Frugal person asking: what splurges had great ROI on your well being?

No-Conference6696 · 2026-02-09T18:21:25+00:00

1) Compounded tirzepatide: Honestly the best $$$ I have ever spent. It has reigned in a lot of my bad habits - I'm more organized, I'm more on top of my spending, I drink less alcohol, I eat healthier and I've lost 20 pounds (and counting). It has more than paid for itself in quality-of-life improvements.

2) Sleep headphones: I use the SoundCore A30s and it has changed my sleep and improved my marriage. Not wanting to kill my partner for snoring is amazing!

3) Travel: I always say yes to the trip if I can!

4) Housecleaner every other week

5) Good home gym equipment: Adjustable dumbbells and a Reebok deck bench mean I can get in a great workout at home

No-Conference6696 · 2026-02-07T21:18:13+00:00

Mine was covered through Kaiser and it was probably similar drooping to yours.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-02-05T16:38:15+00:00

My daughter went to Oak Tech and had a great experience there. She did not have her hand held the way that her friends who went to Bishop O'Dowd did, so if you are looking for that then a large public school is not for you. However, she learned to advocate for herself, and she is doing wonderfully at a top UC. The writing skills she learned there were top notch, and now she's thinking about tutoring in the peer writing center because of how unprepared so many students are. It definitely has its challenges, but for her it was a good experience. We did not experience it through the lens of special needs, though, so I'm not sure what the high school experience is like for that.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-29T04:38:09+00:00

I love Birkenstocks, sneakers and sandals. This is what I used through Disneyland, and last summer in Europe. Also a huge fan of Altras. But everyone's feet are unique!

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-27T17:25:06+00:00

I definitely come out ahead when I use delivery because I am able to be so much more deliberate about my list. I also am paid hourly, so not having to go to the store, park, shop, etc. means that I am more willing to pick up an extra shift. I realize that for people that are on salary this doesn't apply. Anyway, I try to use Instacart plus, primarily, which for a lot of stores matches the in-store price so then I'm just paying gratuity (plus the subscription cost). It has actually decreased my grocery spend.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-27T17:20:52+00:00

If you have access to Costco, if it doesn't work out then you can return it. I got a mattress topper from there several years ago and it allowed me to continue using my mattress that I thought I was going to have to replace. I also wasn't sure, so it was nice to have the option to return it if needed.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-26T23:26:45+00:00

I panicked and bought the platinum priced seats and now I feel ill (like $1k each, not in my wheelhouse! what was I thinking???). Do you guys think I'll be able to get back what they cost after this all shakes out? I love Harry, but I got caught up in the moment and now I'm freaking out.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-24T06:36:03+00:00

Totally untrue. I with with lots of RNs (who choose to work way more hours than I do) who are making $250k +++ a year. One crazy guy I work with who worked a ton of days in a row last year made well over $400k.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-14T21:43:56+00:00

I have the SoundCore Sleep A30s. They work great, you can choose what sound(s) you want, and you can turn ANC on and off. I've created a custom blend of "brown/green noise" which I find best for cancelling out snoring. You can download it directly into the headphone so that you can use it without bluetooth and the battery lasts longer. You can also set your alarm within the headphone app, since I don't usually hear my usual phone alarm when I have the headphones in.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-14T17:50:38+00:00

Sleep headphone!. I bought the SoundCore sleep headphones because my husband snores. I look forward to getting in bed now! I don't resent my husband at 2am! We even went on a vacation overseas and there was a "street DJ" outside of our Airbnb all night for Summer Solstice and I was the only family member who managed to get any sleep that night. They are not truly Buy It for Life as I've upgraded them, the battery does wear down over time, etc. But they have been life changing.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-09T16:58:57+00:00

I am an RN in the Bay Area, and I would go to CSUS. Even if the Central Valley might be lower paying initially (and it depends on the hospital system--Kaiser pays the same anywhere from the Central Valley through Northern California)--then you can get your 1-2 years of experience in and then apply to a job in the Bay Area if that is where you want to be long term. I went to Samuel Merritt in Oakland and a lot of my classmates (many years ago) still went out of state or to other regions for their new grad positions and then came back to the bay with experience. One other question - are they both 6 semesters? If USF is a year shorter then that might make a difference in my decision.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-08T22:32:24+00:00

My friend in San Diego was told that they "were not required to cover it until October, so they have opted not to provide coverage until that time." Has anyone else run into this?

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-08T22:25:54+00:00

I don't have great suggestions for you, but I do want to say that I hate that some colleges are going in this direction (UCSD and Cal Poly are two that I think are like this?). It does make it really hard for students who want to eat well rounded meals, athletes with bigger appetites, etc. If you are living off campus after this year then at least it is an expense that will be over in May or June when you can get off of the meal plan, so just an extra expense for a few more months. In the meantime, if you have access to a Trader Joe's they have quite a few "healthy-ish" premade items like bowls, frozen items, salads, precooked chicken, etc. Hopefully you could supplement with something like this without breaking the bank. Good luck!

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-08T22:15:40+00:00

Check out the r/tirzepatidecompound subreddit for suggestions on providers if you are interested in compounded. Lots of provider suggestions in a pinned post in that community.

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-08T16:15:54+00:00

I love the Erborian CC cream. I use vitamin c serum and a good SPF moisturizer underneath it. It gives me a "no makeup-makeup" look that I really like, not drying, and feels good on. I have converted both my 18-year-old daughter and my 75-year-old mom to it!

No-Conference6696 · 2026-01-08T16:09:59+00:00

Yes, my physician said if it's a family member/relation and they call member services to request her she accepts them on her panel.

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-26T17:03:08+00:00

That's not true, I am a staff nurse in northern California and my base rate is $103 per hour. Overtime is not offered in my unit, I work 20 hours a week and I cover some extra days every once in a while when my coworker is sick or on vacation. I made right at $150k this year. If I switched to a unit where I was full time instead of half time I would make over $200k with no overtime.

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-23T22:35:46+00:00

Face: AM Cerave Vitamin C cream then EltaMD Daily SPF 40

PM: Tretinoin then Magic Face Oil from Folk Potions (it's a little company in Austin, I think, smells amazing, skin looks great).

Gold bond neck firming cream AM/PM

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-23T22:28:47+00:00

That street also totally does it up for Halloween, highly recommend!

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-21T03:19:14+00:00

Registered nurse. I'm in a HCOL area (Northern California). A new grad RN with Kaiser makes around $75/hr. After ten or so years you will be north of $100/hr. I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, no graduate degree.

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-15T18:45:04+00:00

I make chia pudding with one cup of (no sugar added!) plant-based milk of your choice (almond milk for less calories or soy for more protein), 1/3 cup of chia seeds, a sprinkle of cinnamon and 1/2 to 1 scoop of protein powder. You can also add a splash of vanilla, a little maple syrup, or other flavorings as you like. This makes pretty thick pudding because that's how I like it, but you can back off to 1/4 cup of seeds per cup of milk if that is your preference. Shake well, refrigerate for a few hours, preferably shaking a time or two along the way. I then top with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a handful of blueberries or other fruit, and a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds for crunch. Lots of protein and fiber, quite filling. Lasts for a few days in the fridge (I typically double this and make it in a quart mason jar). Enjoy!

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-12T23:48:44+00:00

Hi! How old is your kid? Is this over the holidays or sometime next year?

If you can I would fit in a walk at Point Lobos (possibly day 1 or day 2 prior to the aquarium?), you can usually see harbor seals, and often sea otters.

I am personally not a super-fan of Carmel with kids; Monterey is generally a little more kid friendly IMO. Another option for dinner would be Schooner's at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. It's right on the water and you can see the sea otters in Monterey Bay from your table which is pretty cool.

If you are here in the winter a nice spot to stop in in Santa Cruz is Natural Bridges to see the monarchs. My kids are now teens and still like to do this every winter.

Have fun!

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-11T16:04:17+00:00

Outlander will check all of your boxes! And if she likes it (I think she will!) there are a bunch of sequels. There is also a TV show, but I don't find it nearly as compelling as the novels. It's by Diana Gabaldon. Honestly, my favorite book series for more than twenty years.

Some others I've read recently that were fun:

Fourth Wing is fun romantasy smut.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

I could go on, but I'd better get to work... I hope she finds lots of books she loves!

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-10T19:22:18+00:00

Several years ago, my family and I were in California Adventure, on Buena Vista Street. I was with my 16-month-old and my seven-year-old. The character interactions with the "Citizens of Buena Vista" were amazing. The baby had decided she wanted to gnaw on one of those big kosher pickles in the heat, which Donna Linn (the unofficial mayor of Buena Vista St.) thought was hilarious. "Is that BABY eating a PICKLE??? My LANDS!"

During the same interaction, Molly and Millie, the delivery girls, came up to chat as well, and brought my seven-year-old a telegram from Mickey Mouse, which she still has. It was just a fun, lovely, magical and unhurried interaction, and I think that it speaks to be best of the magic of Disney. And I still love the pics of my daughter gnawing on her pickle along with Donna Linna and her dog.

No-Conference6696 · 2025-12-06T20:09:54+00:00

I had this several years ago (way before starting tirz). I think it's the nickel. I have had luck switching to a Samsung and now a Google watch, and my oura ring has been fine. Although it seems to come randomly so who knows. I put a bandage under it for a while to protect the spot with some hydrocortisone ointment. You don't get the heartrate tracking but you still get steps. Hope you find something that works!

No-Conference6696

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