To ask what your best investment in yourself has been?

[HeyItsPickleRick]

Come on mumsnet, creep my lifestyle!

Inspired by the personal stylist post - I’m wondering what is the best thing you’ve bought for yourself?

Mine has 100% been my peloton and all the dumbbells. First exercise I’ve ever stuck to!

@MyNewCat I've tried a few but Move with Nicole is the one i always go to now. She's Australian so a lot of the classes are on lovely beaches, which I love on a cold dreary day here! There are many on her page from beginners to advanced.

Indeed. I invested my time into my career. 10 years of self study/evening classes alongside a full time "day job". I didn't go to Uni because I left school at 16 with no qualifications due to intense prolonged bullying and abuse. I had to get a job, so took a crap low paid admin job as an office dogsbody in a "father and son" tiny accountancy practice. I self studied some O and A levels and did some adult education evening classes for other O and A levels, all alongside a 40 hour working week. I dragged myself up within the accountancy practice by working my arse off for them, pushing myself in to do broader work than filing and making tea, doing basic book-keeping, payrolls, etc., and then after proving myself, getting into accounts and tax return preparation. Once I got my A levels (after 4 years), I persuaded them to pay half of my study and exam fees for chartered accountancy (16 exams over six years), again studied by self study or evening classes, but I had to take my holidays to sit exams and revise for them. A 10 year slog, but got there in the end. Fully qualified accountant, starting from ground zero with no qualifications. A massive and painful "investment" of 10 years of my evenings and weekends, a substantial share of my pitiful tiny wages, and my annual holiday entitlements! So, yes, "investment in yourself" really doesn't mean just money - it's time, mind space, sacrificing other things like hobbies, relationships, holidays, etc.

Thank you! 🙏😊

Yes it should!

It’s not the 90s anymore!
Students (in England, at least, so the vast majority of the uk population) incur huge debts to pay tuition fees and living costs in order to get their degrees now.

@takealettermsjones I'm guessing you have Lupus or Sjogrens? I have Sjogrens but was very lucky to have a proactive GP and Rheumatologist & got a fairly speedy diagnosis. Sorry you had to advocate for yourself.

Totally agree with you. ALL I WAS SAYING - be honest, it is not YOUR investment, it is taxpayer investment for the most part. That is all.

Osteopath.

Long before Brexit, lived in France for a year (when 21?) and then lived in Spain for many (when much older). Had to do very badly paid temporary jobs. But I learned the languages.

Varicose vein treatment privately. Invisalign and a gym membership. And taking time for myself ie to go to the gym etc.

I would love Invisalign!

WAS taxpayer investment, in your day.

It's great isn't it? Even if I'm not in the mood I put on a quick 10 or 15 mins. I do it most days. Once it starts I end up doing more! Who do you watch on YouTube?

@Whatkatyforgottodo @Mmmkaay l do Move with Nicole on YouTube. So much choice from a quick 15 mins to to an hour, whatever suits your mood!

@HeyItsPickleRick and @coffeeagogo I’d love a Peloton bike but we just can’t justify the cost. I found online an Adidas bike that syncs with the Peloton app, do you think that would be a decent compromise? Or is the Peloton really worth it?! Also, do you have the standard or the plus? If the latter, is the rotating screen worth it?!

That’s shocking! I paid to see two private rheumatologists. .first told me it was my age early 40s lol .
paid to see a female I’d researched she seemed great untill i got my nhs app. She lost my letter she diagnosed stuff over the phone when she couldn’t remember me. She did no bloods it was and is a farce.
I had thought paying privately get you better treatment . Nope they only interested when you have health care ( which I tried to get but my doctors couldn’t give me answers about my health so o could tell buppa)
Im still No further forward .

Glad you a little better .

An adjustable bed (with a vibrating massaging feature) with a Tempur mattress. The combination of the above has helped to solve a lot of my back problems - the massaging feature is on a timer (about 30 minutes), and so helps me get to sleep every night too😋

Therapy to help understand my autism.
Riding lessons.

No, I paid domestic fees, which I agree were laughable, as were EU student fees.

therapy

You do realise they self-pay for a FRACTION of what it actually costs? Ask international students. The majority of current fees are state-funded. Read up on the most recent reports - there is a detailed breakdown.

Oh ? Which you tuber ?
I was going to say for me
-getting my degree which led to challenging career
-going to a lecture by a dermatologist at uni when she talked about photo-aging.. I started wearing sunscreen.. it’s more than 35 years later and my skin still looks pretty good.. she has retired now but I once saw her at a meeting and thanked her.
-Pilates !
-6 months ago I had my first cosmetic treatment at 60 .. some filler in my upper lips and then had some micro needling and I am very happy.

I did same but also got cheap walking treadmill for under it. I mostly use it for an hour a day now on Duolingo (also a good investment!).

Warning: I am obsessed with my peloton equipment, it’s changed my life.

I have a bike plus and the full weights set, I bought it new and paid it off interest free - I know that I am lucky to be able to afford to. I have raved on about my bike so much my brother bought his on Facebook marketplace place for £500 and he loves it too.

I don’t know about other bikes with the app, but for me it is the seamless user experience (I never thought I would talk about workout equipment this way) I use the app to structure my week and ‘book’ my classes so when I get on the bike or got to do my weights it is all ready for me to just ride/lift. I like the plus mainly as it does all the auto adjustment on the ride, which I really like. I don’t use the rotating screen any more as I bought the Guide too when I got into lifting weights, but before that I found it good for stretching.

There’s a good feature on the app that gives you a personalised program to follow that you can edit and adapt. I use peloton equipment 6 days a week and I am in the best shape of my life, so for me it’s been 100% worth the investment. (I also love their workout gear, buy in the sale it’s brilliant quality)

Hwi the whole running of society is paid for by taxpayers.

Schools, roads, healthcare, ad infinitm, all of it.

Why pick on the university students particularly? They pay one way or another and it takes time and a lot of money whatever help you get (for being exceptionally bright)

I am interested by how many on here have said WLI. I am assuming that anyone who’s said this either didn’t suffer side effects or thought looking back that they were worth enduring.

Would anyone be willing to expand on this? I know there are many WLI threads running but the discussion of side effects is often between new users as they experience them for the first time. I’d find it really helpful to hear your perspectives from much further along the journey.