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17 “Big Money” Splurges That Are Actually Worth Your Money

Updated on August 25, 2025 by TMM Staff · Lifestyle

A person's hand holding a fan of hundred-dollar bills.
©Jonathan Borba/Unsplash.com

Every now and then, a big purchase just feels like the right move. Maybe it’s a little reckless, maybe it makes your bank account whimper for a week, but deep down you know it’s worth it. That feeling of finally getting something you’ve been eyeing for ages is hard to beat. So, yeah, sometimes spending big is a solid choice.

Now, let’s be real. Not every expensive thing is going to change your life. But some? Some purchases hit the sweet spot between practical and indulgent. They bring comfort, convenience, or flat-out joy in ways that cheaper alternatives just can’t touch. Here’s a list of 17 splurges that actually deserve the money.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • 1. A top-notch mattress
  • 2. Noise-canceling headphones
  • 3. Quality luggage
  • 4. A reliable coffee machine
  • 5. A solid winter coat
  • 6. Professional-quality knives
  • 7. A good watch
  • 8. Tailored clothing
  • 9. A solid home tool set
  • 10. A high-quality mattress topper
  • 11. A sturdy pair of boots
  • 12. A stainless steel cookware set
  • 13. A quality leather recliner
  • 14. A quality leather wallet
  • 15. A high-end blender
  • 16. A standing desk
  • 17. A backyard grill setup

1. A top-notch mattress

A neatly made bed near a window with curtains.
©Ty Carlson/Unsplash.com

Sleep is the one thing you can’t shortcut. A cheap mattress makes mornings rougher than they need to be. Spending extra on one that supports your back and keeps you cool at night feels like a gift to your future self.

Waking up without aches or that weird neck kink? Worth every penny. It’s one of those upgrades you forget about until you crash somewhere else and wonder how you ever slept like that.

2. Noise-canceling headphones

A pair of black headphones on a white desk with a keyboard and mouse.
©Tomasz Gawłowski/Unsplash.com

Daily commutes, long flights, or even a bustling coffee shop become a personal bubble when good headphones shut out the chaos. It’s a whole vibe once you realize how much calmer life feels without constant noise.

They also make music sound… cleaner somehow. That little detail turns waiting at the airport or sitting through a train ride into a mini escape.

3. Quality luggage

A pair of black suitcases on a train platform.
©Levi Meir Clancy/Unsplash.com

Cheap suitcases fall apart at the first hint of rough handling. Spending on luggage built to last means smoother trips and fewer zipper-related meltdowns at baggage claim.

The wheels actually roll straight. The handles don’t stick. You stop dreading the whole packing ordeal because your gear finally does its job.

4. A reliable coffee machine

©Toa Heftiba/Unsplash.com

Cafe runs add up. Bringing that same energy home with a legit coffee maker saves cash in the long run and tastes better than a sad office brew.

Morning routines feel upgraded when your kitchen smells like freshly brewed coffee instead of burnt toast.

5. A solid winter coat

A clothing rack with various jackets and coats.
©Pablo Merchán Montes/Unsplash.com

A flimsy jacket in freezing weather is misery disguised as fashion. A well-made coat shields you from the cold without the bulk or the weird draft creeping in through the zipper.

Every snowy morning becomes less of a fight with the weather and more of a brisk, tolerable walk to wherever you’re headed.

6. Professional-quality knives

A wooden drawer with neatly arranged knives.
©Toby Hall/Unsplash.com

Cooking with dull knives is basically an arm workout you didn’t sign up for. A sharp, balanced set makes prep faster and kind of fun in a way you didn’t expect.

Suddenly, chopping onions doesn’t feel like a chore. It feels like you’re starring in your own cooking show minus the cameras and the stress.

7. A good watch

A close-up of a wristwatch with a blue dial.
©Camera No. 87/Unsplash.com

Phones tell the time, sure, but a good watch adds something extra. It says you care about the details without making a big deal out of it.

A well-made watch lasts for years and feels like more than an accessory. It ends up marking moments in your life every time you glance at your wrist.

8. Tailored clothing

A pair of mannequins dressed in stylish suits.
©Alexander Naglestad/Unsplash.com

Off-the-rack suits and dress shirts usually need a little help. Spending extra to get things fitted properly takes outfits from “fine” to “looking sharp” in no time.

Even casual clothes look better when they actually fit right. It’s the kind of difference people notice without knowing why.

9. A solid home tool set

©Louis Hansel/Unsplash.com

A real tool set makes small repairs, furniture assembly, and weekend projects simple instead of frustrating. Cheap random tools fall apart fast or never quite fit the job.

A sturdy set stays ready in the closet, saves last-minute trips to the store, and actually works when something breaks.

10. A high-quality mattress topper

A neatly made bed with a gray blanket and beige pillows.
©Slaapwijsheid.nl/Unsplash.com

Yes, the mattress matters. But so does the top layer where you actually sleep. A plush, breathable topper makes even a decent bed feel fancy.

That extra cushion turns regular nights into mini staycations. It’s like a hotel upgrade without leaving home.

11. A sturdy pair of boots

©Zac Wolff/Unsplash.com

Rain, snow, mud. You name it, good boots handle it. Cheap ones fall apart halfway through the season and leave your socks soaked.

The right pair keeps your feet warm and dry while surviving years of weather abuse. Suddenly, bad conditions feel like less of a battle.

12. A stainless steel cookware set

©semih Simsek/Unsplash.com

Those cheap pans? They warp, scratch, and leave you scraping eggs off the bottom like it’s a sport. A good stainless steel set changes everything. It heats evenly, cleans up without a fight, and it will still look solid years later.

Cooking actually feels easier when your gear doesn’t fall apart. Weekend pancakes flip better, steaks sear right, and you stop wondering why dinner never comes out like it should.

13. A quality leather recliner

©Julia Kutsenko/Unsplash.com

A long day just hits different when you have a real chair waiting for you. When you have a good leather recliner, it beats the couch every single time. It looks sharp, feels better the more you use it, and honestly might end up as your favorite spot in the house.

Game nights, movie marathons, even those accidental naps after work… they all feel way better when the chair feels like it was made for you.

14. A quality leather wallet

A brown leather wallet on a white surface.
©Josh Withers/Unsplash.com

Cheap wallets fall apart fast and make you dig for cards like you’re pulling raffle tickets. A well-made leather wallet keeps everything organized and feels better in your hand.

It breaks in over time too, getting that worn look that makes it feel personal instead of disposable.

15. A high-end blender

A blender on a kitchen counter with fruits and vegetables.
©Patrycja Jadach/Unsplash.com

Smoothies, soups, sauces, whatever ends up in it just works better with real power behind the blades. Weak blenders leave sad chunks floating around.

A strong one saves time and makes you feel like a kitchen pro every single time you use it.

16. A standing desk

A modern office setup with a standing desk and chair.
©TheStandingDesk/Unsplash.com

Long hours at a computer wear you down fast. A desk that adjusts to let you stand here and there makes workdays less draining.

Your back feels less like it aged five years after sitting through another marathon of emails and spreadsheets.

17. A backyard grill setup

A backyard grill with vegetables cooking and a fire on the side.
©Steffen Lemmerzahl/Unsplash.com

Summer afternoons get better instantly with a decent grill. Friends, family, neighbors. Everyone shows up when good food is involved.

Grilling outside beats standing over a stove inside. Plus, it makes you look like you know what you’re doing with a pair of tongs.

Lifestyle

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About TMM Staff

The Modest Man staff writers are experts in men's lifestyle who love teaching guys how to live their best lives.

If an article is published under TMM Staff, that means multiple writers worked on it. For example, sometimes several of us have experience with a certain brand, so we collaborate to publish a more thorough review.

Or, if an article was originally written by one person, but then it was updated by someone else, we'll re-publish it under TMM Staff.

Remember: all of our articles (including those below) are written by real people with decades of combined experience in men's fashion and lifestyle topics.

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