The 13 Best Things I Ever Bought
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This is the fourth episode of our special 6-part capsule series, The Grown Woman’s Guide To Life. Hosted by TFD founder Chelsea Fagan, this series is all about navigating your 30s with style and grace — financially and otherwise. In this episode, Chelsea breaks down the 13 best purchases she ever made and how they changed her life.
LINKS:
-Register for our How To Build Wealth masterclass:
-Video breaking down Chelsea's home buying journey:
-Kelly Cutrone's episode of The Financial Confessions:
The Financial Diet site:
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My Air fryer, best purchase ever!
My best purchases were my house, anything for my garden, adopting my 4 cats, and my camera.
I regret to inform that our Peloton has literally changed my life for the better. Spouse spent years convincing me, and I can’t believe I resisted so hard. I’m 35 and have never been this mobile, healthy, or energized.
I really like these old style tfd video format
My ninja combi. It has cut my cooking time in half and I barely use my stove now. When it dies I’m 100% investing in another one or something else similar.
Thank you for talking about how grateful you are to have chose community college instead of taking out burdensome loans. 🙂
Hey Chelsey, cis straight male in his 30s here, Immigrant and POC, your advice has helped me a lot your main audience is women but I think everyone coming to the US should listen to it.
Yeah, I’m a guy in my 30’s too and this place has the best financial advice on the internet. Money advice targeted to men tends to be insane macho nonsense about day trading crypto or something, so Chelsea’s grounded, well informed advice is much needed. I’ve struggled with my lack of financial literacy and this place gives me advice and insight that I’d struggle to find of my own.
Maybe my ADHD is flaring up really bad. But I feel like I’m hearing your 13 favorite things you bought are actually the services & stories of others & aren’t “things” at all! This is the best lesson I’ve ever received about investing in EACH OTHER. This is the type of reshaping my finances truly need. THANK YOU!❤
Great video, Chelsea! I have been investing in swimming lessons for the past 6 months and it has absolutely changed my life and the perception I had of myself. Absolutely agree with your point on language learning. I would add that any expense associated with nurturing meaningful friendships is money well spent.
My dogs, home, camera, kindle, lasik eye surgery and air fryer have been wonderful investments for me 🙂
1:50 – LLC for The Financial Diet
3:32 – An investment account
4:49 – Mona 🐶
7:20 – Kelly Cutrone Memoir “If you have to cry, go outside”
10:42 – Staub Dutch oven
13:12 – Language tutor (Spanish)
17:01 – Financial Advisor (particularly for timeline strategies)
18:35 – Anne Rundel Community College
22:03 – Repairing Clothes and Furniture
24:08 – Accutane
25:53 – Pilates instructor
28:12 – Second Hand Furniture
31:09 – Her home 🏠
thank you!
LASIK! Getting my sight back after 17 years of gradual decline – probably my best personal investment.
Spending $3K on a cross country drive with my mom.
Buying my first 2 investment properties at $10K each in the South Side of Pittsburgh! I can’t believe such prices existed 10 years ago and I remember haggling!
Currently saving for my most important purchase : a 1 bedroom flat in Edinburgh, Scotland. ❤
Other best purchases : all the travelling I did in my 20s, a vacuum robot, second hand gold jewellery I never take off.
I am so excited for you and saving for Edinburgh ❤ I will be traveling there next year. Good luck!!!
I would say my best purchases were: 1. the sectional for my living room – it was hella expensive, but I LOVE it. Cost per use is now about a penny at this point 2. Rice cooker – same story, cost per use is pennies at this point 3. Therapy – it’s a ton of work and over the years I’ve probably paid a good chunk of money for it, but it has done so much 4. My car – wish I didn’t have to have it but public transportation is nonexistent where I live. I saved up for over a year to pay cash for a slightly older gently used car. I have no payments and I’m driving it until the wheels fall off 😊 5. Dining room table – i didn’t have one for a long time and I resisted getting one for awhile – bought it secondhand at an antique store. Love it for having friends for dinner, board games, crafting, all sorts. 100% worth it
I work from home so a good office chair was worth it
my best thing i ever bought: a dietitian for my acne and other health problems. I did not lose weight, because it was not the goal. Thank you Chelsea and the team of TFD for your great work over the years.
I love this prompt. I am 29, I grew up so much in my 20s so far. I got a driving instructor and got my license. My IUD. Proper running shoes, thank you Asics! Got fitted for a bra, thank you Knix! My kobo ebook, what a win. And for a short stint i got a personal trainer, worth it, shoutout to lifelong gym skills!
Totally agree with community college! I started off there, worked, went back for my Bachelor’s & then Masters, worked in between and had my employers help pay for both and never had to pay student loans. Most people I know/friends with have stupid student loan debt, insane amounts that would drive me into a constant state of anxiety (Which I luckily do not suffer from). They also are not making up for it in salary. Also agree with saving up for quality anything & buying gently used items. The more money I’ve made as time goes on, the more conscious I am of spending.
1. My cat for sure, it showed me that i could care for somthing else and be more emotionally available. Be more kind, open, and learn about myself.
2. Therapy. Its pretty new to me but already I have made some progress. Should I have gone years ago? Absolutely. If i hadn’t hit rock bottom, I wouldnt have gone though. Its a step for me to address issues and be the person i want to be. It can be expensive and painful but i think its worth it.
3. An Instant Pot! When I’m busy or on call, it gives me no excuse to not cook healthy meals for cheap. You can literally do it all. Braise meat, makes soups, make yogurt, bonebroth, even veggie dishes and eggs! You have to be safe with it but it isnt bad and i recommend one to everyone. P.S. Get an older one. Yes the new ones are cool but the old ones are eay cheaper and made to last
My house and having cats long term. More recently the additional day off a week.
Things that aren’t exactly purchases but that benefit my life without hitting my finances have been the local library (both in person and app), being careful with streaming services, chrap but utilised gym membership and making the pledge to buy (quality) clothes second hand almost exclusively.