Readers Share Their “Best” Purchases—And They’re Not What You’d Expect!

Sure, buying a big-ticket item like a house or a car is wonderful. But often, the “best” purchases aren’t the ones that cost a fortune. They’re the things that make you smile or even beam with pride when you think about them, and chances are, you love talking about the reason why with anyone who will listen.

That was certainly the case when we asked readers to share the best things they ever bought. Their answers did not disappoint! We heard about heartwarming holiday gifts, small purchases that resulted in huge (and unexpected) dividends, and items that became surprisingly sentimental over the years.

Get ready to smile, laugh and even tear up a little with these true tales of money well spent—and then think about which of your purchases have become gifts that keep on giving.

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Deep pockets

One Christmas, my wife, who seldom wears jewelry, wanted diamond earrings as her gift. I obliged but figured the little box would ruin the surprise, so I bought an inexpensive fleece jacket at a farm supply store and put the earring box in the pocket. On Christmas morning, she raved about the jacket as she tried it on. My daughter had to ask her how she liked the pockets. She was thankful to receive the earrings and wears them a few times a year. But the jacket is nearly worn out. —Rick Craiger, Summerville, Oregon

Best truck for your buck

My neighbor was upgrading to a bigger truck, so I took his little pickup off his hands. It had 100,000 miles and several scratches on it. But it rumbled along as I commuted to my second job so my wife could chauffeur the kids in our van. It brought loads of soil when we started a garden to keep our spirits up during COVID-19, and barrels of water to keep it alive during drought. It carried me to Los Angeles to bring my mom to chemotherapy appointments (and later, home to live with us). It hauled my kids’ boxes when they moved out. It was the quiet hero of our household, but it came time to pass it along. A neighbor kid was learning to drive, so I sold it to his family at a discount. I knew I had already gotten more than its worth. —Mike Smith Elk, Grove, California

Frozen assets

I once bought a chest freezer for $250 because the store was giving away free airfare with purchase and I wanted to visit my sister. The freezer has gone through 16 moves, functioned in temperatures as high as 130 degrees and as low as minus 40 degrees, and even tumbled out of a pickup truck and down a hill. It’s never given me a ­problem—and I got to fly from Wisconsin to Colorado to see my sister all those years ago. —Diane Tegtman Hughes, Athens, Tennessee

My pal Joe

A decade ago, I stayed in a hotel room that didn’t have a coffee maker. They sold cups of coffee for $4 in the lobby, but I’m a four-plus cup per day drinker (it’s my only vice!). I went out and bought instant coffee and a $20 hot water pot to sustain me through the trip. I’ve used that pot every day since­—easily over 10,000 times. —Edwin Niemeier, Lacey, Washington

Next, we fly private

My husband and I pride ourselves on spending as little as possible. But we both developed knee problems, and we were so cramped on a flight to Europe that we wasted several days recovering. Since then, Mike has convinced me to splurge on business class so we can lie down. It has transformed travel for us. Now we’re ready to go as soon as we hop off the plane—ahead of everyone else! —Denise Kalm Walnut, Creek, California

Thank you, public broadcasting

In 1962, I was given a used typewriter as a young woman and decided to learn to use it. Our local PBS station in Pittsburgh offered a free course a few nights per week. I bought the accompanying $10 book with “homework” to aid learning, practiced faithfully and watched each and every episode.  What a bargain—for $10, I got a life skill that serves so many purposes. Like typing this message. —Marilyn Burney, Hampton, Virginia

Sew fashionable

I immigrated to the United States from the Philippines and began working at a hospital in Minnesota. I had no warm clothes, and everything cost so much more than I was used to spending. I bought a sewing machine, patterns and fabric and began making my own ­outfits—even formal wear. When I married and had kids, I made their clothes as well. The sewing machine was always on the table and ready for use, so my oldest daughter began using it too. She went on to graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. And I still sew with the machine today. —Fidelita Levy, Alexandria, Virginia

A gift you open again and again

I took my therapy dog to a local elementary school so fifth graders could read to her. As the holidays neared, I asked a teacher if $5 for each student could get them a book at the book fair. She said definitely—and that most of the kids had never owned a new book. So I gave all the fifth graders, about 80 kids, $5 for the fair. It made my heart happy and my holidays special to aid in their reading journeys. —Donna Dawicki, Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Expand the band

I met my wife in a meadow in the High Sierra region. She was backpacking, and I was working for the U.S. Forest Service. She wore a gold band on her pinkie that I later had expanded to fit her ring finger. We celebrated 50 years of marriage in May. Best $8 I ever spent. —Norman Allen,
Janesville, California

Even the label maker?

It’s not the best money I ever spent, but the best money my father did. My dad, James “Jimmy” LaPlante, grew up during the Great Depression, and he put his name on everything—tools, clothing, everything. It’s a wonder we didn’t have tattoos.
Dad showed his love by providing us with any tool we might need to repair a car, house, TV, you name it. He once gifted me a snowblower and a new 
furnace, both with my name on them. When he passed, my brother, my husband and I inherited his full inventory. Any time one of us uses his tools, we make it a point to say, “Thanks, Jimmy.” —Linda Margison, Albany, New York

Worth the hiked-up price

When my husband and I were newlyweds, we scrimped and saved for months to visit the Grand Canyon. We decided to hike a more challenging trail than the one we had originally planned, and my hole-filled sneakers weren’t going to hold up. I reluctantly bought a pair of boots from the park store that cost more than $100. But would you believe that, 25 years later, those green hiking boots are still my go-to? I’ve walked dogs and babies, shoveled snow, built and rebuilt houses after hurricanes, and attended concerts and football games in them. Recently, one of my high school students complimented my boots, and I laughed and told him they’re older than he is. Guess the boots weren’t overpriced after all! —Paula Reynolds, Spring Branch, Texas

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