I carted home plenty o’ gems over the past twelve months, but these stand out as the finest, most worthy purchases— arranged by price and chronology:
Back in January 2009, I threw down $80 for a pair of these ultra-flexible gloves-for-feet. FAR too expensive for my lifestyle, but so surprisingly comfortable that I almost feel okay about the price. (Almost.) (Well, maybe not.)
More important than the shoes themselves is the paradigm shift they caused; after one afternoon wearing Fivefingers, I was a changed woman. To think that only a year ago I was wrecking my legs in tottering platform heels. Ha! What fools these mortals be!
Queen-sized Bed
Last July, my friend Sophia sold me a queen-sized frame, mattress, box spring, AND set of sheets… for $40. Prior to this deal, Mr. Jaunty and I had been sleeping on his futon mattress, which was… austere? Ascetic?
HARD. The futon mattress was hard. The big ol’ Queen bed is non-hard, plus I can STEP out of bed in the morning instead of hauling myself up from ground level. We be movin’ on up!
Colored Pencils
Color is the ultimate cheap thrill. Blue skies and autumn leaves are free for the asking. A bright red coat won’t cost any more than a black one, so why not live a little?
Life was looking pretty blah in October 2009, so I bought a package of fifty Crayola colored pencils. This purchase set me back about about $6, and I consider it a steal. Now I color my day-planner and to-do lists, I sketch my fantasy wardrobe, and liven up my correspondence. Money well spent.
What’s the wisest/coolest investment you made in 2009? Any exceptional bargains or indulgences you’ve delayed for years?
Popcorn airpopper! I bought it yesterday. I wanted one my entire time at BYU, didn’t even consider getting one while in Russia, stole my parents’ for the brief stint I was in the States and finally paid the €22 for one yesterday in the same store at which I discovered I can get popcorn kernels for €1.50. My life is complete.
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I have a really comfy chair in my apartment that I purchased for $10 at biglots… yes, i need a pillow to have enough back support… but hey! it sure looks great!
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Those foot gloves are absolutely amazing.
Top purchase for 2009: iPhone. I held off for a long time because I didn’t want to get roped into a contract, but I finally gave in and it’s been so worth it. It’s like a handheld computer with a phone thrown in. I’m blown away by the ability to check e-mail, browse the net, and resolve disputes with Wikipedia anywhere.
Runners-up: Leather jacket from Temple of Jawnz and my brown Allen Edmonds.
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Mmmmm….best investment of 2009 is probably the flock of chickens. I may never eat a pale, watery, weak-shelled insipid grocery store egg again.
Aside from egg quality when I go outside and 18 chickens come rushing up to me in fond hopes that I’m bringing them a treat I feel really good about their happy little farm life, as opposed to say a battery hen living out her life in a wire crate among thousands of other hen-packed crates.
Also, chickens are funny, and funny is good.
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oneup – Good move! I’ve just started popping corn on the stovetop, but an oil-free option would be much better. Popcorn is one of the ultimate small pleasures.
Dylan G – Ten bucks for a chair? Nifty!
Pravit – All good things. Ian just got an iPod Touch, and I think he’s in love.
mum – Livestock! Bold choice.
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Yay! I’m glad my bed made you so happy!!! I’d have to say my new car is the best purchase…though, technically, that was made by my parents. The best purchase that *I* made was of a digital voice recorder. :D
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I’m a bargain-hunting thriftster! I have made so many responsible and dirt-cheap purchases this year it boggles the mind! My current favorite is the amazing 70s sofa Jay bought for my sick-and-exhausted pregnant carcass to loll around on. Best present ever!
It’s brown, lime green, and orange plaid, itchy woolly cloth, huge bolsters in lieu of a back… With God as my witness, I’ll never be Futoned again!
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Rebekah Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 4:53 AM
Are you sure you’re not getting morning sickness from that sofa’s color scheme?
I’m rolling in secondhand clothes. Mall prices terrify me.
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