To ask what your best investment in yourself has been?

I had 2 years previous pension to bring into the scheme and bought 2 extra years. I went into teaching and taught for 12 years so had 16 years of pension contributions. At that time, you got 1/60th of your salary for each year of contributions. (The rules have changed since.) My Teacher's Pension is under £10k p.a. but I also had the lump sum to help and I'd been saving up too. Plus I had no mortgage to pay and I'm frugal. Got my State Pension at 66 so I feel quite rich now!

Breast reduction. Definitely changed my life

54 is absolutely fine, it’s for people of all ages. It’s costing me around £6k and I believe it’s on lower end because my prescription is relatively straightforward. It all depends on the individual. I’m going with Optical Express as I responded to an ad on Facebook. I didn’t look at others so no comparisons to make but the service has been good so far. (Surgery is later today) I didn’t go through a GP or the NHS at all.

It’s worth getting a free consultation- they examine your eyes thoroughly and check medical history etc. They’re a business so will try to sell but there’s no obligation and you have to be a suitable candidate.

Good luck!

All of the above. Plus inflamitory joint condition improved in a way that the harsh immunosupressive drugs didnt touch. And I am a size 4 to 6 from a size 20 😀
Best money ever spent!

Same. Men can’t stand it though, they try and tie me down as they can’t stand to see a woman be free, happy, independent, confident..
nah thanks, don’t want a mans moods and anger spoiling my life again. If I want a cuddle, sex, date night I know where to find it

An investment in me by the state and an investment by me in my future. And now my high taxes support those bus drivers pensions and healthcare. What's your problem with that?

Leaving aside health and education, getting my colours done, having an excellent hairdresser and good quality, well fitting shoes. At 64 I don't need to hide my feet.

Just remembered - giving up smoking. Probably over 20 years ago now. I must have saved £thousands since (nicer to think that than work out how much money I must have wasted!) and I feel so much better. Now on to tackling the alcohol...

But it is THEIR investment too. They didn't go for free, they didn't get an extra few years of their working life added on to make up for it, they invested in it.

Recommendations for varicose vein surgery please 🙏🏻 this is something I would like to do for me.

So weight loss injections, new make up more adapted for my age, my teeth completely re-done, therapy, hypnotherapy- so happy I did it

Regulating my nervous system and resolving generational trauma through Dr Nicole LePera.

theholisticpsychologist.com/how-to-do-the-work/

University. I don't think it affected my career much but on a personal level it transformed me. I did it for the love of it. It was very expensive, but I never regret it.

In similar position and would love to hear more about this too

This is amazing and have also looked into this as I’m aware of the life changing benefits. Would you be happy to share? 😊

Invisalign braces, sorted out my very crooked teeth and no longer have pain in my back teeth and jaw, easier to clean, less aging, smile more.

Weight loss surgery ( gastric bypass) it was transformative in every aspect of my life.

A personal trainer, she helped me loose 5 stone in 18 months and become so much stronger and fitter with it. I have lost weight previously but never really gained the full health benefits that I have from using a PT.
I think it’s the confidence of knowing I am now fit as well as a better weight, for some reason I find being able to lift very heavy weights very empowering!

EMDR. Paid privately.
After years of stuff which never helped, including CBT, it changed my life.

I love this. What was the reaction when you gave verbal notice?

Hwi is obsessed with people making their own decisions about further education, in 2025, it seems.

My poor DC will have to continue livng with me and commute AND take out a loan WITH a full grant.

Not like my uni experience at all. In 1990.

Yes, that IS a sacrifice.

Anyway, I am loving the ideas on this otherwise positive thread!

Not a purchase, but a decision. To never have another relationship. My QoL has hugely improved without a partner. Literally life changing. Happiness. Peace.

I quit a toxic career.

It was a random Tuesday afternoon, and I was sat in yet another meeting telling me everything I was doing wrong - despite the fact I was working myself to the absolute peak of my ability, doing very long hours and ruining my health.
I sat there listening to this all, and then it suddenly dawned on me, I didn't have to be, and I gave my verbal notice there and then.

I'd say within about 3 months, my mental health was the best it was ever been. 7 years on, I'm continuing to be happier than I ever was before.

You were talking about how little you paid in the 90s - a completely different time in terms of personal cost of going to university. That’s what I was responding to. Whether or not it’s partially funded these days, students are typically still investing circa £50k in their education - you can’t say they’re not.