What have you splurged on that has been worth every penny?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Recently bought a MacAir which is a thing of beauty and wonder. Am also gradually replacing cheap crockery with lovely Denby stuff.

I now buy good quality bras instead of M&S and more 'high end' makeup.

So I'm not talking houses, cars, horses etc. What have you bought/upgraded that you love so much more than the cheaper version and has been good value?

Bespoke varifocals for glasses and sunglasses, adults only holidays in luxury resorts, coffee machine, high end hair products and make up, perfume

Godiva chocolate, HD brows every four to six weeks

Mine are mostly bed related too - latex pillows being my best ever purchase.

Also pure linen bedding & pure down duvets. Superking bed too. Would need a mansion for an emperor size & harder to get bedding though would love one

Lots of plants for the garden is a good splurge. My wine club membership-guilt free Tuesday drinking 😁

Instantpot-great for macaroni & cheese, fast risotto, yogurt & stock.

Also designer sunglasses - the lenses are less harsh. My eyes are really susceptible to sunlight & they give a lovely filter to real life!

buckeejit
I love my Instant Pot too. Have you seen the adverts for their new Vortex air-fryer? (Only available in the USA at the moment)

Expensive super king mattress with natural fibres

Plants

I forgot about my instant pot. Was great when weaning DS and he ate earlier than us as I could feed him early dinner and then keep it on the keep warm function until my dinner.

buckeejit can I get your macaroni cheese recipe please?

Love that this is still going!

What is an instant pot? Is it like a slow cooker, or a pressure cooker, or something different?

Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker. You can use it as a slow cooker too but I don't bother. So good - have just made a no-stirring paella in 6 minutes. Great for curries, soups etc. Uses minimal electricity, doesn't heat up the kitchen, never lets me down. Instant Pot for the win!

A vitamix blender! £500 nearly 10 years ago and still going strong!

Thanks, Tolstoy. I've been contemplating a soup maker, but will now investigate Instant Pots alongside.

Remus I looked at soup makers and most have a 20 minute cycle. Which you can do in a pan on a hob. If you wanted for instance lentils in your soup or even lentil soup, they were not on long enough to cook the lentils. You can pre soak I guess. Anyway I gave up looking so if you find one that will work please post here and I will appreciate that. 🙂

Good point, Danger. I hadn't thought of that!

Yes to bras! I'm large of Nork & the bravissimo brand are normally my fave but the wire often comes out for some reason. I've sewn it back in often but recently moved my allegiance to Elomi & I'm liking them!

Will get my recipe in a mo. The air fryer is exciting, I hadn't heard but had a regal 1st gen one which was great but replaced when broke & the newer one spits out bits of crud which is annoying. As well as chips, the air fryer is really good for granola!

Soup makers aren’t dishwasher proof 😱

I can't believe I forgot macaroni cheese in my ode to the Instant Pot. The best and easiest pasta - the macaroni cheese really does just involve hurling the pasta and cheese into the pot with some evaporated milk and mustard and letting it cook for five minutes. It's a real post-work dinner on the table in ten minutes life saver.

Here's macaroni cheese - I throw in some garlic powder, Cajun spice & turmeric. A few dashes of hot sauce seems to bring out the flavour, when it's cooked, stir in half to a cup of milk with grated cheese - I use quite a lot & a mix of Parmesan/ gran padano and cheddar - about 3/4 of a cereal bowl maybe. I timed it last week & start to finish was 22 mins.

It's drier but still heats up ok after. I've used it up to 5 days after as it's a big batch! The original recipe of this is from the salty marshmallow 😁

@jackstini out of nosiness what is your favourite wine? I need some new ones to try over summer

@sackrifice - can you tell me your favourite garden tools? I love my felco secateurs & have bought some lovely copper tools for dh & fil recently. I'm after something lovely for my birthday wish list!

Cordless vacuum
Expensive bin bags
Good quality shoes
Good quality mattress and pillows

My Mini Cooper. I just love driving it so much.
Welsh butter from Ocado.
Matrix shampoo and conditioner for my peri menopausal hair!
Plants. We spend way too much most summer weekends buying large cottage garden plants. The joy they bring is priceless.

@buckeejit - I like quite robust flavours so currently on white it's 19 Crimes Chardonnay - usually about £9 but I tend to buy it when it's 25% off 6 bottles! Love Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc too
On red - Castillio San Lorenzo Rioja

Naked Wines do amazing reds @buckeejit
With a voucher I got 12 fantastic bottles for £60.

I pay £25 per month (that can be refunded at any time) into my account and then can buy very good quality wines.

No longer do I stand in the supermarket overwhelmed with choice.

Every bottle I've had so far has been outstanding. it works out about £7/9 per bottle

Thank you! I have to present a wine I've enjoyed over summer to my wine club & am quite clueless so was actually looking at the 19 crimes as I can fill time talking about the story!

Not usually a big Chardonnay fan but if it's a bit better Chardonnay then that's usually ok! White is a bonus as means I'll hopefully get it over with earlier in the evening & can enjoy the rest of it!

Also naked wines is about he only one I've not tried yet - joined the wine society which is good. Another thing I'm after is a decent boxed wine for festivals this summer!

@kalinkafoxtrot45 @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
Can I be cheeky and ask where you got your prescription sunglasses? I have annoying lost mine, but am due an upgrade anyway, so need to take the plunge.
I am so very short-sighted and now have middle and long-sightedness to add to my woes so I'm after some new varifocals (officially old) for daily wear and a pair of sunglasses to go with.
Question is, can I get varifocal sunglasses?