expensive things that are worth it (& also literally not even close to worth it)

• All things Ingalls fam: I was a big Little House on the Prairie kid. Like, one of our family vacations involved going to see the Independence, Kansas cabin + Laura’s home in Mansfield, MO. So, I of course started diving into the new series this weekend, which is so wholesome & cute. However, it reminded me that there was a LOT about those books that was genuinely not okay (yes, it was partially because of the times she wrote them in, I am aware), and that the legacy of them is a bit complicated. This podcast I listened to, Wilder, is absolutely phenomenal and worth listening to for ANYONE with a childhood interest in Little House — it breaks down that mix between nostalgia and responsibility in a really incredible way.

• rhode highlight milk: A few drops of the highlight milk (shade 02 for me) + a few drops of Byoma Milky Toner (basically the cheaper version of the OG rhode Glazing Milk) = dewy, hydrated, gorg skin. I will be DEVASTATED if the highlight milk is a limited run product. Devastated.

• Reading slump, BE GONE: I finally, finally feel like I’m in a reading-in-a-sitting phase again, which is my favorite phase to be in. The two most recent additions to the list: Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee, which is a SALACIOUS, lovely little mix between Crazy Rich Asians and Percy Jackson, and Whistler by Ann Patchett, which was a stunning read about family and regret and choice. They’re both incredibly different but I couldn’t recommend either any more! So lovely. (Admission: I DNF’ed Land by Maggie O’Farrell. I can’t argue how beautiful the writing is, but the structure of the book, with no chapters, is simply not for me.)

So, admission.

I, am a marketer’s dream. I could be influenced into oceanfront property in Arizona. (I’m going to have a difficult time not falling for pyramid schemes as an old lady, and I worry that I’d have been a PRIME candidate for getting scammed by Saul Goodman.)

But I also have #opinions. And while I may be influenced into buy something, I also love influencing people not to buy things. So, in the spirit of the TikTok trend taking over my FYP, here are the expensive things that are very much worth it and the ones that are very much NOT worth it.

Science, I say.

Your friends and family don’t want to help you move. (If they say they do, they’re lying. 😂) Your dad is going to throw out his back if he helps you move. Save up for the movers, and get the freaking movers.

The Biscuit shade in this contour stick is everything to me. The perfect cool tone bronzer/contour & the formula is absolute butter. Plus, it lasts so long. I use it pretty often and it lasts me close to a year.

Living in Dallas has probably kiiind of ruined me on this (The Land of Expensive Group Fitness™), but I always am going to think that spending money on a workout you like is WORTH it if it’s going to make you go. ClassPass? WORTH IT. Membership? WORTH IT.

I don’t need expensive workout tops. I don’t need a variety of $120 matching sets. But I DO need lululemon leggings, because absolutely every other pair I’ve ever purchased has not done the job for me. They are known for being impeccable because they, well, are impeccable. Worth the $$$, imo.

I’ve had these for almost 4 years and they are, to me, the perfect pillow. They hold up beautifully, are the perfect firmness, and are adjustable but like… not in a weird way. I don’t see myself needing new pillows anytime soon, but I will absolutely repurchase these.

The kind with visible salt crystals that you get from the fancy grocery store. Nothing like it.

There are few items of clothing that I feel as truly strongly about as I feel about my Max Shirts from Sézane. They look so, so nice and polished because they are a heavier weight and they don’t wrinkle up like my other button downs do. (And I say this as a gal who is essentially always wearing a button down.)

I. Love. My. Kindle. (I have a Paperwhite. :) ) I also love reading physical books, but I just Kindles are unparalleled for convenience and SPEED. Like, I read soooo fast on my Kindle. (Psst… having a Kindle doesn’t have to be expensive in itself! I use Libby where I can and I have subscribed & unsubscribed to Kindle Unlimited a few different times over the years. Highly rec.)

Look, maybe this is slightly biased because I work here now. But, guys. The old Amazon “massage gun” I used to have is quite literally WORTHLESS compared to the actual Theragun. If you genuinely get sore, tight spots, it’s worth every penny.

I have the Theragun Prime, which I love, and I want to get one for my Dad for Christmas. The Mini is also a cheaper, 10/10 option (the Mini Plus has heat, though), and the Relief is really amazing if you want a massage gun but feel like the pressure is too intense.

This is, bar none, the only planner that’s ever worked for me. I haven’t had one since January because I missed the restock and it’s been HORRIBLE. I finally got my hands on a new one that starts in August and I could literally almost cry with excitement.

I am my mother’s daughter in many ways, but one of the biggest of those ways is absolutely being COMMITTED to real, true blue perfume. I simply do not find that the juice is worth a squeeze when it comes to buying a cheaper spray perfume/etc, and I absolutely looooove the journey that comes with finding your own personal perfume favorites.

I’m not in a place to buy mountains of diamonds and gold (will I ever be?), but I do think going for the nicer version of jewelry is VERY worth the money for things you genuinely wear every day.*

For me, this primarily means the gorjana fine collection. All of the pieces are beautiful and high quality — I love, love my cross necklace — and they will always replace your jewelry if it breaks. I’ve also had great success with Mod & Jo, Mejuri, and the demi-fine stuff at Madewell.

(*I will not spend money on jewelry I don’t wear every day at this point, because I’m fine with something like that tarnishing. And tbh I’ve had some decent luck on Amazon!)

I love to be a candle snob, but I DON’T think you need to buy an expensive candle to have a good one. I love a Target candle over here.

However, there are a few candles that I think are genuinely worth the money for their longevity and their scents: Nightcap by LAVUNE, anything by Diptyque (my favorite is Oud, but I think it’s very much a you-like-or-you-don’t so maybe smell it first 😂), the Signature Hotel Lobby Candle, and Santal 26 by Le Labo. These are the kinds of candles that actually and truly LAST when you light them, and they all have impeccable scent throw. They also make stunning gifts.

If there’s one thing you will never catch me using an off brand of, it’s tampons. Enough said. (And also… I literally don’t care about things like toilet paper, so I feel like I’m allowed this? Keep your organic tampons or your cardboard ones. I’ll be here.)

There are few things I am as committed to as the Snif scent booster I put in my laundry. I know I am beating a dead horse here because I talk about it all the time but I LOVE IT SO MUCH. The Old Money scent is everythinggggg to me.

If I ever buy an expensive shampoo and conditioner again, I need to be smacked upside the head. The difference in my hair thickness, shine, and softness since going back to the BASICS (by the basics, I literally mean Pantene) is crazy bananas.

I told y’all I’m easily influenced, so I’m sure no one will be surprised at the fact that I have purchased Brooklinen AND Parachute AND Quince AND BedThreads sheets. (That was embarrassing to type, SOS.)

While I dooooo really like my linen Quince & BedThreads ones and would buy them again (I love linen & they’re not nearly as expensive as others, plus the prints are cute), I really don’t think any of the sheet brands I’ve bought are any better than my Target sheets. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

(I will also say that I have a dog, so that may have something to do with it… because ya girl cannot get longevity out of sheets when she has a dog who loves digging holes to China every night in said sheets.)

I learned this the hard way and I won’t do it again. Because what do you mean I spent like $1000s for something that doesn’t ACTUALLY cover what I need it to?

I am a FULL hater here, but I genuinely believe Caraway pans are the worst money I’ve ever spent on something. They absolutely fell apart for me and absolutely did not stand the test of time. I’ve transitioned almost completely to cast iron & stainless steel at this point (I landed on Madein for my stainless steel after a LOT of research, but there are so many opinions based on your cooking style!), and the difference in quality is absurd.

I am being a #poser when I say this because I have spent money on moisturizer MANY TIMES, but I officially no longer think it’s worth it — and I come to you with this as someone who has very, very dry skin and neeeeeeds good moisturizer. I have simply never gotten any better results from expensive moisturizer than I have from my favorite, and much less expensive, skincare brand: Prequel.

The influencers who consistently push Framebridge for random things have lost their MINDS, imo. While I know custom framing is important for some things (fine art! etc!), simple prints and photos look just as beautiful with a frame from Michael’s. Plus, I’ve learned on my needlepoint self finishing journey that they’ll cut you a custom mat on the cheap.

You’ll never convince me that I need to spend $275 on a blanket when this one exists. Never.

It smells horrific, y’all. Horrific. If I am ever to spend money on a blender again, I will oooonly get one made with glass. Eyyyuck.

Susannah Hutcheson is a copywriter & writer based in Dallas, TX. Have questions, collaboration opportunities, or just want to say hi? Contact Sus by email at susie@susiebco.com, shop some of her favorites here & here, and follow along on Instagram.

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