What's been your best purchase of the year?

[CactusRabbit]

I have 2. First is my coffee machine. It grinds the beans, so I can have a freshly brewed coffee each morning. I love it!
Second one is a prize from postcode lottery. It's a rechargeable hot water bottle, and it's been a game changer! Especially useful for when I'm cold watching DS play rugby....

A bottle of gin

Veg patch brollies

I don’t know what these are but I feel I might need them! Off to Google…

Signed up to a private dentist and sorted my teeth. I lost my longstanding NHS dentist after COVID as they dropped a huge amount of patients off their list without communicating, and following this due to illness my teeth just weren’t a priority. I have always hated the dentist but I researched and found a good one and it’s been a totally different experience. It wasn’t cheap and took at least 6x appointments but was/is money well spent. I have even been back for my 6 monthly check up.

Oh I forgot to add my shark carpet shampooer, a god send!

A ticket to see Pulp - they were brilliant!

An allotment, definitely £20 well spent!

Blundstone boots, especially once I had bought sheepskin insoles for them. Took a few wears in very thick socks to break in, and I thought I’d wasted a lot of money, but now I can walk for miles in all weathers.

My trip to Africa.. I will never forget the sunsets, being so close to animals, the people, sundowners at sunset.. it was utter utter magic.

My trip to Venice with my Dad and youngest son, Merry people boots (Vinted) no wet feet now on dog walks and so comfy and my Seasalt riversea coat (also Vinted) now I’m also warm and dry on dog walks, result!

Radioactive iodine treatment for our lovely kitty.

A pair of waterproof trainers from Mountain warehouse that cost under £30, brilliant for dog walking.

Mounjaro.

Barbour ankle wellies
A small canvas cross body bag for dog poo bags, hand gel, and a fold up rain poncho
Stick blender
High quality merino tights. So warm, soft and stretchy.

Skyrim Anniversary Edition for Nintendo Switch.

Audible subscription, I had been using borrowbox for free however it doesn't always have all titles in a series.

Concert tickets, Volbeat were probably my best gig of the year gone.

I was about to say hopefully my new Le Creuset which is arriving this morning from John Lewis. It was in the sale, but it cost a LOT more than £25! Our old one finally died a couple of years ago after 20 years. Tried getting a cheap equivalent but it was rubbish.

Our two little rescue dogs and heated throws. Those items are often to be found on the same lap 😍

My Seasalt coat and my Merry People wellies, bobbi and Tully so sorted for dog walks .
My amazing trip to Japan

A lift. Our house has high ceilings and stairs to match. We have a small room downstairs used for dumping post and odds and ends and a matching room directly above used for storing spare bedclothes etc . Perfect for the lift which whisks me, 81, upstairs.
Not cheap but less expensive than clearing and selling the house and moving to a bungalow . My life is transformed .

This year, I think it would be my 3d printer. I’ve used it to raise money for the free festive meals and school holiday activities that my sister and I run through our local community hub. I raised about £6-800 since August? I think that’s pretty good going. We used out to supply and deliver cooked Christmas meals and hampers to cook at home. Covered about 90 People this year and had a gifting/wish tree that provided 40 ish presents and selection boxes too for kids. Still have money left over for the Easter meals and school holiday activities. Biscuit decorating with Mother Christmas ( me) was a big hit on the 21st Dec and we catered to adults with learning disabilities too which was lovely 🥰.

Turntable and speakers so we can play all our albums which have been silent for years. Not cheap but worth every penny.

Mounjaro for me too. A new wardrobe of clothes - mainly from Vinted. Lots of concert tickets - Pet Shop Boys, Nile Rodgers, Nick Cave, Annie Lennox, ABC, Trevor Horn, Howard Jones, Sophie Ellis Bextor, The Human League, Santana, Steven Wilson.

Could you possibly explain to an ignoramus, @GreenGodiva? How has the 3d printer helped you raise money? (Because I’m perfectly sure the picture in my head of a Star Trek type food simulator is not what you mean.)

Tickets for New Scientist Live. It was an amazing show and we'll be going again in 2026.

Our rescue chickens. I love them.

An expensive (for me) raincoat from Seasalt. It is fully waterproof with a hood that protrudes enough to keep my face (and glasses) dry.

Mounjaro
Patagonia coat in the sale which was an impulse buy (I don’t do impulse buying usually)

iPhone 17 pro max