"There's Such A Dramatic Difference": 15 Things People Swear Are Worth Spending A Little Extra Money On (2024)

There are just certain items in life that are worth spending the extra money on — if you're able to afford to. The good people of the BuzzFeed Community shared things they personally think are worth buying the expensive version of — so I rounded up some of them below.

Rosanna Pansino

1. "Anything having to do with sleep. In the past five years, I have bought so many pillows because I have issues with my neck. The last one was $40, and I said that was as much as I was going to spend on a pillow. I took my grandson out shopping for a new bed, and he insisted I try this pillow. OMG! Yes, I bought it, and it was originally $200, but it was on sale for President's Day for $165. My sleep is still kind of intermittent, but it is not because of my neck."

Frank Rothe / Getty Images

—talliloo

2. "Pure merino wool long underwear. It's the best life hack if you live in a cold or snowy climate. Ooof, it's expensive, but all of a sudden, everything outside is possible again because you might get cold — but you're never freezing."

—cazculhane

3. "My husband and I moved into our first house at 27 and said that was the last time we would do the moving by ourselves. Five years later, we bought the house we're in and hired movers. Expensive and 1,000% worth it."

4. "This is going to sound bonkers, but hear me out — an electric massage chair, like the Sharper Image kind. I bought ours from Menards for, like, $800. It seems like a lot, but ours has paid for itself many times over. I used to have to choose between a chiropractor appointment about once every four days or chronic pain. Same with my husband. I use it almost daily, and I’ve never felt better. You can sometimes pick up a used one for much cheaper on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist also."

—colorandfury

5. "I grew up in a household where mental health and therapy were scoffed at. I was told, 'I'd get over it.' Took me years to undo this way of thinking and book me an appointment. It's pricey, yes, but you can't put a price on something as critical as your mental health and self-care."

—ravenbard

6. "Paper products. I’m a cheapskate and will always buy the store brand except when it comes to paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper. There is such a dramatic difference that it’s worth it."

7. "Rubber boots. Made the investment in Hunter boots four years ago, and every winter, I have dry feet."

—sweety7946

8. "Invest in your future self. Roth IRA is a good start, but try to save a bit of money out of each paycheck. I always move whatever money is left in my checking account to my savings account each pay period. I wish I learned this sooner, but it’s really important. Take classes for yourself, too. I recently took a scuba class, and now, I’m certified to dive. Woohoo! Take cooking classes, yoga, and pottery. Whatever piques your interest and can benefit you later in life, too."

—hannahsolo

9. "Braces. I originally wanted to get rid of my beaver-like two front teeth, but braces also helped my bite, reduced my headaches — and if you grind your teeth at night, it’s a free guard."

10. "A good generator. We live in the mountains and occasionally lose power. The previous owners installed a great generator hookup so that it powers the whole house with the flip of a switch. We invested in a nicer generator, and it's amazing. You can hook it up to your propane tank or just use gas (keep gas cans for backups). But seriously, if you live in an area where you know you'll lose power a few times a year (or more), I cannot stress this investment enough."

—taylora4e62a0521

11. "Invest in real linen sheets. (Quince sells relatively affordable ones). Without them, I would never be able to sleep when it's hot. Routine car maintenance. Good shoes and good socks — especially if you're on your feet for hours at a time."

—losfrangeles

12. "For me, it’s a good water filter. Pitcher style, under sink system, or even whole house, there are plenty of options, but either way, don’t just go cheap because water is essential to life, and plastic bottles add up to a lot of trash and a lot more money. I have a reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink and a Pur lead reduction pitcher for camping, you can literally tell the difference in taste compared to the water from our fridge filter or taps."

13. "Definitely jeans. I used to buy cheap pairs that would wear out on the inner thigh within a few months, so I’d have to buy multiple pairs a year. I then bought some Levi’s on a trip to the States. I now pay the extra price for them back home as they last so much longer than my cheaper ones."

—kerryb4e7ff4e7a

14. "Tires. Made a world of difference when the weather was bad."

—funkmistress

15. "When I pick up my new glasses at Walmart, they always offer me a protection plan for an extra $20–$30. While it’s not my favorite thing to pay for, being that I’ve just spent $400–$500 on the glasses themselves, it’s so worth it! Last time, about a year after I got my glasses, the arm snapped off in a way that wasn’t repairable. I took them to Walmart, and they completely replaced them without me shelling out a single extra dime."

Is there anything that you think is worth investing money in? Share it with me in the comments below!