Some Things Are Definitely Worth Spending More Money On

December 8, 2020

It is known that being frugal is a virtue, as it will likely prevent us from falling into any financial trouble. But as always the case, too much of a good thing can also be harmful if taken to the extreme.

There will be times when it is wiser to spend more for quality over quantity. Consider it as a long-term investment. Although you are paying a higher upfront cost, you can get a better return on investment as you get to enjoy the benefits of your purchase for longer.

You may be splurging more in the short-run but getting more in the long-run. With that, let’s take a look at nine things you should almost always spend more on:

1. Food

As the saying goes: ‘you are what you eat.’
If you eat unhealthy food all the time, you are going to start feeling, looking and becoming unhealthy. This is largely because your energy, mood, health and well being are all affected by the food you eat.

According to Active Health, people who have a healthy and nutritious diet tend to:

Have a healthy body weight
Feel better about themselves
Have more energy for daily activities
Are less likely to develop conditions type-2 diabetes and heart disease
Have a stronger immune system
Enjoy better physical and mental health

Thus, it is worth paying a premium for fresh foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish etc. After all, health is wealth. If you are in the pink of health, you will not have to spend so much on healthcare costs.

2. Fitness

In a similar vein, you should spend more money on your fitness and exercise more. The benefits of eating healthy apply as well. In fact, both go hand in hand to improve your health and well being.

For starters, you can consider a personal trainer or get into a sport which you can see yourself doing as an everyday hobby. Sports like biking, martial arts, dancing, rock climbing, swimming etc. You don’t even have to sign up for a gym membership.

For example is engaging a Calisthenics (exercises that only rely on a person’s body weight) personal trainer who customises workouts and diet plans for him. The exercises can also be done almost anywhere, including spots like the fitness corner near your home.

3. Eyecare

Arguably, the most important sense is our vision. We take in the majority of our impressions through our sight. Also, if our other senses like smell or taste are not working well, we will have to rely on our sight to get us out of danger.

This is why it is definitely worth spending more to get the most comfortable pair of glasses or contact lenses, as we are using them for about 16 hours a day. If you wear glasses, you should go for the thinnest lenses with a scratch-proof and anti-reflection coating. The jury is still out on blue light lenses though.

If you wear contact lenses, get those with the latest breathable technology for the utmost comfort. And definitely do not wear your disposable contacts beyond their recommended use-by date.

Also, in sunny Cambodia, it is good to get sunglasses with strong UV protection.

4. Dental Care

Sadly we cannot grow back our teeth or gums. The adult teeth we have in our mouths are the only ones that we’ve got. This is why it is important for you to take care of your oral health by flossing and brushing at least twice a day, and visiting the dentist about twice a year.

I would recommend that you get an electronic toothbrush as studies are indicating that people who electric toothbrushes have healthier gums, less tooth decay and also keep their teeth for longer, compared with those who use a manual toothbrush.

5. Clothes And Shoes

As many famous figures like Mark Twain would attest:
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

Thus, instead of buying clothes and shoes that are of average quality, buy a few really good quality sets of clothes and shoes. Sure the upfront cost may be two or three times higher.

But, these quality items tend to be more comfortable, last longer and you will have less clutter in your house too.

6. Mattress

Sleep can be likened to meditation—both have strikingly similar benefits. A mattress can fit in as your meditation matt—but with 10 times the impact on your session.

To attain good quality sleep, according to sleep specialists, you need:

Your body to be well supported with no pressure points pressing against your pressure-sensitive parts while lying horizontal—hip, shoulder, ankle, and even ribs.
Your spine well aligned with the rest of your body and
Your body weight well distributed across your frame and sleeping surface

For the precious little sleep we have, investing in a better mattress just makes sense for our comfort and our health.
This is because a bad mattress can increase your stress levels; lead to back pain;, more snoring; and make you more susceptible to ailments linked to sleep deprivation.

7. Chair

With work from home arrangements becoming more widespread due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be spending more time sitting in front of the computer in your house. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been getting random back pain as I get older.

With a solid well designed ergonomic chair, the risk of back pain is greatly reduced as these chairs have a backrest that supports the natural curve of your spine. These ergonomic chairs offer support for the entire back and then some.

Some even recline for added comfort and relaxation.

8. Education

As Warren Buffett, arguably one of the world’s best investors has said:
“By far the best investment you can make is in yourself.”

Your energy and creativity would pay off a lot more if it was focused on building your career and your income, rather than optimising your investments. We are not saying that investing well is not important. But building your career and your income should be prioritised.

9. Time

Even though money can’t buy happiness, you can ‘buy’ back your time, reduce your stress levels and your time on the things that truly matter. Instead of saving money, you are saving time, which in my opinion is arguably more valuable.

How so?

Some examples include:

Expanding your Grab/TukTuk budget if you don’t own a car or motorcycle
Hiring a part-time cleaner or maid to help you with cleaning the house
Paying full retail price instead of spending hours hunting for deals on the internet
Eating out instead of cooking.

The list goes on.

If you are working hard like the majority of Cambodians, don’t feel too guilty about doing this. After all, time is our most valuable resource. Once it is gone, we cannot get it back.

Closing Thoughts

Although these things are generally good for most people, you have to think critically about splurging on these things as well.

What do I mean?

For some, taking up fitness classes, going for a regular massage, buying an ergonomic chair or travelling with a purpose to learn of foreign cultures is considered splurging.

A good rule of thumb to determine what you should splurge on is to find something that is important and give value to you. More importantly, it must not exceed your budget.

When you ‘splurge’ in this manner, paying more than average is considered cost-efficient.