10 Things That Are Actually Worth It

my take on the trend

There’s this trend going around on TikTok where people list things that are “actually worth the money,” and Ive been recording a video all week but I am finding it hard to show my face rn soooo let us do a written one:)))

These aren’t necessarily the flashiest things I’ve spent money on, but they’re the things that, for me at least, have had the biggest payoff. Some of them save me time, some make my life easier, and some just make me feel like I’ve got my life a little more together than I actually do. There is no particular order except for number 1 haha.

1. Education

I’m putting this first because I don’t think anything else comes close. People like to debate whether university is “worth it” these days, and I understand why. It’s expensive, and there isn’t one path that’s right for everyone. But I’m talking about education more broadly. Learning something that stretches your brain is almost never a waste of time. Whether that’s a degree, a certification, a language, or teaching yourself something because you got curious one random Tuesday night, it’s one of the few investments that compounds forever. Nobody can take what you know away from you, and more often than not, what you know opens doors before who you know ever gets the chance.

2. Brazilian waxes

This one might divide people, but I stand by it.

They’re not cheap, and they’re definitely not relaxing, but once I started getting them, I realized how much I liked doing it. There’s something really nice about doing something that is entirely for you. Not because anyone else notices, not because someone told you to, but because you like how it makes you feel. For me, Brazilian waxes fall into that category. They make me feel put together in a way that’s hard to explain. Do I wish they cost less? Absolutely. Do I still think they’re worth it? Also yes.

No one really expects me to get one, but because I like how I feel afterwards. Sometimes spending money on yourself isn’t about practicality. It’s just about feeling good in your own skin, and I don’t think we should feel guilty for that.

3. A good credit card

I wish more people talked about credit cards without making them sound either terrifying or like free money. A credit card isn’t good because it lets you spend money you don’t have. It’s good because, if you’re disciplined, it helps you build a credit history while earning points on things you were going to buy anyway. Pay it off every month, don’t treat it like extra income, and it’s one of the easiest financial habits you can build in your twenties.

4. Tea (I collect tea:)

This is such a small thing, but I don’t think it’s really about the tea. It makes me feel at home. I just love having something warm in my hands while I’m reading, studying, or winding down at the end of the day. It’s become part of a routine that tells my brain it’s okay to slow down for a bit. It also makes for a great conversation starter.

5. A passport that actually gets used

A passport sitting in a drawer doesn’t really do much for you. Every time I’ve travelled, I’ve come back seeing the world a little differently. Sometimes it’s something big, like realizing how differently people live. Other times it’s something tiny, like discovering that another country has figured out public transport way better than everyone else.(I will one day live in a city with great public transport, mark my words.) Either way, travel has a funny way of making your own world feel both bigger and smaller at the same time.

6. A music subscription

I know everyone has very strong opinions about this one. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music... use whatever makes you happy. (Apple Music lowkey has better sound quality, but I digress.)

I don’t think I could go back to not having one. Music is woven into almost every part of my day. I listen to it while I’m cleaning, walking, cooking, studying, getting ready in the morning, etc etc. If you ever catch me without headphones on, it’s probably because I forgot them at home (and yes, wired headphones for the win)

The thing I love most about music is that it remembers things for you. I’ll hear a song and instantly be transported back to a specific season of my life. There are songs that remind me of Uganda, songs that remind me of high school, songs that remind me of people I haven’t spoken to in years. It’s like each chapter of my life accidentally got its own soundtrack. For the price of one coffee a month, I get unlimited access to millions of songs. That’s a pretty good deal if you ask me.

7. Sunscreen

I just think sunscreen is one of those boring habits that you’ll either be grateful you started early, or wish you had. It’s not glamorous, nobody compliments you on wearing SPF 50, but it’s probably one of the easiest things you can do for your skin that actually makes a difference years later. I dont really want skin cancer, do you?

8. A really good pillow

I never understood why people spent money on pillows until I bought a decent one.You spend about a third of your life asleep (or at least attempting to be), so waking up without a sore neck every morning is honestly worth paying for. There are some things that are worth buying once instead of replacing every year because you bought the cheapest option. (replace your pillows every year people, great pillow or not)

9. Good people

This one isn’t something you can buy, but if I left it off the list it would feel weird. The people who celebrate your wins without making them about themselves, the friends you can call when life falls apart, the mentors who answer your questions even though they’re busy. This is the investment we all should be making. I think life gets a lot easier when you’re surrounded by people who genuinely want good things for you.

10. Therapy... or whatever helps you process life

For some people that’s therapy. For someone else it’s journaling, prayer, running, talking to a friend, or going on ridiculously long walks. I don’t think the method matters as much as actually dealing with your emotions instead of pretending they’re not there. Life is hard enough without carrying around things you’ve never unpacked. I highly recommend talk therapy. It has gotten me through some of the hardest times of my life.

I’m sure if I wrote this again in ten years, half the list would be different. But here are 10 things I think are deffos worth it. Might do a part 2:)