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The Living Standard · Aug 12, 2026

7 Splurges That Were Worth Every Penny

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The Living Standard · The Living Standard

If you spend any amount of time on TikTok, you probably know there’s a trend going around about things that people think were worth the money. It’s full of tech gadgets, some clothing items, personal care products, and everything in between.

Everyone has their things that they think are worth spending money on.

Personally, I have one shopping rule that’s saved me from so many wasteful purchases. I’m only allowed to buy a “luxury” version of something if it’s already something I use everyday and place a lot of value on.

I’ve shared before plenty of things that I don’t buy, but this time I want to share a couple things that I’ve actually found are worthy of a little splurge.

For me, it really only makes sense to splurge on things I use every single day. And as I get older I’m finding value in buying high quality items that will last a long time rather than constantly buying the cheaper versions. I would much rather have a few prized items I consistently use than a hundred cheaper items that never last.

These are the few splurges I’ve slowly made over time as the cheaper versions of them gave out. These splurges are easily some of my favorite things I own and have genuinely improved my life. I’m thankful every day I chose to upgrade.

I have a whole post about creating a bedroom that will actually help you recharge. My bedroom is a big deal to me. My BED is a big deal to me. If I have a comfy bed, I feel like I can tackle anything.

So a little over a year ago I finally decided to splurge on some nicer bedsheets.

And now, I’m ruined for life. I can never go back to the random sheets I used to buy at big box stores.

I used to alternate sheet sets each week so I wouldn’t have to wash the dirty ones immediately but I can’t do that anymore because I don’t want to use anything but my Brooklinen Percale 100% Cotton set.

They’re the perfect set if you want that Nancy Meyers hotel feel — they’re deliciously crisp and cool. And most importantly, there’s been no signs of wear or tear after a year of consistent weekly washes and use.

I’m honestly itching to buy a few more sets because they have so many cute patterns and colors (but I won’t because I don’t need them). I plan on repurchasing them several times throughout my life.

Psssst … they have a bedding sale going right now!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase something I’ve recommended. There’s no extra cost to you, and I’ve only included things I genuinely own, use, and would recommend whether there’s a link attached or not.

When I got my own place after college I used hand me down towels from my mom that I used for most of my childhood. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but after a few months I was more than ready for some new ones.

My amazing experience with the Brooklinen sheets led me to explore the Brooklinen towels and shocker, I’m obsessed.

They’re so plush, they make me feel like I’m at a spa instead of my tiny shower. And they’re so cute that I made my partner build me a floating shelf in the bathroom just so I could display them.

A few years ago I would have never paid that much for towels but they truly make everyday life feel luxurious.

These days I’m much more interested in quality towels than hand bags or a ton of clothes. The quality of the things I use everyday is what’s important to me now. Does this mean I’m getting old?

A KitchenAid stand mixer is definitely an investment, but if you even do a moderate amount of cooking or baking it will pay you back tenfold by making your life easier.

I bought my stand mixer last year when I really started to get into cooking and baking, and I still use it multiple times a week.

I use it to mix all sorts of doughs, batters, and even mashed potatoes. I also use it to shred large amounts of cheese and chicken (it works amazing for this!). My partner even bought the attachment to start grinding up our own meat. There are so many attachments that essentially turn it into a multipurpose appliance, which is less expensive in the long run and saves you valuable kitchen space.

I’m at the point where I genuinely can’t remember how I did things before I bought it. It’s made cooking and baking so much easier and more enjoyable, which helps me make more and more of our food from scratch.

It’s been one of my favorite “adult” purchases.

I’ve tried lots of different tennis shoes over the years and none have ever been as comfortable as my Hoka Clifton 10s. I was skeptical to spend over $100 on shoes, but the older I get the more I value comfort.

I wear mine almost every day when I go on walks or I know I’m going to be standing for most of the day. It sounds silly but they literally feel like walking on clouds. And I love that they have neutral colors options, my cream ones go with everything.

For me, a good pair of tennis shoes is more than just a new pair of shoes. When you have a pair of tennis shoes you love, you’re way more likely to say yes to long walks and long days.

Thankfully, my search for the perfect tennis shoe is finally over. I’ll buy Hokas for as long as they make them.

Pssst … they’re on sale right now!

This is one upgrade I had to make once I started working from home. There are days I have these Beats headphones on for hours at a time. Not only do I use them daily for work, but I also love using them to listen to podcasts and audiobooks while I cook and clean.

With the amount of hours I’ve put on them, I’m genuinely shocked they’re still perfect. The sound quality is great, they’re noise cancelling, and they’re so comfortable, hence how I’m able to wear them for hours every day.

This upgrade is about more than just comfortable headphones. They help me every day stick to my routines like walking, cleaning, and cooking because they make them all more enjoyable. That’s how I know it’s an item worth the splurge.

This is maybe the most “unnecessary” one on the list, but it’s also brought me so much joy.

This upgrade has turned into a nightly ritual for me. Each night after I shower, I put my kettle on the stove, get my tea going, and unwind in bed while I drink my tea.

I don’t need a fancy tea kettle, but since I use it every day (sometimes multiple times a day) it makes sense to get a high quality one from Le Creuset that could honestly last my whole lifetime with proper care. It sits out on my stove 24/7 so I’m more than happy to pay a little extra for one that brings me joy and looks nice.

Most of the items above are more function based, but this is one that just feels good.

A few years ago I decided I was going to be the kind of girl that only sleeps in matching PJ sets. That led to me trying a lot of different brands and ultimately being disappointed by most.

But the brand I always come back to is GAP. They have the most comfortable PJs I’ve tried (and trust me I’ve tried a lot).

Beyond the great quality and feel, I love them because you can mix and match your sets with options for short sleeve, long sleeve, shorts, and pants — all in the same pattern or color.

My tried and true GAP favorite is the SoftMade line:

And I’m not sure about the science behind it but a matching PJ set just makes me feel so put together. There’s something about a matching set that makes you want to actually do the nighttime routine you’ve been trying to stick to.

If you’d like to browse everything mentioned in this post in one place, I’ve put it all together here: Shop My Everyday Luxuries Collection

Don’t let this list make you feel like you have to go buy a million things.

The whole point of sharing my splurges is that so you can see how I justify them — what I think is worth spending more money on, but more importantly: why.

I spend more when...

  • I use something constantly

  • I can tell the quality difference

  • It makes a routine more enjoyable (and therefore more likely for me to follow through with good routines)

  • It solves an actual problem

  • I expect to have it for a long time

I spend less when...

  • The cheaper version works just as well

  • I’m buying something just because it’s trendy

  • I won’t use it frequently

  • The upgrade is purely cosmetic and I don’t care about the difference

I don’t think a well lived life requires expensive things. In fact, I’m not someone who comfortably spends a lot of money. But I also don’t think being intentional with money means always choosing the cheapest option.

Sometimes the more intentional choice is buying the thing you’ll use for years, instead of buying the cheaper version three times.

If anything, I hope this post has inspired you to think about the little luxuries in your everyday life.

Maybe it’s really good coffee setup. Maybe it’s sheets you don’t want to leave in the morning. Or maybe it’s a few things that just make your life easier.

Figure out what you use, love, and appreciate every day — and don’t be afraid to make those things a little better.

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