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!

I've invested a lot over the years. People tell me I look 10 years younger all the time but I think genetics might have helped. Things that helped most:

Physically:
Good gyms, classes & exercise equipment
IPL
Botox
Invisalign (should have done this earlier)
Teeth whitening
Always spent a fair amount on skincare including high quality suncream

Mentally:
Counselling (although I've had a few and some weren't good)
My degree & evening classes
Trying to build good sleep habits

I regret using sunbeds and sunbathing when I was on my early 20s but was the norm then.

Subscription to dating site where I met my dh.

Invisalign

Mounjaro is in the process of changing my life right now. A few pounds shy of a 5 stone loss so far and although I have a long way to go to get to a healthy weight, I have hope that I’ll get there for the first time ever.

Getting to a point where my savings are higher than my debt has been wonderful for my mental health too. I would pay it all off now but the debt I still have is interest free and so I’m still paying it monthly because I prefer to have the lump sum sat in the bank for now. It will all be gone in under a year though.

I’m going to take a look at Pilates as a result of this thread as well. I’m very time poor due to the hours I work but I could find 20 minutes for a short video I think.

Invisalign, laser heart removal (being able to throw a dress on on a nice day without thinking aw crap I need to shave me legs is amazing. Not needing to shave every day on holiday and ending up with rasher rash, brilliant). And not necessarily an investment as doesn’t cost much but really taking care of my hair. I follow an influencer Abby yung on YouTube and she gives really good hair care advice and the difference is unbelievable. I feel so much more confident and generally just look so much better!

I would say my gym membership and taking the time for myself to actually go there and also get out for walks several times a day. I am so much fitter and stronger and it's been great for my mental health. Alongside that my ear pods so I can listen to endless pod casts and music whilst I am walking and working out

Going back to uni (part-time, online) as a mature student to do an MA in my teaching subject. I so wanted to do an MA after my BA but couldn't afford it in my 20s, but I think that I got so much more out of studying in my 40s. I rediscovered my love for my subject and learning, and prioritised myself and my own goals instead of housework, work and the family for the first time in years. It kickstarted me into getting back out there with culture - now I am a regular theatre goer with my kids, either here where I live or in London when we can. It's also helping me massively with my teaching, though will not help me with 'career progression' (unless I want to give up teaching and move towards management which I absolutely do not want to do. Teaching my subject is the best bit of my job!)

I also made a decision about 10 years ago to read every night before bed and only read books I wanted to read instead of books I thought I should read. I get so much pleasure from reading thrillers and detective novels (mainly) after periods reading YA and fantasy. Reading for pleasure slipped away from me in my 20s and I'm so glad I'm a reader again (last year I read 80 books).

There are still so many things I want to do (learn the cello, get fit again, spend more time in my garden) but 'You can do anything, but not everything'. I'm still recovering from my MA almost 3 years on so just catching my breath before I make my next 'investment'.

You might want to start your own thread about whether the bus driver paying for someone else’s degree is indeed ‘investing in yourself’ which is the entire point of this otherwise interesting topic.

We get it - you don’t think that paying for your own degree is investing in yourself because it doesn’t cover the whole cost. I’d say paying for an education is investing in yourself, even if Norman from BlueStar is topping up your fees.

Oh, there's a few!

Private ASD assessment
Botox
Invisalign and teeth whitening - I now smile with my mouth open!

I don't regret the year my mum made me take a touch typing evening class at Sixth Form. Useful skill to have. I'll be making my kids do it.

She also got me a gym membership after PE lessons stopped at 16. It set me up for a lifetime of regular exercise.

Financially - two degrees, a masters and a heck of a lot of study and continuous professional development over the years.

Also - 3 Chanel bags that I sold for 4 times what I paid for them.😂

Personally - Weight loss jabs have literally saved my life since last year. They have led me to a much fitter, happier place and a very expensive gym that I love being a member of.

A Peloton bike - it got me started a few years ago, kept me sane through lockdown and showed me I can do hard things.

Braces and a good dentist. I didnt smile in my wedding photos for a reason.

Laser hair removal. I have had 1 session so far. GAME CHANGER.

Microblading, Botox and some hard core face treatments are planned for this year. Along with another personal shop now nothing fits me with a lovely stylist I met a few years ago.

Spend the money if you have it and want to invest it in yourself. Life is too short.

Are there any particular books that stand out for you?

My business degree, without a doubt. It bought a lifetime of independence and freedom from financial worries.

PT sessions. Have really helped my perimenopause dip in self confidence and improved my strength and shape no end.

From a career perspective CPD in topics related to work and more broadly.

what are pt sessions please?

Private ASD & ADHD assessment.
Gym membership at a nice gym with pool and sauna + nice workout gear and trainers.
Eating mostly whole foods / meal planning.
I would like to have composite bonding and possibly botox at some point!

Personal trainer.

Ohh soo many!

How to live when you might die
Everyday confidence by the speakmans
The high 5 habit -Mel Robins
Four thousand weeks
Open when...
Feel the fear and do it anyway
How to change your life - Sarah Woehler
Jay Shetty live like a monk
Fuck No - Sarah Knight
Why has no one told me this before
The happiness project - gretchin rubin
The subtle art of not giving a fuck
Buy yourself the damn flowers - Tam Kaur
The compound effect

I could go on and on, I just love reading these type of books, highly recommend. Xx

I paid for my MBA myself and when I had DC I paid for prep school as I had a successful career. My tax has been huge but I'm proud to pay it.
My mother sent me to the local comp. It was a sh*thole. I got my A levels whilst working.
I invested so my kids didn't have to go through the bullying and low expectations.
One works in Westminster, the other is at a world famous university.
Both opionated and arsy but the investment means they'll never grow up poor like I did.
I have/had all the designer clothes , jewellery, cars etc but they were worth every penny.
They don't even need to look after their mama, I'm going into a home!

Anyone paid for HRT blood tests please ?

Allowing myself (with dh's agreement) to step down from a high earning client-facing stressful role after I had my first dc into a part time lower paying in-house role that was more suited to me. Spent a couple of years in the wilderness whilst the kids were little but managed to climb back up this new career path and now earning a very good wage, much better than when I left the previous role. It is more sustainable and the sector has boomed over the years.

It was a leap of faith and investment that has paid off in the medium and long term.

Do you mean hormone blood tests?

If so - yes. I was told my levels were normal and denied HRT by an NHS GP.

I got HRT privately.

Then a few months later told my levels were far too low (and testostorone way too high) after having them redone by the same NHS GP.

HRT should be prescribed based on your symptoms.

decided to get prescription sunglasses a few years ago. Fantastic idea 👍

regular massages, physical therapy, a standing desk at home, membership to the gym in my building, a calming room spray for work…

Oh, and a cleaning lady!!

Local (council) leisure centre gym and swimming pool membership, and also the "investment" in buying good "proper" (mainly chemical free, UPV free, sweetener free, binder free etc etc) food ingrediants to enable myself to eat a healthy wholesome diet.
Eating REALLY well and regular exercise, has made me feel (and become) a much fitter and healthier person than I was before I made these changes.

When I had a hairline fracture in my molar, I completely bypassed the root canal and went straight into an extraction and dental implant. It costs 3x the amount but was much smoother with less pain or lingering fear that the root canal will fail.

This is lovely. It would be great hear a few examples of what you chose, if you wouldn't mind sharing.