My Favorite Purchases of 2023
Happy New Year! I was reflecting on purchases that have really made my life easier and I decided to share a list. Please keep in mind that a lot of these items have affiliate links, but I am not recommending anything that is trash. Last year is when I really tried to hone down on the things I liked and needed. I successfully completed three months of no-spend during the summer, and it really helped me to reduce my consumerism. I even narrowed down and assessed the products I currently have which really helped me reduce buying things I already had.
1. Walking Treadmill Pad
I notice that a lot of people buy things with h opes that it will cause a lifestyle change or cause them to actually use it or need it. One of my favorite purchases is my walking treadmill. I go on walks daily, but it’s hard to do if the weather is bad, it’s too cold outside, or if I’m pressed for time. Since purchasing it, I use it almost daily especially when I am doing menial tasks at work, or to start or finish my day with some extra steps. I purchased mine from Amazon after a lot of comparative shopping. I purchased the one with the incline, but I honestly don’t use it that often. I plan to use the feature more in order to help strengthen my leg muscles, but to save money, I would suggest the one without the incline. No matter which one you choose to order, make sure you get the $60 off coupon.
Before buying this treadmill, it was really tough to get in my daily five miles, but now it’s really easy. I will watch an episode of Desperate Housewives or watch YouTube videos while walking and time will fly by and I will have walked two miles.
Towards the latter part of the year, I started to really struggle with breakage and damaged, split ends. I got most of the split ends and breakage cut off in November, but I’m due for another one soon. I mentioned more of my reasoning in this video. I decided to forego wash and gos and curl cuts, to focus on getting all of the damage cut off from my hair in it’s stretched state.
I initially purchased this from Sephora and got it for 20% off during the Beauty Insiders sale in November, but… I ended up returning it and purchased it directly from Pattern after receiving an email for an even bigger discount. I’m on a budget, I have to save where I can.
I purchased the blow dryer for two reasons. The first was because it was designed with curly, coily, and kinky hair in mind. The second was because of the brush attachment. The brush attachment is perfect. It was hard for me to hold a brush and the blow dryer at the same time, and the brush attachment eliminates the issue altogether.
I am very particular about how I wash and dry my clothes. I now have access to a two-in-one washer and dryer, and honestly it is not the best for taking care of clothes properly due to the fact that it steams to dry your clothes which can cause a lot of shrinkage. I have always imagined that I would have clothes line once I bought a house, but in the meantime I have found great use out of a portable clothes drying rack.
This rack has been especially great for my knits and linens. One suggestion I do have is to use a fabric spray because sometimes the clothes can smell like “outside.” Also, it is helpful to shake out your clothes to prevent stiffness. In addition to this, do not overuse laundry detergent. This can wear down the fibers in your clothes, and it’s a waste of product. Personally, I love to add vinegar to my laundry.
Be careful when putting and taking down this clothes rack. Make sure all of the corners are bent as they can fold the wrong way. It will still be usable though.
I met with a nutritionist earlier this year and they didn’t recommend that I use a food scale for reasons around possibly becoming too restrictive. I thought long and hard about the decision, but I ended up purchasing one anyway and I gave her my explanations. The biggest thing for me was to learn portion control along with intuitive eating. I was born and raised in the South, and still live here currently so I did not grow up with the best representation of portions while eating out. I also work with a personal trainer and I need to track my protein. Using this food scale has really helped me to understand food better and what my body needs. If you enjoy baking, this is a great tool to have in your kitchen.
I love the fact that this scale is rechargeable. It is so annoying to have to keep swapping out and remembering to buy the batteries.
To reiterate, having to remember to rebuy batteries before your devices goes dead can be very annoying and I keep them stocked. I decided to look into a rechargeable body weight scale and I found just what I was looking for, and ultimately it has saved me time and money.
If weighing yourself negatively impacts you, I do not recommend purchasing a scale or weighing yourself.
Personally, I weight myself daily and I find that it helps me to understand that the body fluctuates and that it is not beneficial to hold yourself to a single number. Honestly, the data is really interesting and sometimes surprising.
The app for the scale is great. I do track my weight using Happy Scale. It’s great for looking at your moving average for the week, and for seeing when you may hit a goal if that is the route you are taking.
6. Dog Water Fountain and Food Bowl
My dog loves to drink out of the faucet or hose outside during the summer. He does not play with toys or eat dog treats, so I find different ways to spoil him.
He loves this dog food bowl and water fountain combination. You can remove the waterfall so that it just pools. It holds a lot of water so I have to refill every few weeks, but the water stays clean due to the filter! Make sure that you have a backup water bowl, because this is powered electrically. If the power goes out, you will be out of luck.
The maintenance is pretty easy. You can wipe the food side clean and when the water runs out (it will turn red), you can do a deeper clean with soapy water.
If your dog enjoys the finer things like Maverick, I suggest you try this out if you are looking for an upgrade or getting a new bestie.
These are just a few items, but I have thoroughly enjoyed them and am looking forward to continue to use them in 2024. I hope to continue to make conscious purchases and use the things I already have instead of over consuming. It will be fun to see how much money I save as a bonus.
Happy New Year, again!