shaving makes my showers more enjoyable and cosmetic procedures make my makeup/getting ready time less time consuming.
I regret to inform that our Peloton has literally changed my life for the better. Spouse spent years convincing me, and I can't believe I resisted so hard. I'm 35 and have never been this mobile, healthy, or energized.
Was going to comment the same! I’ve never been so consistent with exercise in my entire life and I’ve had mine for 3 years!
@@MariaLCirillo Yes!! I never could consistently work out, despite trying so many classes, gyms, and sports. Now I'm almost four years consistent!
why not just cycle outside?!
Convenience, weather, safety, infrastructure...
@@TheMntnG (1) the instructors are really helpful at pushing me and planning exercises, (2) the strength, stretching, yoga, and outdoor running classes are also incredible. I get equal if not more from the strength classes! (3) I actually do also bike outside now - a daily commuter since getting in shape on the Peloton! Again, with my deepest regards, I wanted to hate it haha
Thank you so much for advocating for fostering/adopting! So many dogs and cats are killed every single day in shelters because of overcrowding. Fostering and adopting opens up space at shelters so more animals can be taken in. And fostering is a fantastic way to test drive and see how the animal will fit into your life. Just please PLEASE remember that these dogs and cats will take time to decompress. Just like humans take time to heal after trauma, so do animals. They need time to settle in and open up.
Great video. One of my best purchases was a menstrual cup. Not having to continue buying tampons and pads, or worry about not having them to hand if I forgot to restock, and being able to pack it easily so I never get caught out when on holiday, knowing that I'm not adding more waste to the environment, the health benefits of being more aware of the menstrual flow as well as not having the risk of toxic shock and other negative side effects of tampons which I only realized after stopping using them. So many reasons why this has been an excellent investment.
It seemed like an expensive alternative to disposable products at first, but calculating cost per use alone, without taking into account all the additional benefits, has definitely been worth it.
This swap to reusable from disposable is probably a good general approach - when it's something you use anyway.
For example I don't tend to use straws, but bought some reusable steel ones when zero waste was a big thing, thinking that they'd help me save the planet! But I never use them, and no surprise because I rarely used disposable ones either! So a better approach to simply replacing with all reusables would be to only replace disposable items for reusable when you actually use them frequently - like menstrual products.
actually i have the opposite experience with straws. i find that i drink more water with them so my glass straw collection grew quickly from 2 to 6 in my household HAHA. (and i used to not use disposable ones either). im also more conscious of yellowing teeth these days since i drink copious amounts of tea, so that might be why.
+100 on the menstrual cup, it's saved me so much money!!!!!
My sewing machine! I don't sew for work it is only an act of pleasure and when I create it brings me so much joy. I receive even more joy when I can share those creations. 🤗
I love this prompt. I am 29, I grew up so much in my 20s so far. I got a driving instructor and got my license. My IUD. Proper running shoes, thank you Asics! Got fitted for a bra, thank you Knix! My kobo ebook, what a win. And for a short stint i got a personal trainer, worth it, shoutout to lifelong gym skills!
Oooooo so many good ones! Will look into Knix, thank you!
@@reneemichelle-o6eSame
My kindle is at the top of my list. It’s allowed me to read soooo many more books this year. And borrowing ebooks from the library is convenient AND free
I had a quarter life crisis and went to yoga teacher training and then worked as an office temp after and as yoga instructor after hours. It was good for me because I taught me I can hustle and improvise and still get a good outcome.
I purchased a second hand piece of furniture for the first time over a year ago and was the best purchase I’ve made. I found a dresser on Facebook market for $150 the original price was close to $2000! It was made of actual wood. I didn’t like the dark wood color so I painted it and I love it.
My best purchase was buying my first home at 24. I was fortunate to live in a lower cost of living town and was eligible for down payment assistance through the state i lived in. Fortunately, after 5 years i sold the home when i got a new job in a new town, but i learned so much through the trials and tribulations of owning a home (thing breakings, diy projects, natural disasters). This isnt the experience for everyone so I'm grateful for the growth i went through with this home!
For anyone who wants a trial run on a Dutch oven, I got one around this time last year from Home Goods for like $26 and Ive used it at least once a week since then, the inside is still as nice as when I got it
Best purchases:
1. Our house at 23 years old. It has now doubled in value.
2. A Dyson vacuum, the best thing with little kids and two pets!
3. The cargo bike (Dutch) which we use almost every single day.
4. My wool house slippers. Warm feet is a need!
5. My Macbook. I used to have windows laptops but those always broke down within 2/3 years. My Macbook is now over 4 years old and still working great. I've even thought about upgrading it. And the Macbook was the same price as my older windows laptops.
My best purchases have been my membership to the pole dance studio where I work out, and then getting certified as a pole dance instructor three years ago (so now I also teach there!). It's a hobby that brings me so much joy, and of course it's great exercise; teaching is the best thing I've ever done with my life. I love my students so much and I am so proud of their achievements. It's not my full-time job, but it is my passion job. It unequivocally changed my life, entirely for the better.
Thank you for talking about how grateful you are to have chose community college instead of taking out burdensome loans. 🙂
I think something missing from the education conversation is that yes, to some degree, you get back what you put into it, but the other thing is that educational accreditation is something that is primarily judged by others, not ourselves. By that I mean I could pour my heart and soul into 30 MOOCs on engineering, but an engineering firm isn't going to hire me based on that if I don't have a degree to show for it. I think going to community college worked for Chelsea (and would work for some others) because she's self-employed. This means that she is judging her own credentials and not reliant on the views of others for whether she should be hired. I think many people pursue certain forms of higher education because they are responding to the real judgments/requirements companies have, not because they're necessarily irrational about it.
I bought an e-bike a year ago, I’ve put 1,000 miles on it already and it’s the best purchase I’ve made. It reduces my transpiration costs, does wonders for my mental and physical health, and makes me feel so much more a part of my community.
Maybe my ADHD is flaring up really bad. But I feel like I’m hearing your 13 favorite things you bought are actually the services & stories of others & aren’t “things” at all! This is the best lesson I’ve ever received about investing in EACH OTHER. This is the type of reshaping my finances truly need. THANK YOU!❤
My best purchases were, hands down, my birds. All 5 of them. They are all such unique personalities and have made my life so happy. They remind me every day that I am loved and give me purpose in taking care of them and making sure they are happy, healthy and have all their needs met every day.
My best purchases
1. Supplies for my knitting hobby- absolutely pivotal to my mental health and sense of self. Investing in a small stash of nice yarn really is worth it for me.
2. chest binders- top surgery is well outside of my budget for the next few years and the relatively small investment of chest binders makes me feel so much more comfortable and confident in life.
3- glasses- put it off for years because my sight really wasnt too bad but as soon as i got them i stopped getting migraines
4- really good sunscreen- im a very pale person living in Africa. This is fairly self explainatory
5- my education- this has been so pivotal in my life, its let me live in several countries, travel a tonne, and do work that fufills me.
6- sewing machine- i sew as a hobby but even without this it has paid for itself in a year with the amount of clothes i have been able to repair and alter.
Great list! I especially loved what you said about your dog and community college. You're right that pets (whether it be dogs, cats, or anything else) help us maintain structure and responsibility in our lives, and they're good for our mental health too. Especially if you live alone, having a furry, feathery, or scaly companion can help you feel less lonely. And adopting especially makes you feel good knowing you're giving a home to a creature in need. Definitely worth the money. What I liked about the community college section is that it really emphasizes the point that you don't need to go to a prestigious private university to get a good education. There's value in going to a state school or community college too, and it's cheaper too. I went to both a community college and a state university and the quality of education was about the same in both. In a lot of cases, the community college classes can even be better because they often have smaller class sizes so you can get more individualized help and instruction from professors.
Hello from Eastern Europe! I bought my apartment in 2018, and there was no dishwasher. Two years ago, my boyfriend moved in with me, and we decided to buy one. This led to renovating the whole kitchen and spending around 5-6K euros. Still, I must say, my amazing dishwasher is my best purchase-it saves so much time and avoids arguments about who will wash the dishes! Plus, the entirely new kitchen that came with the renovation is amazing, and I’ve been cooking a lot more since. Definitely worth it!
Two more huge fans of AACC here!! Both me and my daughter went to AACC before transferring to UMD but we absolutely loved the atmosphere of AACC and missed it when we moved on. I still go to the library on campus because it’s so nice.
1. My cat for sure, it showed me that i could care for somthing else and be more emotionally available. Be more kind, open, and learn about myself.
2. Therapy. Its pretty new to me but already I have made some progress. Should I have gone years ago? Absolutely. If i hadn't hit rock bottom, I wouldnt have gone though. Its a step for me to address issues and be the person i want to be. It can be expensive and painful but i think its worth it.
3. An Instant Pot! When I'm busy or on call, it gives me no excuse to not cook healthy meals for cheap. You can literally do it all. Braise meat, makes soups, make yogurt, bonebroth, even veggie dishes and eggs! You have to be safe with it but it isnt bad and i recommend one to everyone. P.S. Get an older one. Yes the new ones are cool but the old ones are eay cheaper and made to last
My crockpot! It’s such a simple and cheap item, but I use it every week and it’s boosted my nutrition and cooking skills so much.
Traveling has been my biggest investment. My husband and I traveled the world for the past 10 years…now we have a son and we travel with him. We prioritized travel before owning a home. We purchased a home just 2 months ago and it has been timely decision.
Also, I have a huge book collection. Some of them are rare editions and valuable. When I travel, as a souvenir I take a cookbook with local recipes. Some for me, some to gift to friends. It is a nice reminder to places I have visited.
So to sum up for me:
1. My son
2. travel
3. home
4. book collection
5. grand piano
6. routine to entertain people at home. (This includes cooking, nice kitchenware, dishes, cutlery, wood boards)
My Sony noise-cancelling headphones are right up there. As a person sensitive to noise, they're worth the large price tag. I use them every day.
Absolutely seconded. Heck, I'm wearing them right now.
@@anna-fleurfarnsworth104 ha! Me too as I read your reply! 😍
My first house was an excellent financial choice. My second, not so much, but it was what we needed at the time. Hoping my third will be my last.
Finding other people (ie government agencies) to pay for my education is part of why tertiary education second time around is working better than my first attempt. I think education should have a nominal financial fee because that reminds people to do their homework and not throw that money away, but it shouldn't be more than what you can afford each year - which means it shouldn't incur debt, and it should be adjusted to the individual's capacity to pay.
My cow was one of the best purchases ever. Milk, calves, and keeping the grass down in an extreme fire risk area. The milk especially, because keeping my own cow is the only way I can access raw A2 milk and it's had a huge positive impact on my life, as well as keeping me fed while the government pretends I'm not disabled so I don't need a disability pension.. but pretending I'm not disabled doesn't actually enable me to go and get a job. So we're back to the initial reason humans took up dairy farming: this animal can convert that rough grass you can't eat, into really high quality food you can, as a daily supply that (unlike meat) you don't need to kill the animal to obtain, and that will feed you when you would otherwise starve to death. Thank my ancestors for bequeathing me lactase persistence in adulthood!
If I can keep studying, I will get to the point of having an economically useful qualification. At that point I'm going to have to find a way to convert it into a freelance wfh business, because I'll still be too disabled to go to work anywhere, but I guess learning that part is more study.
I shrieked when you said “Dutch oven.” I’ve been eyeing one for ages and love that you constantly use yours. I think it’s time for me to make that purchase!
I’ve had a pair of green doc martens Gibsons shoes for over 30 years now. Still wearable, although I’m thinking about getting them repaired because the backing has finally become weak. :)
I second repairing; I love my couch and when a spring came loose it felt almost impossible to find someone willing to do what was considered a "small" job. I ended up paying quite a lot of money to repair the couch considering how much I initially paid for, but it will end up saving me a ton of headache in the future because I won't have to look for an alternative (anti-consumerism), I remain comfortable (memories with a dearly beloved possession!) and I now know a reputable company to do such work (supporting small businesses!)
A lot of mine are similar to yours. My home, some sessions with a personal trainer a few years back, really really excellent boots that I'll be able to keep re-soling for years, and almost exclusively used furniture. I will add therapy, a hybrid car that is saving us a shit ton on gas, and a soda stream. I drink SO MUCH SELTZER and the soda stream helps keep me hydrated at adequate levels.
Mine are:
1) Aeropress, coffee grinder and coffee scale: I now HATE drinking coffee outside unless it is from a really good coffee shop
2) My engineering degree: it already made a return
3) Gym class membership: I hate going to the gym but found out group classes actually work for me, and I now work out 3-4 times a week
4) My higher quality clothing items: I wear the same 10 pieces basically every day. They were all very expensive but they make me feel good, they are high quality, and I will have them for years
Just to put my experience out there: I took Acutane when I was 13, I later found out that my horrible cystic acne was caused by PCOS, and I ended up being a part of the 0.002% of people that Acutane makes your acne so much worse. I still have keloid scars all over my chest, back, arms, legs, and of course, face from the Acutane 15 years later.
Of course, most of the time Acutane helps and is a great option! I just felt called to share that it unfortunately is not a for sure guarantee to help.
Getting my TESOL cert. was one life changing investment. It helped me to prepare as an ESOL instructor. I agree with you about community college too. I had instructors who worked at my school and the big named universities while I was a student. It was a rewarding experience. 🙂
Two purchases I really love are my instant pot and my recumbent trike. I was already spending a lot of time cooking for myself before getting the pressure cooker, and I eat a lot of legumes and whole grains (wheat berries are delicious, especially cooked in veggie broth, which I also make in the pressure cooker). I love that it takes care of itself, shuts itself off, and I can make real food while getting other things done.
The trike was not cheap. I fell off my bike years ago and got a bad concussion, and I’d spent several years trying to get over the trauma enough to start riding again. I got my two wheels out and started working on the fear, spending an hour having a panic attack before making a 7 minute ride to work in low traffic. I was dedicated this time, and looking into buying a bike that would be good as a car alternative since I live in a city near a trail. My friend insisted I test ride a bunch of things before spending money, and the recumbent trike… I felt happy. I felt safe. I went in circles in the parking lot in a way I wouldn’t have the nerve to do on two wheels. That trike cost me three times what a two wheels would have, and that was buying used. But I ride it several times a week. I got a trailer and went on grocery runs without having to work up to it. I’m happy riding again. I get exercise built in to my life. I spend less on gas. I occasionally think it would be useful to work on bike skills so I can do things like take a rental bike somewhere and not have to worry about parking the expensive trike, but… I don’t want to. The trike is too awesome to want anything else. But note that I also have done winter hiking for years so I already had experience at dressing for the weather all year ‘round, so figuring out how to ride a trike in winter, I’m not starting from scratch. This was the right time in my life to get a trike.
The best purchase of my twenties was a plan b pill.
I had a good experience with accurate/isotretinoin, and I want ppl to know that there are better versions now. First of all, look for one which includes oil, as the oil aids in take-up in the body and therefore the dose can be lower. Second, get a cream with lipids, it will help with the dry skin so much. My friend used the la Roche-Pausey one, I used a non known brand, we both got our lipids and did well.
Third, the treatment is said to be worse for teens than adults. So if you're an adult and have your friends stories about how it was for them as teens: remember that it's often easier for adults and that they experienced an older version of the product.
I am so happy I had it done, I really recommend it, but also make sure to listen to your doctor.
Instant pot/air fryer combo. Vitamix with the shorter container. Both pricey but I've saved SO MUCH cooking at home and making my own food items.
Chelsea, I love you, but telling people who have fears about bed bugs from second-hand furniture to "just grow up" is kinda shitty. Bed bugs are a fucking nightmare & have left me with serious PTSD. I do still buy (and sometimes am lucky enough to be gifted) second-hand furniture but I'm very cautious about it & I don't judge anyone for flat-out refusing to do so. Yeah, it's unlikely to get bugs from a lamp, but it's a serious concern with most types of furniture
It is so interesting to read everyone’s answers!! Personally, for me my best purchase has been therapy (with a tried and true certified amazing therapist). Might I add that there’s ways to get higher ed for free/cheap! I left my ft job to go work at Starbucks to essentially start over and qualify for free tuition to ASU online and am halfway to earning my bachelor’s degree 🎉
Love Mona’s origin story! Hope Mona’s mom is thriving now! 😊
Currently saving for my most important purchase : a 1 bedroom flat in Edinburgh, Scotland. ❤
Other best purchases : all the travelling I did in my 20s, a vacuum robot, second hand gold jewellery I never take off.
I am so excited for you and saving for Edinburgh ❤ I will be traveling there next year. Good luck!!!
My version of Chelsea's dutch oven is my sewing machine! I started out with a second hand old one my grandma was giving away, and after learning to sew and loving it, I upgraded my machine to a newer model that is more versatile and functional for my needs.
Can you invest in people? I met my husband 30 years ago...he was a poor student and I was engaged to a wealthy C.P.A, but we saw each other and fell in love. I broke up with C.P.A. and he broke up with his girlfriend and my friends thought I was crazy but the ❤ wants what the ❤ wants. Fast forward to 30 years later, and still married. Also, I forgot to mention that my poor student boyfriend major was Computer Science. Timing is everything and he graduated right before the tech boom that literally changed the world. And we were in the Bay Area, center of the it all. So, for me, I invested my heart and more in that poor student and it worked out very well for us!❤❤
Love your avocado art! 🥑
I have been struggling to learn Spanish for years now. Getting a tutor is a great idea! Thank you!
I have spent, what most people consider a reckless amount of money on travel when I was young, I don't regret it at all. If I had waited till I was older there would be no way I would be willing to sleep in the super dodgy accommodation I could afford and see a city on a bicycle rather than the hop on and off bus is amazing!
Great video, Chelsea! I have been investing in swimming lessons for the past 6 months and it has absolutely changed my life and the perception I had of myself. Absolutely agree with your point on language learning. I would add that any expense associated with nurturing meaningful friendships is money well spent.
LASIK! Getting my sight back after 17 years of gradual decline - probably my best personal investment.
Spending $3K on a cross country drive with my mom.
Buying my first 2 investment properties at $10K each in the South Side of Pittsburgh! I can’t believe such prices existed 10 years ago and I remember haggling!
I have taught at universities as a full time faculty member. I never went to community college until I was in my late 20s because I assumed like you said that they weren’t as good because they were accessible. But my opinion shifted as I aged and learned more about research institutions (most universities) vs teaching institutions (most community colleges). In my late 20s I went to community college as I explored a career shift. The teaching in those community colleges classes was leaps better quality than most of the teaching I received as a university student in General Ed classes.
Omg I went to AACC! I have never felt so close to Chelsea!
My cats have caused me a lot of stress (they can be annoyingly naughty at times, and the financial stress - hello urinary blockages and expensive prescription food…) but they helped me so much with structure and have completely reshaped the way I go about my life. I am more responsible, more stable, and better at problem solving. They also taught me A LOT about patience…😂 despite their quirks I love them dearly and am willing to empty out my bank account for them if need be. Pets are expensive as hell but they are equally life changing
Kelly Cutrone book! It’s so good. I found a lot of similar energy in Self inflicted wounds by Aisha Tyler - very funny, very honest, just a pleasure to read.
One of my best purchases was actually a lack of one - I stopped buying fast fashion. It still happens occasionally, but it completely changed my outlook on my clothes as a whole. Buying quality clothes (second hand, vintage and sustainable) made me completely reevaluate the quality and fabrics of my existing clothes (which were generally FF) and recoil in shock.
If we’re talking actual money exchanging hands purchase, my instant pot has been profoundly useful for close to a decade now. If it broke, I would feel its loss in my kitchen right away.
Lol Most of my furniture comes from charity Shops and FB Marketplace. It helps that my Personal aesthetic is rich grandma, so im the Person who Freaks Out at the sight of warm mahogany and Brass handles. Ours two armchairs were 180 Dollars total and theyre the comfiest Thing ive ever sat on and the Rose Print is gorgeous
Great advice and perspective about adopting a pup. Thank you for sharing your experience with adopting Mona!! 😍🥰
Purchasing an electric food scale really made me realize how much I was overeating and thus saving on my grocery bill.
Secondly, purchasing a menstrual cup helped save money on tampons.
A fellow Accutane user who went to community college. I do not regret going to the local community college at all. Got just as good an educational experience for way less $$$.
Now, as far as the Accutane, that was a doozy. Was on multiple times and am so glad that I will never use it again. It did help bit at some serious mental health costs.
My personal choices:
1) payment for both rounds of life changing surgery
2) my condo
3) experiences I missed until #1 allowed me
definitely my gym membership (not only my confidence and my body image gotten better, I also met a lot of people in the fitness classes), my favourite cinema's "friend card" (discounts on tickets and coffee - definitely made me spend much more time doing what I enjoy and learning things about things ;) ), and - mostly for free - going to a post-secondary school to learn accounting (again - met people, learned a lot, made me better at my first serious job). now I bought a flat and will have to learn how to function in that situation after 10 years of comfortable renting
Yesss for learning 2nd or 3rd and so forth LANGUANGES!
One of my best purchases was my bike! I got it in 2015 for $600 and it has been the best money I have ever spent. Not only is it just fun to ride but I have also used it as a commuter bike instead of driving. I also used it to ride a 200km charity ride two years in a row.
Completely agree about community college. I'm so glad I went 2 years there first before transferring. There's so much more to education than just the traditional 4 year school.
best things I ever bought (I think): my two dogs and on that topic the tent bed for my whippet as he would always get cold and cry in any other bed (I had to tuck him in several times a night), my dryrobe - no more excuses to do a sea swim even in cold weather, painting supplies - started my art career, noise cancelling headphones - the quality of my concentration and thus my work has improved so much, my large le creuset pan - I cook absolutely everything in it, silk pyjamas - improved my quality of sleep :)
A book that changed my life:
A guide to fishing and hunting for girls, by Melissa Banks. It Chronicles a woman's relationships through life and it taught me to forgive myself for past bad relationships, and that I wasn't alone, that I didn't have to put up with "that" and that I would grow and have better loves in my life ❤.
Her other book The wonder spot, was less of an aha moment, but it really stuck with me when I and the main character both fell for the same guy, and when she tells her brother about him he just sighs and tells her to never trust "those guys". Which felt validating, cuz yeh I've met those guys who say the perfect thing and then ghost etc. They don't want sarelationship, they just want to see you fall for them.
Neither book is so dark or graphical that it made me cry, but it still showed some painful moments I had experienced and helped me to get past them.
I also got my AA education at Anne Arundel Community College!
This format of video is why I subscribed to this channel in the first place
My best “purchase” were my bunnies(adopted from owners who couldn’t keep them).
On a strictly financial basis one could argue they were the dumbest, but they really help organise my life and keep me on track, as it’s not just me who will suffer from my bad decisions.
My Staub Dutch oven was absolutely life changing 11/10 agree. I also got mine fresh out of college, it was one of my first big purchases after starting my first “real” job
So enjoy everything you post❤
I have a degree from a state university, but the best and most useful classes I took were those at my community college. Excellent instructors, memorable classes.
This video indicates you don't need a high IQ to be a good investor, just 2 qualities, self discipline and a lot of patience. Investing is mostly about behavioral psychology. How can I generate more income to retire with at least $3m for long term care?
We share common goal, making sure you are ready for your later years is very important. That's why passive inves.ting works, low costs, better diversification and it enables people to overcome their behavioural bias especially if they engage professional help.
It's unfortunate most people don't have such information. I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $45k passively by just investing through an advisor, and I don't have to do much work. Doesn't matter if the economy is misbehaving, great wealth managers will always make returns.
I've been looking to get one, but have been kind of relaxed about it. Could you recommend your advis0r? I'll be happy to use some help.
I've stuck with the popularly ‘’Victoria Louisa Saylor” for about five years now, and her performance has been consistently impressive. She’s quite known in her field, look her up..
Thank you for sharing, I must say, Victoria appears to be quite knowledgeable. After coming across her web page, I went through her resume and it was quite impressive. I reached out and scheduled
My pressure cooker is amazing. I didn’t buy it: it was a wedding present to my parents in 1948. My mother used it weekly, if not more often, and now that I’ve inherited it, I do the same. Eventually my niece will inherit it and this pressure cooker will still be going strong for the next 50 years.
Also, my sewing machine and my waffle iron came from my grandmothers and are each over 100 years old and still working perfectly. Every once in a decade or so, an o-ring or cord needs to be replaced. I don’t know how they chose what they did, but my grandmothers definitely bought for the long run.
When you talked about learning a new language, I realized that I read news very differently than someone who only knows their own native language. I am German and mainly read German news sources, but when it comes to important topics, I like to check how other countries report on German or international issues. That's why I always have the New York Times and the CNN app on my phone.
Love your passion for learning! You are spot on at 20:42 🙌
I ve learned a lot about finance through this channel and while i am no where near your levels of being good with finances but this video made me realize that investing in all my kitchen gadgets was tbe best decision i made in my 30s as i cook more and expanded my palette so hugely. So thank you for that :D
The bed bug survivor slander at 29:40 😭girl I'm trying to grow up but I am traumatized!!
My minivan lol embarrassing but true I love that thing. It carts everything from dogs, stuff, kids, projects, so comfy!
Our Labrador is the best investment we've ever made, he's affectionate, protective and my son's best friend. He's been a great apartment dog with lots of exercise, but he's about to get his own big backyard at the end of this month!
Your face when Kelly Catrone said something in her interview along the lines of her not caring if her employees’ dog died lives in my head rent free
In a similar vein, my best purchases were my inexpensive state college education (shout out Cal Poly), my various pups, currently 2 COVID rescues - best dogs ever!, and my giant 150-year old house in wine country. Wasn’t sure about it at the time, but nothing beats living in the country!
I'd love to hear about the steps you took, going from a new business to a larger business!
Investment account, quality kitchenware, air fryer/convection oven, travel, hokas, home scenting systems (Pura, aroma 360, etc.)
This year I'm finally relearning French, or at least putting it to use because my daughter is going to be raised French first, so ESL (hub is French). It really does change your perspective!
I love my crueset, I used it tonight, and with a baby, slow cooking meals are a necessity!
After watching a few of your videos something I look back on and reflect on throughout my years of purchases I always think of all of the clothing I bought and then didn't like because they were such low quality. I've decided that each month I am "allowing myself" one nice piece of clothing without factoring in the price (within reason, I ain't about to drop hundreds of dollars on a t-shirt) and first thinking about the long-term wearability. I'm hoping that in a few years I'll reflect again and notice a real change.