Once necessities are taken care of – like getting out of debt, having a solid emergency fund, and saving for retirement – the real financial fun can begin.

With that in mind, below are 10 fun ways (in no particular order) to spend money:

1. Travel

Whether it’s exploring America’s national parks, relaxing at all-inclusive Caribbean resorts, or visiting iconic destinations like Paris’ Eiffel Tower or Cairo’s pyramids, there are deals online that cater to every travel preference.  Norwegian Airlines, Groupon Travel, Travel Pirates, and Scott’s Cheap Flights are a few of my favorite sites.  Sign-up for email alerts to stay apprised of deals, and always investigate booking travel in advance and on key dates like Black Friday & Cyber Monday.

2. A Gimbal

Today’s smartphones have incredible photography and videography capabilities. To take these capabilities to the next level, one of my favorite purchases has been my handheld gimbal stabilizer. With this, I can take smooth videos while I walk. It also has a nifty tripod. Very practical for documenting vacations, fun visits to the zoo, and family gatherings.

3. A Better Mattress

You (should) spend 1/3 of your time in bed.  You might as well make it comfortable.

4. Memory Preservation

There’s a number of companies, like LegacyBox, that can digitize your home movies and family photos. Investing in external hard drives, memory sticks, and cloud storage are also worth considering. This way, your memories will be in a few different places in the event of a house fire or other unforeseen event.

5. Clothing & Shoes

For items worn consistently, like a pair of wool-lined moccasins, a business suit, or a pair of jeans, buy something you’ll enjoy wearing.

6. Quality Kitchen Knives

As a former knife salesman and current “new recipe enthusiast”, having the following 4 quality knives will get almost any job done:

• 3-4 inch pairing knife
• 6-7 inch utility knife
• 5-6 inch Santoku knife
• 8-10 inch chef’s knife

7. Wellness

If you don’t invest in your health now, you’ll pay for it later.  There’s many ways to prioritize wellness – walking every day, gym memberships, P90X home workout DVDs, a set of quality dumbbells, acupuncture, and physical therapy are a good start. Focusing on wellness is also shown to have positive effects on other aspects of your life – such as improving sleep and reducing anxiety. 

8. Giving Charity

Just as Paul reminded the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:35 that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”, giving is important and relevant in our lives today.  As a follower of Christ, I know that technically, I own nothing – everything is God’s and I’m merely a steward of His resources, like money.  There are also numerous studies that suggest giving charity has positive effects in the lives of those who give.  

9. Dental Care

Toss your manual brush and get a good electric toothbrush– and remember to replace those bristles every 3 months. I also did Invisalign to fix a few crooked teeth and after 10 months of clear aligners, my teeth are straight. For teeth whitening, I rinse with Frau Fowler tooth powder twice per day and I’m very pleased with my results.

10. Home Theater System

You won’t visit the movies as often if you’ve got a sweet setup of your own.  A night out at the movies for a family of 4 can easily cost upwards of $100.  Save some money in the long run and enjoy a more comfortable experience by getting a nice TV/ projector/ sound system.

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