What is a 'buy it for life' item that is offensively expensive, but the moment you use it, you realize your entire life before that point was a lie?

i will save this thread for when i have money

The problem for me is that if I KNEW an expensive $50-$80 t-shirt, for instance, would last many years, I would definately buy it. Problem is I never know. Quality seems to be dying.

When I was the first child to graduate from college, I hoped to get a big gift from my parents. I really wanted a car. They gave me a Brother sewing machine. I was **so** disappointed! That was 50 years ago. I still have it and use it.

I bought an Aeron chair in 2013 and have used it pretty much every day since then. Apart from a little visible wear on the armrests, it looks and feels the same as the day I got it.

When I first moved out on my own, I needed a better vacuum. The dog shed, the vacuum I had was useless. My mom offered to buy me one and I sent her a few links for ones in the $150-$200 range. She bought me an $850 Miele canister. I was appalled by how expensive it was but she said you’ll spend more replacing the c**** ones than just having this one that can be repaired for life. Thing is an absolute beast and still going strong 15 years later.

Sonicare toothbrush. Not prohibitively expensive, but insane compared to a regular toothbrush. I go back to a regular toothbrush when I go camping, and I feel it.

My mum bought us a set of Meyer saucepans as a wedding present, at the time I didnt fully appreciate it and was underwhelmed (what a brat). Anyway, it was a set of 5, apparently normally priced at £1500, she got them in a sale and had been marked down a couple of times. She paid something around £500 in the end. Every pan I'd had prior to this had fell apart or warped or whatever and had to be thrown out. I have used one or more of those pans, pretty much every single day since. No word of a lie they still look spanking new. We have been married almost 30 years now. I have no doubt these pans will outlast everyone I know, and all eternity. Probably.

Almost 40 years ago I attended one of those horrific home cooking shows for cookware. I bought in, hook, line and sinker. As a single person, I spent nearly $2000 on Saladmaster pots and pans. They are surgical stainless steel. I am still cooking on them today and they still look the same as when I bought them. You can burn them black and they clean right up. Totally worth it even though I initially thought “what was I thinking?” My daughter will cook with these for here lifetime. Post edit: my 90 year old mother reminded me I bought her a set too. So I guess the price was closer to $1000 each. She also sold hers at a garage sale. Ugh

Very high quality mattress. Seems ridiculously expensive and frivolous, but sleep on it for a week and it’s quite possibly life changing (unless you’re 20 years old and can sleep on a pile of cow manure and still wake up refreshed)

Kitchenaid Mixer. I got mine in 1998 as a wedding present and it’s still going strong. Will probably outlive the marriage.

A Speed queen washer. I have four kids and do laundry constantly. They cost double what a good washer costs but they are as solid as a rock and have seven year warranties. I can't even tell you how many top brand washers I went through and how many times I had to fix them myself before we decided to spend the money and get a speed queen.

I'm on listnook sitting on a heated bidet seat. I always dismissed those bidet bros as silly, but it really does feel nice.

Proper 100% wool is so warm. I realized up until this point that all the blends or straight up polyester clothing were just for the vibes and not actually keeping you properly warm. When you frequent extremely cold areas…100% wool is the way to go. It’s just a pain to take care of but once you get used to washing it the right way it isn’t so bad.

Zojirushi rice cooker. A good knife is second but can be partially mitigated by learning how to sharpen.

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This might not be "for life" but... Costco/Restaurant Supply size Aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Even if youre single. Its better quality, easier to use packaging, last forever in household.

The whole buy once, cry once thing should really be taught more as a way of life. I know people who insist on buying c**** furniture saying the styles will change anyway and they would rather just buy new. After just a few years their furniture looks like c**** trash and mine still looks great and will last another 20 years. And in the end I have paid less.

For me it was a kindle paperwhite. This is not exorbitantly expensive to probably most people, but at the time it was to me. I get migraines from reading in low light, reading on iPhone screens, and can’t afford space for books or to own physical copies. Now I have access to thousands of library books on digital, and even splurged and got KU. I’m reading 20 or more books a month. I no longer watch TV, have reduced my migraines by half, and I’m actually enjoying my free time again! Buying something expensive to facilitate the thing that makes me most happy is something I will always make the money for.

This is listnook, so here is the list: 1. Bidet 2. Matress 3. Shoes and socks Honorable mentions: - Fancy knives and cookware in general

1. Winter jacket: Buy once, cry once. It will last you a lifetime if you buy a good one. Mine is going strong 20 years on, my mom's is turning 40 and still gets you super warm and repels water like the first day 2. Mattress: You spend a lot of time here, make it worthwhile. It will help with your health, and a proper one, if rotated accordingly, will last you several years. 3. A good vacuum+mop robot: The amount of time saved is incredible. Get one with proper mapping and good reviews, it will last several years and except for the occasional corner cleaning, your back will thank you profusely. Edit: So I don't have to answer all, here is a summary: For jackets, you can get a real leather+wool one. Keep it sealed, your grandkinds will be wearing it. Personally, I got a high end ski jacket from Billabong and my mom has one from Columbia. Someone on this thread said HH, I don't have that brand in my country, so I can't vouch for it. North Face is not good anymore, at least where I live, so avoid that one. Billabong was sold like 3 times, so I can't also vouch for them. Just ask on a skiing sublistnook and be willing to pay the price. You can get awesome deals out of season or in outlets. But overall, high end ski jackets last a really long time, they are very warm and are waterproof, see what you can get where you live. For mattress, there are mostly local brands in my country, so any recommendation would be useless. I can say that a very firm foam mattress is usually the best option for a healthier back (this is what all my family has now, back pain improved a lot). Rotate weekly or biweekly at most. Always use a cover and remember to vacuum it from time to time. For vaccuum+mop robots, I personally own a Xiaomi. Roborock are also solid. Roomba (iRobot) was also bought by a Chinese company last year, so I don't know about them anymore. Just check [https://www.listnook.com/r/RobotVacuums/](https://www.listnook.com/r/RobotVacuums/) and see what fits your needs and what you can find where you live. I could only find Xiaomi from the recommended brands, so that's what I got, and so did my friends, and we are all very satisfied. Good luck!

Not an item but a service, paying for movers

Knipex tools, everyone should own at least the Cobras or Pliers wrench.

Merino wool socks.

Toto Washlet Bidet. How did I go so long without it? A clean bum is a happy bum.

Just broadly speaking "a home gym." It's up to you what you need and how much you're going to spend, but a few thousand dollars of equipment can eliminate an entire lifetime's worth of trips to the gym. Totally worth it, imo, unless you go to the gym for reasons other than exercise.

For me, it was my Sleepnumber bed that we got like 15 years ago. Could’ve bought a used car with the amount of money that we spent on it, but it is the most valuable and worthwhile purchase of my life. I sleep better on this thing than I have my entire life anywhere else

Whole Home Solar

i’d say a high-end chef’s knife. like once you finally chop with a legit one, you’ll never want to go back to those cheapo ones. it makes cooking feel way more legit.

Espresso machine. Keurig can kick rocks.

Darn tough socks. $17 a pair is insane and never thought I would, so I asked for a pair for my birthday/Christmas and stocked up. At 6 pairs, I had to tell them to stop because I don’t need more. I can wear them multiple days and they won’t sweat/stink. They hold up incredibly well for me.

Really good winter boots, I love my blundstones and I know they will wear out eventually, but living in a very cold climate has made me appreciative of high quality winter essentials

Bath sheets. Giant soft bath towels. Will never go back!

A Litter Robot. I bought a less expensive brand on Amazon that didn’t last. But not having to scoop a litter box ever again is heaven.

Old coworker told me “don’t c**** out on anything that comes between you and the floor. Tires, shoes, mattress. Gravity is undefeated.” have always thought of it since.

Vitamix blender.

Custom tailored suit. First time I understood that clothes off that quality not only look amazing, but actually make you feel amazing.

I inherited my mom’s (at the time) 15-year-old Miele vacuum. It’s now 27 years old and still going strong.

A Purple brand grid pillow. I mean not the most expensive thing ever by any means, but really expensive for a pillow but it's life changing.

Therapy

LASIK. Best $3,000 I ever spent.

Made to measure shoes and/or boots 

Whole home backup generator. 

Adult braces. Worth every penny.

For me it’s a proper home theatre system. It makes movie nights at home so much more enjoyable. Normal tvs just sound like trash. I couldn’t live without it. It is a luxury though.

A kitchenaid mixer and all the attachments. My husband is a 3 michelin star chef and he swears the space saving aspect alone makes cooking at home enjoyable. Pasta making attachment is fantastic. We process veggies, make dessert, bread...it's amazing and keeps our family from buying processed food.

Solar Panels

ThermoWorks Thermapen One

Recently we got a new washing machine. We have a large family so our washer and dryer get used heavily. At least one load of laundry every day of the week. With all the new 'features' and such I have been increasingly unhappy with the state of modern appliances. Last month we needed a new washer (again...) and decided to spring for a Speed Queen TC5. Mechanical controls, no lid lock. straightforward. Absolute tank. Does a load of laundry in less than 30 minutes. We love it. Should have gotten one earlier.