11 Things to Spend Money on and Make Your Life Better

Updated · Jul 20, 2022

We spend most of our days working and our free time thinking about how to earn more and save money.

So, when we have money to spend, we don’t want to waste them.

To help you find something meaningful things to spend money on, we put this list together.

Read on and find a way to reward yourself for all the hard work.

1. Invest in Learning and Development

If you’re wondering, “What should I spend my money on?”, “Yourself” is usually the best answer. It’s your money—you can do whatever you want with it.

But if you invest it in your future, you’ll get returns. That’s why one of the best things to do is to invest in learning and development.

Whether it’s for your job or a hobby, or a new skill you want to learn, you’ll get the satisfaction of working on yourself.

Additionally, acquiring new skills will make you a more valuable employee and improve your career prospects.

Ultimately, this is one of the best things to spend your money on, as it will help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

2. Invest in Your Ventures

Following that line of thought, investing in your own ventures is a great way to spend money to make money. Whether you have a hobby you want to take on or a business idea you want to develop, invest in it.

Who knows? That might be the thing that will bring your money in the future. Even if it doesn't, it's a pleasurable experience you can give yourself.

If you fail, you will learn valuable lessons. And if you succeed, the rewards will be greater than any day job or object could bring you.

In case you need inspiration for an activity, here's our list of fun things that pay you money.

3. Invest in Your Relationships

Strong relationships can provide love and support, which are essential for a happy and fulfilling life.

That said, like everything else, they require work to maintain. It can be easy to forget that as life gets busy. But shared moments with our loved ones are the most precious gift.

So, instead of buying something just for yourself, think about what to spend money on together with your loved ones.

4. Give to Others

When you make a habit of giving to others, you get longer-lasting happiness. You start to appreciate what you have and develop empathy for others.

That’s not just advice about how to spend money selflessly. It’s a clever trick to make yourself happy by helping others.

Giving boosts our self-confidence and creates a sense of meaning. It also brings us into contact with people who care about the same things as us.

5. Buy More Time

There are some things in life that we have to do but don't enjoy. Luckily, there’s a simple solution. You can pay someone else to do them.

That way, instead of buying things to feel better, you buy time to do the things you love.

Do you hate doing chores? Hire someone to help you out.

Our time is precious and limited. We should spend it doing the things we like with the people we love as much as we can.

6. Spend Without Guilt

Some people feel bad when they’re buying things—even things they really need or want. If this is you, you should learn how to spend without guilt.

Take a day off work without calculating how much you would’ve earned in the meantime. Give yourself permission to buy something just because you want it.

You can do it as a reward for reaching a milestone in your savings goals, career, or personal life, and budget for it in advance. That way, you won't feel like you're wasting money.

7. Buy Experiences, Not Things

People derive more happiness from experiences than from things. So, instead of buying things that are worth a lot of money—go on trips, try new activities!

The happiness from shopping fades quickly. However, an experience is something you remember for a long time and can look back on with fondness.

The social component of experiences is another reason why they make us happier than things. Doing something with others creates a sense of connectedness that no object can replace.

The science of why you should spend your money on experiences is that this prolongs your pleasure.

For example, if you book a trip ahead in the future, you create a period of anticipation. That way, you enjoy the experience even before it happens.

8. Invest in Your Physical Health

Your health is one of the most important things in your life. Whether you like it or not, you have to invest in it to maintain it.

You can eat healthy, exercise, and get regular check-ups. These aren’t exactly fun things to spend money on, but they’re necessary.

When we're healthy, we feel full of energy, confident, and self-assured. That gives us the energy to do the things we enjoy.

9. Invest in Your Mental Health

Your mental health is just as important as your physical well-being.

A great way to invest in yourself is to start seeing a therapist. This can help you work through your problems and give you the tools to cope with stress and anxiety.

Ultimately, investing in your psychological well-being will make you more resilient, so you can deal with the challenges in your work and personal life.

So, spending money to improve your mental health is one of the best ways to invest in yourself.

10. Buy Quality Items for the Things You Like to Do

Sometimes, instead of asking, "What should I spend my money on?" ask yourself, "What do I want to spend them on?".

Is beauty important to you? Great, set a bigger budget for beauty products and nice clothes.

Do you go hiking often? Spend money on quality equipment.

Do you want to lie in bed watching movies? Get a good home theater system.

These are some of the best purchases to improve your quality of life. After all, that's what brings you pleasure. The least you can do is to do it right.

11. Put Your Money Where Your Time Is

If you travel a lot, make sure your car is safe and comfortable. That way, you'll feel rested after traveling and have more energy for other things.

Do you work from home? Optimize your working environment. This will help you feel more comfortable and productive.

Even if you’re on a tight budget, you need to save up for these things. Most budgeting systems don’t classify them as essential spending categories, but they’re important to you.

After all, that’s how you spend most of your time. You need to ensure it’s pleasant and not something you can’t wait to end.

Wrap Up

There are many things to spend your money on and nothing wrong with shopping.

But by investing in yourself and buying experiences rather than objects, you can improve your quality of life while doing what you love.

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Aleksandra Yosifova
Aleksandra Yosifova

With an eye for research, Aleksandra is determined to always get to the bottom of things. If there’s a glitch in the system, she’ll find it and make sure you know about it.