Spending Money For Maximum Return: Stop Buying Things. Start Buying Back Your Life.
140: This will change how you spend your money.
The cost of a thing is the amount of life you have to exchange for it. - Henry David Thoreau
This is one of the most requested reads. How should you spend your money? On what should you spend it? Bringing you the list of items, services, models, and perspectives on how to get the most out of your money. The only point of money? To improve your life.
Hierarchy Of High ROI Spending
Spending the money the right way comes down to one thing.
This means one of the three things:
Your money is working for you
You are having life-changing experiences
The things you buy have a high return on your life (improve it)
When it comes to spending money on items and services:
Health and energy
Time saving and convenience
Comfort and flexibility
Health comes first because everything else depends on it. Your output, your mood, your energy, and longevity. Saving time? Second point. Time is one of those resources you cannot earn back. Comfort and flexibility are the last ones, covering how to operate on your own terms. The key is to realize that every purchase you make costs more than money. It costs your time and energy.
The goal of this post is not to turn you into a minimalist or make you frugal. It is to help you understand what money is actually for. Most people spend their lives trading time and energy for things they never truly wanted.
Money making you more money
Foundation for everything else… and a good life. When you find yourself in a position where your investments cover your expenses. You know you have done the right work. If you take away just one thing from this post. Make sure it is this one. Your #1 priority when spending money should always be making more of it. Most people never get here because they are distracted by the things that don’t matter. Or because no one ever taught them to think this way.
To make this more practical:
No business yet? Use your money to start one. The goal is to build something that generates an income.
Business is growing? Use more of your money to speed the process and scale. When things are working out, you need to further invest in them. Reinvest.
Already have a business and want to diversify? Put your money into stocks, crypto, or land.
If you are doing one of these. You are miles ahead of most people.
Life-changing experiences
How does one define a life-changing experience?
There is a good chance that everyone will answer differently. In the end? It all comes down to two things:
Changing how you think
Who you become in the process
What most people get wrong is assuming that life-changing experiences are all about traveling. Travel plays a role. But it would be a lie to say that you can't have a life-changing experience in your own hometown. The right question to ask yourself is this:
Will this change the way I see or experience the world?
If the answer is yes. It counts.
The right book at the right time can be a life-changing experience
Getting into a room with the right people can be a life-changing experience
Buying a membership at a country club can be a life-changing experience
Going to another continent can be a life-changing experience
Some are free. Others cost money. Does it matter? Not really. The framework you should be using is - would you pay again for those experiences? There is your answer.
Purchasing items that have a high ROI (How To Define Them)
The last piece of the puzzle? Buying items that actually improve the quality of your life. Things that will make your work easier, improve your health, and make you feel sharper. Another way to look at a high ROI purchase is from a time perspective. If something saves you time or energy. It is worth it.
To put it in perspective:
$750 one time purchase → saves you 30 minutes a day
30 minutes * 365 days → 10,950 minutes a year
10,950 minutes = 180+ hours back in your life
Now apply this logic to multiple things…
Before buying anything, make it a habit to ask yourself whether this purchase will make you more productive, improve your health, or save you time? If it doesn’t tick at least 1/3. It is not a high ROI purchase.
The framework to use:
Quality mattress → better sleep → more output
Gym membership → health → more energy
Software subscription → faster output → more free time
Knowing the value of your time: Before you start spending smarter. You need to know your number. Take what you earn in a month and divide it by the hours you work. That is your number. To completely change how you approach things, and whether something is worth it or not. Start by asking yourself how many hours of your life you will trade for it. The more you do this, the more obvious it becomes why most people are broke. Living paycheck to paycheck without ever paying attention to what matters.
How NOT To Spend Your Money
Buying things for the sake of buying things
How many times have you bought something on impulse to feel good? What happens 30 minutes later? You are back to emptiness. Consider that this happens every week or two… and by the end of the year. You end up with 30+ items that add no value to your life.
What to do instead: Postpone every purchase by 48 hours. Still feel that it is worth it after 48 hours? Buy it. Make it a habit to sleep on every purchase. Results? More money in your pocket and less clutter in your living space.
Impressing other people
One of the biggest lifestyle traps. Nothing is worse than doing things for other people’s approval. Spending your hard-earned money on the things you do not actually want. What no one tells you is that the people you are trying to impress are too busy even to notice. Spending hours of your life and money to get ignored.
What to do instead: Before every big purchase. Ask yourself: Am I buying this for myself, or for someone else’s approval?
The identity tax
Everything you buy carries an identity. Only buying cheap things? That says something about you. Paying for a gym membership, yet never going to a gym? Same. Buying an expensive watch when you couldn’t care less about watches? Same story. Every purchase that doesn’t align with who you actually are falls under identity tax. Spending money (hours and energy) on the identity that was not yours to begin with. Owning what your social circle owns and thinking that it is a must because others around you have it. Avoid it.
What to do instead: What you want to do is ask yourself if what you are buying fits with who you want to become, or if it is just an idea that you are borrowing from someone else. Every purchase should go towards building the life and the person you want to be.
Spending Money On Items And Services
1. Health and energy: We all know what money can buy. And we all know what money can’t buy. A sick man in bed only has one wish. You get the point. No matter how much you push yourself or how much money you have in your bank account. Your quality of life degrades rapidly if your health and energy are not in order. Spending your money on health and energy is always worth it. Making it your biggest priority.
2. Time saving and convenience: We all know that you can’t buy back time. No matter how much money you have. But what you can do is ensure that you do not find yourself in a position where you have to do the things you do not want to do. Stealing your time and focus from the things that actually move you forward. Outsourcing is often a key lever here. And it is the exact reason why living 10 minutes from work or having a gym in your building is worth more than most would like to admit.
3. Comfort and flexibility: When it comes to comfort. We all can agree that the environment is everything. It affects how you sleep, how you think, and how much you enjoy your life. It deserves your money and attention. Flexibility is the same story. One that ties directly to the previous two points. More money gives you more options. Options give you the power to walk away from anything that doesn’t serve you.
Note before we go forward: This post covers the third point - items and services. The first two (money-making money and life-changing experiences) deserve their own posts, and we are not going to push this and squeeze them in here. We will cover them in separate posts. This post already assumes you understand the principles and are working on them.
List Of Recommended Items - Improving Your Life
The items and services below are organized into categories:
Health
Lifestyle
Productivity
Software
Reason? It makes things easier for us. Health falls under the health and energy. Lifestyle covers comfort and flexibility. Productivity and software are both time-saving. Every item on the list fits at least one of the three criteria.
Notes on upgrading your lifestyle
There is only one rule when it comes to spending money for maximum return. You never want to go back. Once you upgrade your standard of living, dropping down is not an option. Why? Because you are in for the maximum pain. You should not upgrade your lifestyle if you cannot afford it. Don’t hire a cleaner if you can’t keep them for years. Don’t build a relationship with a private doctor only to find you can't attend the next appointment. You want to upgrade your life in order.
Prioritizing the spending hierarchy in the right order and ensuring the money works for you. Someone in their early 20s has completely different priorities than someone in their 40s, who is focused on buying back more of their time. That is exactly why getting the most out of this list requires you to audit your life. Knowing where your health, time, and energy are actually going. The goal is a compounding effect. One where all items and services are working together. Making everything easier for you.
Something that everyone should buy
These four items have the highest impact per dollar on the entire list.
Earplugs (Productivity): There is no reason not to get a pair. In terms of productivity vs. cost. It is arguably the highest on the list and one that can’t be beaten. If you want to start spending money to improve your quality of life. But not sure where to begin… This is it. Our pick? Loop Earplugs.
Wispr flow (Software): It has completely changed how we work, and it is worth every dollar. Give it a try and incorporate it into your routine asap. Probably one of the best subscriptions you can have at this moment.
Ergonomic chair (Productivity): The difference between a cheap chair and a proper one? Big one. Herman Miller or Steelcase is something you want in your workspace. The best part? You can find them cheap (and in good shape) from companies that went under or startups that only looked good on paper - often at 50% or more off the original price.
Bloodwork (Health): You will never regret getting your bloodwork done. Not only does it provide you with a reality check on where you stand. It also tells you what needs to change. All of us take it for granted that our hormones affect how we behave, what we do, and how we perceive the world. Knowing where you stand and what you could do better is the first step. Bloodwork 2x per year should be the standard for everyone reading this.
Health
Supplements: There is zero chance that you are getting all the nutrients you need through your diet. No matter how good it is. Spending money on the right supplements and incorporating them into your routine is the highest ROI on the list. One rule is always to buy quality, trusted brands.
What most people need to have in their diet:
Vitamin D3 + K2 (get the bloodwork done)
Magnesium (glycinate is our preferred form)
Omega 3
Vitamin B (made a massive improvement in our energy levels)
This is just the tip of the iceberg, and something everyone should use.
Air purifier: Get one. Especially if you are living somewhere with poor air quality. If we put aside the obvious health benefits. Clean air impacts your ability to think, focus, and operate at a high level. Extra points if you are struggling with allergies - you will notice the difference immediately… Coway makes great air purifiers, and for under $500, you can cover most of your space.
Quality mattress: The difference between a bad mattress and a quality one is never obvious until you try both of them. You spend 1/3 of your life on the mattress, and when you frame it in that way… It becomes painfully obvious that there are no reasons not to have a good one. Sleep affects every other category on the list. Buying a mattress is one of the highest ROI purchases you can make.
Not sure where to start?
CPAP study: It is one of those things that you will rarely hear someone mention. What it is all about is that you want to figure out whether you have sleep apnea, which is a largely underdiagnosed condition. If you are one of those who struggle with it, but at the same time ignore it or leave it untreated. You are actively shortening your life. Not only are you shortening your lifespan. But it is one of the main reasons people wake up feeling like they have not slept.
Private doctor: Massive ROI. The reason you want to have a private doctor? Simple one. You want someone who knows what you are about and has a full breakdown of your situation. Comparing it to the general GP (or public one) is not even comparable. Having someone who knows what you want and gives you advice that has not been outdated for the last 20 years is your goal. Extra points if you find someone early in their career who can follow your health for decades to come.
Hormone replacement (Optimization): Mid 30s is when this becomes worth looking into. If you are already doing bloodwork every 6 months. You will have a complete picture of what your body is missing. Making it a perfect scenario for you to start the therapy. There is a good reason why all the tech billionaires are doing exactly this. Having your hormones, vitamins, and overall health in order is the ultimate performance tool. Starting your hormone replacement is something you want to do after you find yourself a private doctor who will guide you through the process.
Wearable health trackers (Oura, Whoop): Years ago, we used to laugh at those who wore them. In our opinion? Scores and those gamified metrics that come with them are nonsensical. Something that will indirectly impact how you feel based on the random algorithm and the number on the screen. What is the real magic of health wearables? For us? It is in metrics such as the sleep debt. We are fully aware that it is not a 100% correct metric. Yet we know precisely that if our sleep debt hits 10+ hours. We know we won't be operating at full capacity. This alone makes it worth it in our books.
Blood pressure machine: Wish this were a joke. But it is not. There is a reason why blood pressure is called a silent killer. Start tracking it. No matter how old you are or in what kind of shape you are. Get yourself an Omron or something similar.
Massages: Nothing beats a massage after a hard day. Similar to the private doctor scenario. You want to aim for someone with whom you will build a good relationship. Someone you keep coming back to for years to come. Going to a massage 1x per week will completely change how your body feels.
Theragun: If massages are still not within your budget. Theragun is the next best thing. 30 minutes of work on the back or legs once or twice a week is all it takes. Extra points if you are sitting the whole day or over 40 years old.
Lifestyle
Grocery delivery: Going to the grocery store is a huge waste of time. Luckily, there is grocery delivery. Saving you about 5x time for 10% above the in-store prices. Giving you one less reason to waste your time. If you want to take it even further, check out your local meal prep companies. Having someone else prepare your meals saves you hours and removes the excuse to eat junk food.
Espresso machine: The idea is not to turn coffee into a 30 minute morning ritual. It is also not about saving money by skipping the coffee outside. But not drinking terrible-quality coffee… Might be a good enough reason. This is not a recommendation for everyone. But if coffee is already part of your routine. Having a proper espresso machine at home beats most of the shops by miles. The machine pays for itself within 4-5 years. Giving you a high-quality energy boost for half the price per cup of coffee.
Cleaning services: One of the best ways to spend your hard-earned money. Saving you hours in the process. Not to mention the energy and effort that go into cleaning. The only problem is that you have to find a trusted service or a person to do it for you. Our advice is to never let someone you have not vouched for (or who is not an employee of a vouched company) into your living spaces. There are too many stories of theft.
Robot help (Vacuum, pool, lawn…): If you cannot afford cleaning services. Yet. Make sure to at least get a robot cleaner (vacuum). The technology improves year over year, and prices keep going down. By the time this post is 2 years old… There is a chance you can get an even better robo cleaner for your money. Robo vacuums are the best place to start, and the difference in your day to day will be obvious.
Blackout curtains: Arguably one of the most impactful home purchases you can make. It is also one of the cheapest ones on the list. If you have ever wondered why you always get a better rest sleeping in hotels. This might be one of the main reasons.
Sleeping face mask: Every time we travel. It becomes clear why a sleeping mask is a high ROI purchase.
To keep it practical:
Already have blackout curtains and don’t travel much → Skip it
No blackout curtains (or in a position where you can’t make your room fully dark) → Get one
Traveling a lot and sleeping in hotels? → Get one
For the last couple of years, we have been using multiple generic ones from Amazon. None lasting more than a year or two. But after multiple people have recommended something better... We have decided to get ourselves a Manta.
Water filter: The less you know about the tap water you are consuming, the happier you will be. Even more so if you live in a part of the world where it is still considered "normal" to drink unfiltered tap water. Get an under-sink version that removes impurities you didn't know you were consuming. A reverse osmosis solution is what you want to install as soon as possible.
DNA Testing: This could easily be in the health section. But on purpose, we are putting it in the lifestyle section. Because if you do things right around DNA and combine your DNA results with bloodwork and AI... You are creating a killer stack that is hard to beat.
To get the most out of it:
Get your DNA test and wait for the results.
Once the results are done → download your raw DNA data and upload it to Genetic Genie.
You will receive your results. Deficiencies based on your DNA (which should serve as a basis for your nutrition). The next step? Use Chris Masterjohn’s choline calculator. Giving you choline intake and how much you should consume (an important one for energy).
Want to take it further? Combine your bloodwork + DNA results + The Mood Cure.
Ebook reader (Kindle - Kobo): Similar to wearable health trackers. We used to make fun of people who had them. But if we are 100% transparent. Nothing comes close if you are traveling a lot and want to read. It is just practical and worth your money. Not sure where to find your next read? 40 books no best sellers.
Solid suit and dress shoes: You do need two different combinations you can use. It might be a different scenario if you are a professional who has to wear suits daily. For everyone else? The same applies to shoes. Buy stuff that will last you years if you take care of it. That you can often find barely used suits second-hand for 50% off the original price.
Suit brands worth your money:
Zegna
Canali
Isaia
Shoe brands worth your money:
Crockett & Jones
Allen Edmonds
Carmina
Good accountant: Find one you can fully trust and rely on. This never makes sense until you run your own business and see what a good accountant can do for you. Once you start hitting the proper numbers. It is time to hire a serious accountant. The same applies to a lawyer once you reach a certain point of no return. The better team behind you, the easier your life becomes.
Trezor Wallet: If you have any crypto. You want to have a hardware wallet. It is one of those things that can help with security, and keeping things on the exchange means that they are not yours. The entire setup process takes no more than 30 minutes.
Mindset rewiring workbook: For anyone feeling held back, overwhelmed or lost. This is where you want to start. Give it 6 months, and there is a good chance you will get rid of most of the things that are bothering you. The closest you will get to therapy without going to a professional.
Hobby Clubs (Tennis, golf, old-timer cars…): This should be high on your priority list. The same goes for country clubs or anything else that filters out the masses. Why is this a high ROI? Because you are buying access to the people with connections, money, and influence. The whole point is to surround yourself with the people you want to be around. It is worth noting that sports associated with these places are often structured to allow people to enjoy them later in life. Worth mentioning that most of them offer a gym, pool, and saunas that you can use.
High-end gyms: Similar to hobby clubs. If you are not in a position yet to join one… This is where the high-end gyms come into place. Why does it matter? Because chances are you are going to surround yourself with those on a mission similar to yours. On top of that, you will get an experience that is much better than that of the standard gym - sauna, pool, equipment…
If you are over 40 and have never been to a gym before. Make sure you get a personal trainer. You need someone who knows what they are doing and will keep you injury-free.
Productivity
Top Line Laptop: If you want something that will last for years. Buy the best you can afford. We don’t replace our electronics every 2 years. Buying once and choosing a quality product means it will last for years without slowing you down. Most do not think that way and would rather spend less and look for another upgrade in a few years. Waste of time in our books. This is especially important if your income depends on your machine.
Notebook (or pocket notebook): For most people, the pocket notebook is a better choice. Making it easier for you to carry around. If you prefer something bigger or want to journal. Go with a standard notebook. Why is this a high ROI? Because every area of your life improves once you start writing things down. Seriously.
AI Tools: Not sure how many times we have recommended a Claude subscription over the past couple of years. The hard pill to swallow is that you will either embrace these tools and become proficient with them, or be left behind by those who ensure they master them. The same applies to everything else. Not just Claude. Make sure you are ready to invest and stay in the loop with what is happening. AI should serve as your personal assistant. Saving you hours of time and energy in the process.
Breath Nose Strips: More oxygen = better performance. They are also great for sleeping. Helping you breathe better and wake up with more energy. It is one of those items that are so cheap there is no reason not to give them a try and experience them yourself.
Treadmill: We put this under productivity on purpose. If you are not getting out of your house for walks and hitting 10k steps regularly. The treadmill will completely change how you approach things and the sharpness you feel. All it takes is one 30 minute session. One of our favorite purchases in recent years. Limited on space? A walking pad might be a solid replacement.
Hardware security key: You need two. They are cheap and efficient, reliable to the point that there is no reason you should not have a few of them. Ensuring that you are safer than traditional authenticator apps or other forms of 2FA. Our pick? YubiKey.
Standing desk: We have one and hold mixed opinions on it. If you are someone with specific health problems or looking to do something different instead of sitting all day. A standing desk is not a bad option for your workspace.
Looking for ways to upgrade your office space? Check out workspaces.
Software
Findymail: We have been recommending this solution since we started in 2023. If you are someone who operates online. Sooner or later, you will need someone's email address. This is where Findymail comes into play. Arguably the most cost-effective option / per valid email address.
Othership / Breathwrk: Both are solid. Othership is the more premium option and comes with features you may not need. The exact reason why we are putting both of them here. If you have yet to try breathwork… Prepare to be surprised by how powerful it is. The focus and clarity it provides are hard to beat. Not to mention the health benefits that come with consistent practice.
Jomo: Great application worth your time. If you struggle with screen time or spend too much of your day on things you should not… Give this one a try, and make sure you read our latest unfair advantage post. Having a clear mind is a must.
1Password: Hard to beat and pairs well with the YubiKey. Don’t have it yet? You need it.
HeyReach: If you are doing any kind of marketing or trying to get customers on LinkedIn… This is the #1 software you want to have. Pricey, but not comparable to anything else out there.
AI meeting notes (Fireflies.ai, Otter.ai): Most built-in transcription tools are not where they should be in terms of efficiency and accuracy. For those who have multiple meetings per day. This is where the power of a tool like this becomes obvious.
VPN: If you are traveling. You want to have one.
Readwise: To be more precise… Readwise Reader. There is no better tool for getting the most out of your reading. It lets you centralize everything in one place. From PDFs, YouTube, RSS, to random web highlights. If you are a power reader (most people reading this are). Give this one a try. You will be surprised by how things are structured and how much more you can get out of reading.
Implementing just 30% of this list into your daily life… will change who you are.
Disclaimer: None of this is to be legal or financial advice of any kind.
A good environment doesn’t guarantee success.
But a bad one makes failure easier.
Kinda missed the mark on the "Cost of your time" part. Dan Kennedy has a much better and more precise approach to this - highly recommend to anyone seeing this comment grab his book "No BS Time Management"