Bought a lot of CDEV (Now PR) stock at 50 to 75 cents in March 2020.

The profit when it rebounded Post-COVID paid off my student loans and covered the down payment on my condo.

100% the best purchase I ever made.

When I was learning to drive, I bought a steering wheel for PC/PS3. It helped so much, it's pretty crazy.

6 years ago, a 110 € Android phone. What an absolute beast for that price. Had the USB connector not failed, I'd be using it still honestly.

Bambu lab 3d printer (~1600 usd). I have managed with other much less expensive printers but they give so many headaches. This one is almost idiot proof and i dont even wink about leaving it on over night anymore. Clearly one of my best purchases as it has engaged me into what i actually want to do which is 3d design, not constant maintenance.

Likely my school/training which did cost a bit but enabled me to create a career.

$20 rice cooker back in 2020. It’s no longer made unfortunately. It makes rice perfectly every time. The best part is that I don’t have to worry about lining up the timing of other things I’m cooking. The rice cooker keeps the rice warm for 2 hours if necessary, so there’s plenty of wiggle room if I completely underestimate how long something else will take to prepare and cook.

Buying name brand winter coats, gloves and boots (Columbia/North Face) over generic store brand (Target/Walmart). They hold up so much better and are warmer and more waterproof when stated. The generic stuff is not as warm. We are -20 pretty regularly in the winter here and you need stuff that works. I usually size up a couple sizes for my kids' coats and they are still in great condition after a few years of wear.

I have heard a lot of people say those brands have gone downhill and the quality is not there... and to buy Patagonia or some such thing. To that I say I am just a regular person trying to clothe a family and I cannot drop money like that.

• Mulberry silk sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers ($1.2k/set) - best sleep I've ever had, keeps me crisp and cool at night

• Eames chair ($10k) - the best lounge chair I've ever had

• LG OLED TV as a PC monitor - the best PC monitor you can get

My list is close to yours. Definitely a workout machine. Costco FTX inspire for $1200. Lot to drop but I feel better and as someone in his 40s, I have more money than time which is running out. I'm the youngest I'll ever be from here on out so today is a good day to take advantage of health and fitness.

A year ago we got a good mattress and it eliminated so many issues. Same with our couch

I have an erearder but use the library for it

I won't buy Sony stuff anymore but the steam deck has been an amazing purchase. Same with retro handhelds (RG35XX, RG353m)

Latex pillows

Silk / wool quilts

A touch bar bin by Simple Human - sounds ridiculous, but I love that thing every time I use it haha

Zojirushi flasks

• A good ergonomic office chair.
• A sit/stand desk.
• Heavy duty wire shelves from Costco.

And because I drink coffee and I'm a total klutz...

• Contigo Auto-seal travel mug. These things are practically bomb-proof and prevent spills!
• a stainless steel double-walled french press. Also bomb-proof and retain heat really well.

• tempur mattress (got them on the used market, for 20% of the cost)
• a key organizer that looks like a swiss army knife
• a slim wallet that also unfolds
• a good pair of audiophile headphones
• a dishwasher

Home, Education, Full 6" latex memory foam mattress, Quality sheets, Blackout Curtains, Thinkpad laptops (T series and X1 series; don't game), WD red drives, VPN access (port forwarding; needed for hosting), FIOS (1gb asynchronous; no data cap; they don't care), Brother laser printer/scanner, Email account on secure server (they take care of business)

Dana Designs Arcflex Terraplane backpack purchased in 1994 at Teton Mountaineering in Jackson Wyoming for $400. I've since used it to travel the world and apart from having had to replace its foam back-liner and a buckle, it is still perfectly sound in every way.

Dana Designs doesn't exist anymore, but the guy and organization behind them is still alive and well and making handmade backpacks in Bozeman Montana under the name "Mystery Ranch."

You can get a Mystery Ranch Arcflex Terraplane that's basically the same thing as the original Dana Arcflex, only made with newer, better materials and technology.

Le Creuset Dutch oven. Not sure what I paid for it because it's 20+ years old. After a few years, it developed a flaw on the interior finish. They replaced it with no hassle. I use it for so many things, soups, one pot meals, no knead bread, cobbler, and on and on.

For time used over price it must be minecraft and my kindle, so many hundreds of hours on both of them.

Laser eye surgery $3500 -getting rid of the glasses was a life changer, at work they fogged up all the time and got dirty, at home it was great to see my partner and they weren't blurry during fun times.

CPAP $1100 - sleeping properly was literally a lifesaver. The amount of times I got home from work and couldn't remember the 35 km commute was scary. Also helped me out of an abusive relationship.

Tiger 5 liter water heater $200 - always having as much hot water as I want is amazing for making tea or hot beverages. I keep it just below boiling all the time and use it multiple times a day even in summer. The 5 liter model is great because it is taller and even my 750ml thermos mug fits under it.

Ski goggles. I got them one year when the windchill was strongly in the negatives. Now my glasses don't fog up, my eyes don't hurt from the cold, and I don't get glare-blinded by the sun. Best $40 I ever spent. Probably more like $50+ in today's money.

I ended up buying a rice cooker, and plan on buying an e-reader. Thanks, everyone.