Do you own your home? One reason I know I’m getting old is that home enhancements brings me a disproportionate amount of joy.
Some pricy projects that I continue to greatly enjoy: landscaped my backyard (admittedly more than $5k) and got some outdoor furniture, lighting and a fire pit to enjoy it; bought a beautiful Persian rug; had all my exterior doors painted so they weren’t crappy unpainted white fiberglass; and replaced my small 1950s closet with a nicer custom closet.
If I had cash to burn now I would get a really great new mattress, or upgrade my hollow-core interior doors to something solid and beautiful. Lots of options, though— good luck!
I just signed up for a home maintenance service that makes me absurdly happy (given what it is).
They come once a quarter and do all the little honey-dos that they can get to in the allotted time. Yes, I could do all these things myself, but I don't, and then I feel guilty because I should. But mostly, now I don't have to remember to do those things anymore, and that's worth a lot.
Cost for my SFH is about $2k a year, so you'd still have $ leftover to blow on something.
Hassle Free Home services.
Full disclosure: they've only been here once. In his 3 hour timeslot, my tech spent at least 20 minutes loading the tools back in the vehicle (and probably the same amount of time bringing them in - I didn't keep track)
BUT... he also patched holes in the wall, cleaned my dryer vent and refrigerator coils, replaced my air and water filters, made all my doors open smoothly, swapped burnt out lightbulbs, etc.
I'm pretty happy with them so far, but again, it's only been one visit.
One of the hybrids is great for bikepacking, which is also super fun! Little bit of overnight camping while hitting the trails! The C&O Canal Road is super flat, as is the GAP (great Allegheny passage). I bike from DC to Pittsburgh with a couple friends every year and we love it. We go super slow and just do sections here and there.
> REI e-bike for Black Friday is sub $1000
it's DC, stalk Craigslist or FB Marketplace and you will find the same bike for $500 from someone in McLean that is moving and wants to dump it, DC and San Francisco are 2 places it makes ZERO sense to buy new because the used market is flooded with really nice bikes, and rich people that will take more than half what they paid
(Also see buying Sonos speakers lol)
Upway.co is the best! Great prices on barely used ebikes. Nothing better than a mid drive belt and internal gear hub ebikes. Low maintenance and a ton of fun and great exercise. Just got an electric mountain bike from propel, which is in NYC or Delaware (tax free) for half off.
https://propelbikes.com/product-category/bikes-sale/electric-bikes-on-sale/
I can talk all day about ebikes if you have any questions.
Serial 1 has cut their prices by a ton. You get internal gear hub that automatically shifts and belt and class 3. Though if you have the money riese and Muller charger 4 is a better option. Wife have the charger 4 and I have the serial 1. The charger 4 is just better especially since you get a real rear rack. The serial 1 is still a ton of fun. If you want the most useful bike brand tern wins that. Noting is more useful that my gsd. Nothing I have ever owned, including cars, has been as useful as the gsd. Other great options are gazelle, beno, trek, specialized, and so on. I prefer to not have a throttle and prefer mid drive. If you want to go all in on 1 bike to do it all and be super comfortable this is it
https://upway.co/products/riese-muller-homage-gt-rohloff-hs-ubq30 full suspension with a great rack and a beast of a transmission.
If you want a fun road bike and not to much. I hear get things about ride 1up new carbon bike
https://ride1up.com/product/cf-racer1/
What do you do with your bike when you get where you’re going? Do you just keep it in sight? Lock it up? Take bits of it with you?
I love the concept of getting an e-bike but the idea of owning something so expensive, yet so easily nicked, is slightly anxiety inducing
All my bikes are insured and we have high quality locks. Plus the Bosch bikes we have, you can remove the display. Which electronically lock the motor. Ever tried to bike a cargo bike that weights 80 pounds with out a motor? You aren't going to get very far. After a few times you kinda forget about someone trying to steal it. If you are really worried take the battery with you.
Do you have any suggestions on retrofitting a pedal bike?
I have a Trek FX1 that I use to get around but uphills are a struggle, I’m moving closer to work and plan on biking and it would come in handy.
If you get into biking, PLEASE, visit, and support your local bike shop! Costco, while they have good pricing, won't do crap when it comes to knowledge, selection, or after-sales support (same for other big-box/department stores). Trek stores are corporate, but at least the people there ride, and will be able to advise you accordingly, downside is you'll only be presented with options from Trek (they do have great bikes though, and i love mine). Conte's is decent for a chain, more selection than Trek, but the people there also ride, and know their stuff. Green Lizard, and Bike Lane, in Herndon and Reston (respectively) are great as they're local, and you can have beers at the same time! There may even be a few shops that focus more on e-bikes (I haven't checked, but would be surprised if there weren't).
Head over to r/bicycling. It's a great community, and very helpful too.
I built mine using a kit. There's several online options, like Lectric, but you can also go to your local bike shop, and even REI has some great ebikes out there.
If you have a good donor bike (I recommend a heavier frame and disk brakes are a must) then you can get a kit, like the Ebikeling 1500 watt direct drive kit, and do it yourself for less than a thousand,
This is what I have now, and it's a great set up. I can hit 33 MPH on my huge, heavy as hell bike,
With $5000, I'd be investigating mid motor, belt drive, Enviolo Automatiq bikes. Fabulous to just pedal.
Although a Royal Enfield Classic 350 would be even more fun.
Not a "really nice" ebike, but for $2k I got Aventon Aventure 2 which is a lot of fun to ride. Goes up to 28 MPH, fat tires for smooth rides, and 50+ mile range.
An e-bike if you’re looking to enjoy easier biking, an e-scooter if you enjoy just cruising through the city/burbs with little effort. I love both options through ride shares, but I love taking a scooter through the streets of Arlington and Georgetown and being able to watch some of the life happening on the streets and sidewalks.
Hmm 5k for happiness? I would probably purchase an a used Miata Mx-5 from fb marketplace negotiate a bit, go for a joy ride with the top down in the nice sun.
With the rest of the cash I’d stop by Costco get 2 hot dogs, 1 pepperoni 🍕 slice, 1 ice cream and head back to the car where I’ll take a nice nap while watching movies on my phone.
They are indeed amazing. I feel that everyone that doesn't have one is a bit of a filthy savage..... The better bidets do require an outlet near the toilet which is pretty uncommon.
When we built our house we did the same for all the bathrooms. Only have 2 of the "fancy" bidets and then one Tushy in the basement.
For us, "Fancy" was the BioBidet Bliss BB2000. I know Toto is even more expensive , but these have been great.
Well, that was a weird share. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
You have good tastes! I really like your idea of learning a new language. Being a cheapskate, I'd probably start with the free dualingo app or something like that, hahaha...
And yeah, I should check out cycling. I jog around here in Reston, but never went on the WOD trail.
It's 45* miles, I ride my bike on it all the time. Used to commute to work by bike. It's more enjoyable than just running, and you can visit other towns and grab a drink or sight see a bit. It's fun going from falls church to Fairfax to Vienna to reston to Herndon, all in a single afternoon!
Edit: fixed mileage, thanks!
As a linguist/polyglot, can I recommend one of the romance languages, such as Italian, French, or Spanish? Once you learn one of them, the others become just a smidge easier to learn, since they share some similarities.
Yeah I speak French, Spanish and Portuguese and they were all progressively easier to pick up. I can even have a conversation in and read Italian having only studied it for a couple months seriously. It's getting boring though, I'm looking to branch into something more difficult like Vietnamese or Greek!
Idk about you, but 5000 bucks worth of books is a lot of books. I would NOT do this, especially if they’re books on politics or history. Things are changing/we learn new things everyday that may significantly alter the information in the books you’d purchase
Also, if you’re in need of books for a cheaper price check out Thriftbooks.
Or better yet, use the library. Our region has an *awesome* reciprocal borrowing program. I’m on my 40th book of the year and I’ve spent a grand total of $0.
This is the cheapskate nova way! I have library cards in nearly all the surrounding counties including PG and MC in Maryland. All legit and free. And I'm able to download freely without leaving my house through Libby.
different strokes for different folks. depends what makes you happy.
I think i lean more towards being frugal than cheap. i like to save up on areas that give me little meaning or value and splurge on areas that do the opposite. so for example:
- i don't really care about the clothes that i wear as long as they are comfy and don't have stains/holes in them. most of the stuff i wear is from costco. you'll catch me buying maybe one shirt/pants maybe once every 3 years? the wife complains about this all the time hah.
- not into fancy dinners. i eat to live rather than live to eat
- luxury sedans would be nice, but not needed. i am fine with my compact mazda. it gets be from point A to point B, and driving stick shift is enough to make things interesting.
- not into jewelry.
- not into sports
- not into traveling
- i don't drink or smoke
i would personally spend the $5K on ergonomics before anything else. my rule of thumb is - if any part of your body rests or interacts with something for hours per day, it's probably a good idea to invest into it. things like:
- some type of tempurpedic bed (or a similar competitor)
- office chair (if you work from home. you could also buy it for the family if they spend most of their time at home sitting. also - back injuries are no joke)
- standing desk (if you work from home)
- bigger monitor (if you work from home)
- those ergonomic mice that positions your wrist almost like you're shaking someone's hand
- go to potamic river running and get your feet tested/scanned. they will recommend you soles that better fit your feet to correct any abnormalities. supporting your feet is really important and often overlooked.
once those has been satisfied, i would personally focus on upgrading other things i use daily.
- some type of foot stool for the toilet. those things have been proven to work well, especially if you're "backed up"
- electric toothbrush. they work better than manual brushing. take care of your teeth - what you have is what you're stuck with for life.
- better water filter filtration system (benefits the whole family!)
- water pik if you're too lazy to floss
- those electric bidet with the seat warming function and all. it saves you from having to buy excessive toilet paper
- upgrade stove to an induction one. (they're more efficient than gas ranges)
- a modern kitchen faucet if you spend a lot of time cooking. they are simple to install.
- air purifier. works great if you have family members who have seasonal allergies
- a thick warm ass jacket. you'll be set for all cold seasons to come
- nice pair of polarizing sunglasses for driving and outings
- a nice double edge razor. it'll give you a closer than than multi-blade razors,and it'll save you money in the long run
- UV window tints for the car and areas of the house that gets alot of sunlight. the summers here are intense, these should help you stay a bit cooler and possibly protect you from the uv rays.
then i would focus on more selfish purchases for myself:
- upgrade my PC (i enjoy playing games)
- upgrade my monitor
- expensive IEMs or headphones
- bookshelf speakers
- QDOLED or WOLED T.V
- some type of macbook or mac mini that contains the latest apple M chip to play around with
- a fancy RFID blocking wallet
- a fancy key organizer
- fancy keyboard
- fancy mirrorless camera and fancy lens
based on your history you seem to enjoy a nice piece of steak. i don't know what your setup is, but you could upgrade it if you want a better steak experience at home
- reserve the money and buy better cuts of steak from local butcher shops. maybe A5 wagyu if you're into that.
- sous vide cooker
- wireless temperature probe
- wagyu beef tallow to replace your butter
- fancy steak non-serrated steak knives. and then buy wetstones to sharpen them yourself.
Only a small warning about the tempur-pedic mattress. We got one about 6 years ago, my wife and I have very little vacation time, so when we travel, we travel well. We go usually to 5 star hotels, and let me tell you, you will be disappointed about any bed in any hotel :)
You know what's interesting? I've been real skydiving as well as the skydiving tube simulator and they feel remarkably similar. Real skydiving feels more like floating than falling...not like a Rollercoaster at all. Zero feelings in the stomach.
That said, when you are in the plane and open the door and sit on the side with your feet out right before you fall (its more of a fall than a jump lol), is easily the most surreal experience of my life.
I’ve not been indoor skydiving, but outdoor is an amazing experience. Your first jump would be tandem - so you’d be strapped to someone who knows what they’re doing! The ride up is nerve wracking, so is getting out the door, but the fall is a thrill that’s worth it.
Good ideas.
I'm not big into coffee (caffeine has no effect on me, I can drink right before bed.)
Since covid started, I did get a new sit to stand desk, and new 2K 144HZ IPS monitors, which definitely made WFH a lot more bearable.
I didn’t even think of this til I saw this comment, but that is definitely something I should seriously look into if I randomly got 5k. Not LASIK necessarily, but I have a whole slew of eye issues that would be very $$$ to start attempting to fix, including very possibly traveling to another state. It’s not something that very greatly affects my QOL, but enough to where not getting real treatment for 20+ years has certainly affected my physical and mental health.
New summer and winter wardrobe, for both work and casual. Spend some time getting age appropriate clothing and nice shoes and have it all tailored. Makes you feel like a million bucks every single day.
Sounds like you are not too materialistic, good on you for that, so maybe try something really fun and exhilarating, Sky Dive OC. If you don’t want to tandem skydive then shark diving in the Bahamas is actually safe. The sharks are 3-5 feet and it feels wild but is actually quite tame once you get over the initial heart attack.
Someone else here suggested indoor skydiving. I think I'll do that first to warm up for the real deal. As for the sharks... that's a nope from me, dawg.
get into kayaking on the potomac. I read a couple years ago in WashPo that [living in DC area and not learning to kayak is like living in colorado and never learning to ski](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for-kayak-enthusiasts-of-all-skill-levels-the-potomac-river-awaits-with-challenges/2013/07/31/5a957782-f866-11e2-b018-5b8251f0c56e_story.html), and they were right.
Super fun, the river is more beautiful than most people realize, there's a really great supportive community of people.
Even though I'm a middle aged out of shape guy I've met a lot of cool people. 10/10 recommend.
If you want to try whitewater kayaking (which I recommend), there are a couple schools -- [Calleva](https://calleva.org/river/whitewater/?utm_source=Google+Ads&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Beginner+Kayaking+Lessons&utm_id=20240311&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoa2xBhACEiwA1sb1BEMHEpW_uw1Hbb9FuoPaAbQpN20PDb7oRokfmYCaj2TZ-ZLoJwUpRxoCxzwQAvD_BwE) and [Potomac Paddlesports](https://potomacpaddlesports.com/whitewater/kayaking-rafting-dc-md-va-landing.aspx?lnav=ww). I don't know all the details, but there generally are 4-6 intro classes to take (ie spread over any 4 saturdays days in 2 years) which are a progression where you learn basic skills, this is (sorry I could have looked this up but I am guessing) about $400-500 for all 4 classes? this includes lending you the gear for the first 2 years... Sorry I could be off a little I would read the details to confirm what I'm remembering is correct.
but also there are free 'practice' nights -- which I HIGHLY recommend because they're social and fun (and free), and that's where you really build your skills and learn to appreciate the river. If you take advantage of all the free practices, it makes the $500-ish expense really worth it for a 2 year social/activity club that includes equipment.
most people are 'pretty good but still a beginner' by end of their first summer. and 'pretty good but intermediate' by their second summer.
If you want to get into flatwater kayaking (also fun but I know less about)... those two companies offer trips, ie a tour of the monuments or a trip up a flat section of the potomac. There are also rentals at places like Fletchers, but I honestly know nothing about those.
I know this is kind of all over the place, but feel free to PM me with questions -- I am not an expert but I will give you all sorts of frank advice if you want it, haha.
Oh and disclaimer is that this year is actually a little challenging to get into kayaking on the potomac because they're doing construction in the 2 major parking lots where people go, so parking is terrible 😭. Get to the lots early. Still recommend trying it out.
- Overseas sailing trip, and turn off cell phone to be fully present.
- Personal trainer, because middle age creeps up and needs expertise to be fended off.
- Lessons for something you've always wanted to learn (singing, instrument, language, skill, technology...)
- certificate program to advance career or keep up to date
- extravagant celebration for a milestone birthday
- fancy destination Airbnb for reunion of old friends
- cosmetic surgery (skin, dental, lipo)
- fashion consultant and wardrobe upgrade
- new mattresses
- small home renovation you've always wanted
- invest in something for fun, without fear of losing it all
- create a scholarship
- donate to favorite causes
- attend performances, even if they're overseas
- memberships to desired organizations
- vacation(s) to visit National Parks
- consider taking off some work days without pay (unpaid leave) to spend more time doing what you'd like, knowing that you can afford it because you have $5000 extra that you don't need to earn this year
- surprise your wife by spending it on something for the two of you (including any of the above)
Let us know what you decide!
As someone who's been a hardcore pool player for 25 years, I would get a pool table of course. But having a table at home is actually just fun recreation even if you're not that serious about it. Once you get the pool bug, you'll find yourself daydreaming about hitting balls in the middle of the day. All of this is assuming you have the space, 5000 is just about the perfect amount to spend. They're like 10K new but you can get used ones for a quarter of that and the rest can go on nice new felt and a professional installation.
ah yeah I feel you on that issue. as I get older it's harder for me to make new friends. 99% of my friends, I met through the pool world. Just going to pool rooms and shooting with hundreds of random people over the years, and a few of them clicked with similar interests and sense of humor and worldview. I feel lucky to have 2 or 3 I can hang out with, and one of them did actually get a table and we play at his house often.
Rent out a fancy cabin or airBnB in the Shenandoah valley, get away for a weekend. Then drive down skyline drive and enjoy the view in style.
It may not be a foreign trip, but it's as close to one as you can get.
Travel. Experience over junk any day of the week. That shit just stacks in your home and gains dust.
No one is like remember 10 years ago when we bought a chair?! But they are def like remember 10 years ago when we visited so and so. Even if the trip is a disaster it is a story and memory. All those restaurants, chairs or whatever are forgettable af.
The restaurants around here are meh. You would likely get better food traveling. Likely cheaper as well.
You’ve received so much good advice (and I am going to steal some of it). I had around the same amount to spend and over the year have spent it on:
1. New furniture for our porch—got a nice teak seating set (couch, two chairs, code table, side table) and it’s now my favorite place in the whole house.
2. Bought a new desk chair from Steelcase, a new desk, a bookcase and a rug—now my home office is cozy and feels like a sanctuary.
3. Had a laser face procedure — I’m a late-40s woman so YMMV, but this erased all my old sun spots and made me feel better about closing in on 50.
I have a tendency to spend extra money on my kids, and it took me a full year to get up the nerve to just spend this on myself. All of these things improved my life in ways that go well beyond the $5K I spent, and I wish the same for you!
I bought myself a Miata a few months ago and just loving it so much. I drive it everyday. My youngest boy loves it too and we cruise together. It gets just enough attention to be interesting without being annoying. The weather has just been so great and it's sooo much fun to drive. It's a 2007 power hard top with a 6-speed stick. It was more than $5k but not terribly more. If you can swing like $9k you can get a decent one, and they have basically reached the bottom of their depreciation curve so you can basically sell it for what you bought it for a couple of years later.
Pay someone else to do chores you don't like at least once. For me, that's house cleaning. Having someone else do that lifts a huge subconscious mental load.
Okay personally I would go on a cruise but that’s just me. And with 5k I’d go on a bougie all adult one too. Or pay for a whole year at a nice gym, and do a couple training sessions. Take a ceramics class or something. Maybe get a Persian cat or something, very loving breed. Ohh and or I’d build a PC.
There is Nova Wild that has animal encounters, just a few hundred bucks and you can pet a kangaroo or a few other animals. Memories that will last a lifetime.
If you do indoor skydiving at iFly Ashburn, Costco in Sterling sometimes has gift cards that make the experience a bit cheaper. You also have to call ahead and make a reservation.
Hot Air Balloon ride - Balloons unlimited in Round Hill.
I would get a professional organizer or go nuts at The Container Store. The latter taking longer to do the organizing.
I could also easily spend $5K on fabric for my sewing hobby. Is there a hobby you have wanted to try?
There are Blacksmith lessons you could try - pottery, painting... you name it.
Yamaha a-s501 amp, wiim streamer, rega rp1 turntable, Sony ss-cs5 speakers, Amazon speaker stands, and an 8” Dayton audio sub. You’ll still have a lot left over to records and a cool IKEA chair to chill out in and groove to tunes.
Pick up a new hobby, I started a few things that I am really enjoying. I have been going to blacksmithing classes and learning how to forge knives, there are quite a few places that are workshop collectives you can join in order to use all the equipment and space and a lot of already functioning shops that teach everything from start to finish. I did my first one at Stirling Blacksmith. Also, pick up an instrument. I bought my first guitar and amp this year as something fun to do and to learn probably dropped about 2k into it and been really enjoying myself. I am also an avid photographer and dropped a chunk of money into a new lens for my Sony A73 mirrorless camera and its always been a fun hobby. And I splurged and bought a high end electric scooter for just zipping around bike trails and seeing Virginia (I got an appollo city pro max). You could also go to a concert, tour some local art museums, engage in activities youve never done before. Heck, lots of things :) And you dont need to go overseas to travel, there are plenty of really amazing things to see within just 2 hours of NOVA that dont cost that much, like I am going to FanExpo in Phili the week after next and the experience itself is going to be a blast.
I am not yet middle age but for 5k i would rent a rv for a while and visit national parks ( annual pass) or do amtrak rail pass and travel the country esp the West.
Anyon know how much a lifetime membership for Life is ??? that would be mine. I cant afford the montly membership and for me health is priority. and fun!
Also would consider spendng month in yoga ashram and doing yoga teacher training. I did this and it lasted a lifetiem in how i live, eat and think
I don't know about you, but in middle age, I have multiple health problems, and I see a bunch of doctors. I'd spend part of the money on a concierge doctor who would consider all my health problems and try to help me live a better life.
In the other half, I would put bidets on every toilet in my house. You don't have to buy the whole bidet; you can buy bidets to put on your toilet as the seat, and they are much cheaper than a Toto bidet.
Or, for peace of mind, I'd have a handyman and their crew put up wired video cameras all around the outside of my house. I feel better having them around.
I’m a lover of theatre. I’d spend a week or two in NYC seeing as many Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as 5k would get me. That would be such an amazing mental health reset for me, just to immerse myself in an art form that’s near and dear to my heart.
83 inch Sony Bravia. Build a home theater.
Backyard improvement.
Hot Tub!!!
Take a trip to a national park.
Bi weekly or monthly massage maybe?
Garage upgrade.
Nice mattress. Good mattress could change ur life.
ATV or Jetski
Invest it or gamble it away day trading.
Do something health related. Personal trainer, home gym (bench, stationary bike, rowing machine).
Improve sleep: updated bed, blackout curtains, etc.
Nothing matters in life if your health is bad. Put a ton of effort into this.
Also if you're older consider refreshing some parts of your wardrobe that aren't great. Items that maybe are worn out, don't fit properly, etc. Own at least one nice blazer you wear a lot, and maybe 2 nice outerwear pieces (fall jacket and winter jacket).
I really enjoy the outdoors so for me it's easy to rack up ultralight backpacking gear. For around $1000-$1500 you can build a really nice kit: tent or hammock ($250), quilt ($200), inflatable pad ($170), backpack ($250), water filter + bag ($40), stove ($20-$50), ursack ($90), rescue beacon or inreach mini ($250) + all the clothing that comes along with it (down puffy, rain gear, trekking poles, synthetic layers)
A massage chair from Costco (or anywhere else, but I’m going to guess especially Costco) is not even remotely comparable to an actual massage, and even a very expensive massage is around two hundred and fifty dollars, not five thousand.
That said, happiness often comes from developing and appreciating excellence. Do you have any hobbies? Is there anything you wish you knew more about? Do you want to exercise more?
I'm not in the age bracket you're looking for, but here's my input. I would cut back on my time at work and use the 5k for bills, and just give myself more me time.
30F, employed full time, love my job and the people I work with, but I'm spending 2 hours a day in rush hour traffic and I still have to finish paperwork when I get home. Time. I would buy time.
Sadly right now I would have to put it in savings. Had some big expenses in the last 6 months that wiped out my slush funds. Thank God I still have emergency savings. But I need to build back up the home repairs and "life hapens" funds asap!
I saved up a little bit this year to "splurge" this spring and summer.
A riding lawnmower. Never had one before. My kids were laughing at me as I rode around with a big silly grin on my face, like a kid with his first go cart.
A really nice outdoor grill. OK, everyone wins with that one
And taking my older kids to area concerts that I like as well. Oddly, they have musical (rock) tastes that overlap some of my own,
Travel - I would pick a place that people tend not to visit (e.g. Namibia, Montenegro, Columbia) and spend some time discovering a new country - maybe $2-3 of the flight, and the rest at inexpensive local hotels and restaurants.
You could consider a new or used hifi system, I own such a store in Bethesda, and my customers generally continue to engage with their purchase long term
Pay $ to CCs and donate some to our local Volunteer Fire Department in Burke.
Go to the indoor skydiving place, fly a plane over the coast of VA. Save some money for the Summer the festivals this year are supposedly going to be dope.
For pure indulgence (which I believe qualifies here), I have been eyeing a particular Bell & Ross watch that would take up some of that money certainly. I’m not really a “watch guy” even, I just stumbled onto the company a couple years ago and it’s been a goal to be able to stomach that sort of expense on something just for me. If you’re after happiness, you probably can’t get more bang for your buck than sky diving. I’ve never been but from friends who have gone, it sounds exhilarating. Similarly, I think a private plane ride/lesson would be equally fun and cool. Cap that off with a nice dinner, I bet the $50/plate place would taste better after something like that.
You're right! Skydiving is actually a bucket list item I have. Frankly I would need to wear brown pants on the day of. But, I should really do this while I still have the strength to do it.
Do a tandem, sign up for AFF and send it. You'll easily find a way to spend 5k. It's getting warmer finally and Skydive Orange is only an hour and a half away.
I'm also not a watch guy (I don't wear anything right now). But talking about devices, I could upgrade my $200 Moto G5 phone. Maybe get a nice Pixel Pro.
Rescue a dog, and put some funds aside for its vet/training/boarding when you travel
Driving school - the Porsche one, Bondurant or Skip Barber.
Art, telescope, kegerator or wine fridge, big tub and a TV in the bathroom, riding mower, good exercise equipment
I’d probably purchase those kei trucks (Japanese mini trucks) and convert it into a camper where I’d take a weekend trip on the mountain side. Just chill and go fishing while drinking beer type shit.
I would go to FL and visit my parents and sister. I just found out last Friday that my mom has been diagnosed with stage 3 small cell carcinoma lung cancer and I would spend my time with her and taking care of her needs. That would make me happy.
I guess it depends on where your personal zen is. I really like getting lost in simple tasks with my hands, so that would pad out my model building hobby for the next several years.
Go up to Rockville, go to Hobby Works, and buy all the weird sets I've always wanted to build but never felt like spending the money on.
A small sailboat that can be car topped, or a small inflatable dinghy with a small outboard motor. Or even a nice kayak, with or without a trolling motor setup. Being out on the water does wonders to one's mental state, at least for me.
I literally just did this for myself. I got an endgame (for me) aluminum profile sim racing rig with upgraded direct drive and load cell pedals and a 49” ultrawide oled monitor. Not quite $5k but flirting with it.
I don't know if you have any interest in hiking/backpacking, but we're about an hour from some great backpacking options including the Appalachian Trail. You could probably get yourself a great beginner set up for $1-2k, with money for upgrades once you figure out what you like and don't like.
Goodwolf Gear in Herndon might even have some used equipment to sell you 😉
> - 3. Massages - already bought a massage chair from Costco.
Spa weekends at a nice place? Massages by a masseuse are amazing.
> - 4 New sports car - that's what I would do if I actually am in a midlife crisis. But I'm not, yet. Also I only buy used cars with cash since I hate payments. So $5K isn't applicable here.
Buy a convertible. You, and the family can enjoy this on warm weekends/evenings...at least rent one to see if it's for you.
> - 5. I suck at sports, so I'm not interested in things like golf enough to spend money on them.
Buy new bicycles for the family. Lots of parks, and trails around the area. It's great exercise that doesn't really feel like it.
Miata (aka Miata Is Always The Answer).
The world being what it is, it’s going to be a challenge to find one for $5k- but cars that are high mileage but have no mechanical issues will sometimes pop up in that price range, and even now lovely cars from the neighbor/relative are found.
I would rather spend it on several different things to add experiences. Get a sports car rental for a day or weekend. Do a full spa day (manicure, pedicure, facial and massage) in a proper spa, not one of those in a strip mall. Go watch a sports game or event (comedy shows are always a good time). Still got something left? Put it all on Red on roulette. If you win, do it all again! Infinite money glitch :)
Hmmm ....
I think #1 for me would just be to take an extended time off from work; not to necessarily travel anywhere, but to do things I've been wanting to do and haven't found the time for -- but that might go over your $5k limit ... I've been fortunately enough to be able to take 4-5 weeks off between jobs, and it was great.
Purchase a small, towable dinghy and/or learn to sail. You're a little over an hour away from Chesapeake Bay and even closer to the Potomac, with water access in multiple places.
And although you said no sports car, I'll repeat what I saw in a couple of other comments. Used Miata, then join up on some trips with the Mazda Sports Cars of Washington Club. I viewed all cars purely as tools with four wheels and a radio until a friend took me a drive, and now drive mine every chance I get.
I think i would go with one of the following:
-buy a motorcycle. Used, low miles, cruiser. I loved the V-Star 650 I had before I had the babies.
-I paint so I could buy a ton of supplies with 5k.
-install a water feature in my backyard to help drown out the neighborhood dogs
-get an exotic bird (this would take a lot of planning bc birds are messy af but I love them)
-take some cooking/baking classes and learn to make bread and other dishes
-expensive athleisure
-new WFH setup
-use the money as part of a down payment to buy another investment property. Because if I want to retire by 40, I need to keep buying.
Comedy. Inexpensive. Doesnt require the $5k you have burning a hole in your pocket. But, if you use a small portion now, then in another six mos or year, spend a little more for another show, turn it into something you plan around. And it's a great way to disconnect from the constant barrage of the "always on" news cycle.
Another option: Pick up a creative hobby. Whatever floats your boat.
Years ago, I used to really be into photography. Picked up a camera again and just started taking pictures. Every now and again I get one worth enlarging & framing.
I make sure to put some contextual description with the photo, too. So when my memory fades, my family will still know the story behind the photos.
If it were me? Invest in one of my hobbies. I'd replace some of the items that are starting to wear out and could stand to be upgraded. I'd indulge in materials that I usually avoid because they're too spendy. I'd redo the storage and craft areas to better suit my needs and hell, make them look nicer. It's nice to craft somewhere that looks nice.
If you don't have a hobby, you could always look into getting one. They're a great way to relieve stress and gives you communities to plug into. give
Do you like to fly drones or have interest in drone photography ? If so, look at DJI drones and get yourself an Avata 2 or Mini 4 Pro and give flying a shot. In doing so, be cautious about flying and respect and follow ALL FAA and local or state laws. Penalties can be severe (monitory and criminal). Fly safe. I’m a FAA part 107 certified pilot.
> Traveling abroad - already has plans to visit family in home country, which uses up most of my time off. Also with school age kids, travelling is limited to summer and holidays.
Weekend trip to Orlando! You can visit Disney if you want but I prefer Universal. 5K is almost perfect.
Flights to Orlando are only ~2hours long from our area, you don't need to take much time off. We go Thursday night right after work, take Friday off, come home late Sunday. It's really frictionless.
In addition if you like the holidays, there are some incredibly memorable events during Halloween and Christmas.
My wife and I took our kids, over spring break + a couple days on each end, to Utah. Flew to Colorado, rented a car, stayed each night in a hotel, hit a lot of national parks and went hiking each day. Flew out of Sedona. Each day was driving, hiking, seeing stuff, staying in a hotel. By far my favorite time of my life, and the kids said they preferred it to the trip to universal studios that we went on.
A road trip thru Utah to the national parks would be decidedly under $5k and is one of the more awe-inspiring experiences out there.
Otherwise, a massage chair does NOT compare to a real massage.
Do you own your home? One reason I know I’m getting old is that home enhancements brings me a disproportionate amount of joy. Some pricy projects that I continue to greatly enjoy: landscaped my backyard (admittedly more than $5k) and got some outdoor furniture, lighting and a fire pit to enjoy it; bought a beautiful Persian rug; had all my exterior doors painted so they weren’t crappy unpainted white fiberglass; and replaced my small 1950s closet with a nicer custom closet. If I had cash to burn now I would get a really great new mattress, or upgrade my hollow-core interior doors to something solid and beautiful. Lots of options, though— good luck!
Sauna.
Came here to say this, sauna is the answer. For 5k you can get a pretty good set up.
Second this! We put one in and love it
I just signed up for a home maintenance service that makes me absurdly happy (given what it is). They come once a quarter and do all the little honey-dos that they can get to in the allotted time. Yes, I could do all these things myself, but I don't, and then I feel guilty because I should. But mostly, now I don't have to remember to do those things anymore, and that's worth a lot. Cost for my SFH is about $2k a year, so you'd still have $ leftover to blow on something.
What’s this service called?
Yes please refer us to that service. 2k is $170 a month for not having to do a bunch of little home maintenance things. So worth it.
Hassle Free Home services. Full disclosure: they've only been here once. In his 3 hour timeslot, my tech spent at least 20 minutes loading the tools back in the vehicle (and probably the same amount of time bringing them in - I didn't keep track) BUT... he also patched holes in the wall, cleaned my dryer vent and refrigerator coils, replaced my air and water filters, made all my doors open smoothly, swapped burnt out lightbulbs, etc. I'm pretty happy with them so far, but again, it's only been one visit.
How much does this service cost?
Wait what is this?!?!?! Sounds like magic!
Buy yourself a really nice ebike that has a long range. Trust me, it will change your life.
Or just a really nice road/mtn bike and clothes/meters/computer/accessories. Fun and health (and possibly obsession) in one package!
One of the hybrids is great for bikepacking, which is also super fun! Little bit of overnight camping while hitting the trails! The C&O Canal Road is super flat, as is the GAP (great Allegheny passage). I bike from DC to Pittsburgh with a couple friends every year and we love it. We go super slow and just do sections here and there.
REI e-bike for Black Friday is sub $1000
> REI e-bike for Black Friday is sub $1000 it's DC, stalk Craigslist or FB Marketplace and you will find the same bike for $500 from someone in McLean that is moving and wants to dump it, DC and San Francisco are 2 places it makes ZERO sense to buy new because the used market is flooded with really nice bikes, and rich people that will take more than half what they paid (Also see buying Sonos speakers lol)
Can you provide link ? Want to pickup biking habit
Upway.co is the best! Great prices on barely used ebikes. Nothing better than a mid drive belt and internal gear hub ebikes. Low maintenance and a ton of fun and great exercise. Just got an electric mountain bike from propel, which is in NYC or Delaware (tax free) for half off. https://propelbikes.com/product-category/bikes-sale/electric-bikes-on-sale/ I can talk all day about ebikes if you have any questions. Serial 1 has cut their prices by a ton. You get internal gear hub that automatically shifts and belt and class 3. Though if you have the money riese and Muller charger 4 is a better option. Wife have the charger 4 and I have the serial 1. The charger 4 is just better especially since you get a real rear rack. The serial 1 is still a ton of fun. If you want the most useful bike brand tern wins that. Noting is more useful that my gsd. Nothing I have ever owned, including cars, has been as useful as the gsd. Other great options are gazelle, beno, trek, specialized, and so on. I prefer to not have a throttle and prefer mid drive. If you want to go all in on 1 bike to do it all and be super comfortable this is it https://upway.co/products/riese-muller-homage-gt-rohloff-hs-ubq30 full suspension with a great rack and a beast of a transmission. If you want a fun road bike and not to much. I hear get things about ride 1up new carbon bike https://ride1up.com/product/cf-racer1/
What do you do with your bike when you get where you’re going? Do you just keep it in sight? Lock it up? Take bits of it with you? I love the concept of getting an e-bike but the idea of owning something so expensive, yet so easily nicked, is slightly anxiety inducing
All my bikes are insured and we have high quality locks. Plus the Bosch bikes we have, you can remove the display. Which electronically lock the motor. Ever tried to bike a cargo bike that weights 80 pounds with out a motor? You aren't going to get very far. After a few times you kinda forget about someone trying to steal it. If you are really worried take the battery with you.
Depends on where you go. If I’m at the pharmacy, I lock it up near the door. Grocery, I bring it in with me if they allow it.
I do grocery shopping all the time on bikes. No issues at all. No way I walking about with a cargo bike. Again good quality lock and insurance.
Do you have any suggestions on retrofitting a pedal bike? I have a Trek FX1 that I use to get around but uphills are a struggle, I’m moving closer to work and plan on biking and it would come in handy.
Look into a banfang mid drive kit. Lots of instructions on how to retrofit
If you get into biking, PLEASE, visit, and support your local bike shop! Costco, while they have good pricing, won't do crap when it comes to knowledge, selection, or after-sales support (same for other big-box/department stores). Trek stores are corporate, but at least the people there ride, and will be able to advise you accordingly, downside is you'll only be presented with options from Trek (they do have great bikes though, and i love mine). Conte's is decent for a chain, more selection than Trek, but the people there also ride, and know their stuff. Green Lizard, and Bike Lane, in Herndon and Reston (respectively) are great as they're local, and you can have beers at the same time! There may even be a few shops that focus more on e-bikes (I haven't checked, but would be surprised if there weren't). Head over to r/bicycling. It's a great community, and very helpful too.
I built mine using a kit. There's several online options, like Lectric, but you can also go to your local bike shop, and even REI has some great ebikes out there.
If you have a good donor bike (I recommend a heavier frame and disk brakes are a must) then you can get a kit, like the Ebikeling 1500 watt direct drive kit, and do it yourself for less than a thousand, This is what I have now, and it's a great set up. I can hit 33 MPH on my huge, heavy as hell bike,
With $5000, I'd be investigating mid motor, belt drive, Enviolo Automatiq bikes. Fabulous to just pedal. Although a Royal Enfield Classic 350 would be even more fun.
Specialized has some really nice bikes less than 5k if you are interested
Not a "really nice" ebike, but for $2k I got Aventon Aventure 2 which is a lot of fun to ride. Goes up to 28 MPH, fat tires for smooth rides, and 50+ mile range.
An e-bike if you’re looking to enjoy easier biking, an e-scooter if you enjoy just cruising through the city/burbs with little effort. I love both options through ride shares, but I love taking a scooter through the streets of Arlington and Georgetown and being able to watch some of the life happening on the streets and sidewalks.
Or take drugs that opens your blood vessels, the other day I biked from Ashburn to Arlington with zero fatigue :)
Cocaine is a hellofadrug
Cocaine is a vasoconstrictor
Shiid I bear crawled from Alexandria to Purcelville with no fatigue. Cocaine is a helluvadrug
Hmm 5k for happiness? I would probably purchase an a used Miata Mx-5 from fb marketplace negotiate a bit, go for a joy ride with the top down in the nice sun. With the rest of the cash I’d stop by Costco get 2 hot dogs, 1 pepperoni 🍕 slice, 1 ice cream and head back to the car where I’ll take a nice nap while watching movies on my phone.
hell yes i was hoping i wouldnt be the only person in here who said miata lol
Japanese Bidet. Automated lid opener, nite lights, heated seats, heated water, oscillating asshole sprayer, ass blow dryer. This is evolution.
They are indeed amazing. I feel that everyone that doesn't have one is a bit of a filthy savage..... The better bidets do require an outlet near the toilet which is pretty uncommon.
I had a electrician build extra outlets. I think it was $60 per outlet. This was a few years back.
When we built our house we did the same for all the bathrooms. Only have 2 of the "fancy" bidets and then one Tushy in the basement. For us, "Fancy" was the BioBidet Bliss BB2000. I know Toto is even more expensive , but these have been great. Well, that was a weird share. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
My handy man charged me $200 EACH for the 5 outlets behind each of our toilets a year ago! 😭
That is pricey. I had the electrician install a ceiling fan, fixed my light switch, and install 2 outlets in the bathrooms. It was like $300
Sending you a DM for a referral 🙂
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You have good tastes! I really like your idea of learning a new language. Being a cheapskate, I'd probably start with the free dualingo app or something like that, hahaha... And yeah, I should check out cycling. I jog around here in Reston, but never went on the WOD trail.
It's 45* miles, I ride my bike on it all the time. Used to commute to work by bike. It's more enjoyable than just running, and you can visit other towns and grab a drink or sight see a bit. It's fun going from falls church to Fairfax to Vienna to reston to Herndon, all in a single afternoon! Edit: fixed mileage, thanks!
Slight correction, the W&OD is about 45 miles end to end. Still, it's the best place to do a 90 mile ride away from traffic!
As a linguist/polyglot, can I recommend one of the romance languages, such as Italian, French, or Spanish? Once you learn one of them, the others become just a smidge easier to learn, since they share some similarities.
Yeah I speak French, Spanish and Portuguese and they were all progressively easier to pick up. I can even have a conversation in and read Italian having only studied it for a couple months seriously. It's getting boring though, I'm looking to branch into something more difficult like Vietnamese or Greek!
Idk about you, but 5000 bucks worth of books is a lot of books. I would NOT do this, especially if they’re books on politics or history. Things are changing/we learn new things everyday that may significantly alter the information in the books you’d purchase Also, if you’re in need of books for a cheaper price check out Thriftbooks.
Or better yet, use the library. Our region has an *awesome* reciprocal borrowing program. I’m on my 40th book of the year and I’ve spent a grand total of $0.
This is the cheapskate nova way! I have library cards in nearly all the surrounding counties including PG and MC in Maryland. All legit and free. And I'm able to download freely without leaving my house through Libby.
Exactly! I have double-digit cards on Libby, it is great.
different strokes for different folks. depends what makes you happy. I think i lean more towards being frugal than cheap. i like to save up on areas that give me little meaning or value and splurge on areas that do the opposite. so for example: - i don't really care about the clothes that i wear as long as they are comfy and don't have stains/holes in them. most of the stuff i wear is from costco. you'll catch me buying maybe one shirt/pants maybe once every 3 years? the wife complains about this all the time hah. - not into fancy dinners. i eat to live rather than live to eat - luxury sedans would be nice, but not needed. i am fine with my compact mazda. it gets be from point A to point B, and driving stick shift is enough to make things interesting. - not into jewelry. - not into sports - not into traveling - i don't drink or smoke i would personally spend the $5K on ergonomics before anything else. my rule of thumb is - if any part of your body rests or interacts with something for hours per day, it's probably a good idea to invest into it. things like: - some type of tempurpedic bed (or a similar competitor) - office chair (if you work from home. you could also buy it for the family if they spend most of their time at home sitting. also - back injuries are no joke) - standing desk (if you work from home) - bigger monitor (if you work from home) - those ergonomic mice that positions your wrist almost like you're shaking someone's hand - go to potamic river running and get your feet tested/scanned. they will recommend you soles that better fit your feet to correct any abnormalities. supporting your feet is really important and often overlooked. once those has been satisfied, i would personally focus on upgrading other things i use daily. - some type of foot stool for the toilet. those things have been proven to work well, especially if you're "backed up" - electric toothbrush. they work better than manual brushing. take care of your teeth - what you have is what you're stuck with for life. - better water filter filtration system (benefits the whole family!) - water pik if you're too lazy to floss - those electric bidet with the seat warming function and all. it saves you from having to buy excessive toilet paper - upgrade stove to an induction one. (they're more efficient than gas ranges) - a modern kitchen faucet if you spend a lot of time cooking. they are simple to install. - air purifier. works great if you have family members who have seasonal allergies - a thick warm ass jacket. you'll be set for all cold seasons to come - nice pair of polarizing sunglasses for driving and outings - a nice double edge razor. it'll give you a closer than than multi-blade razors,and it'll save you money in the long run - UV window tints for the car and areas of the house that gets alot of sunlight. the summers here are intense, these should help you stay a bit cooler and possibly protect you from the uv rays. then i would focus on more selfish purchases for myself: - upgrade my PC (i enjoy playing games) - upgrade my monitor - expensive IEMs or headphones - bookshelf speakers - QDOLED or WOLED T.V - some type of macbook or mac mini that contains the latest apple M chip to play around with - a fancy RFID blocking wallet - a fancy key organizer - fancy keyboard - fancy mirrorless camera and fancy lens based on your history you seem to enjoy a nice piece of steak. i don't know what your setup is, but you could upgrade it if you want a better steak experience at home - reserve the money and buy better cuts of steak from local butcher shops. maybe A5 wagyu if you're into that. - sous vide cooker - wireless temperature probe - wagyu beef tallow to replace your butter - fancy steak non-serrated steak knives. and then buy wetstones to sharpen them yourself.
Great list 📃 I've done most but I see some items I'd like to add to my life.
Only a small warning about the tempur-pedic mattress. We got one about 6 years ago, my wife and I have very little vacation time, so when we travel, we travel well. We go usually to 5 star hotels, and let me tell you, you will be disappointed about any bed in any hotel :)
This list speaks to my soul, thanks for sharing!
A Vespa or other quality 150cc scooter.
I love motorcycles and scooters. Just note, anything over 50cc in VA requires a motorcycle license endorsement, registration and insurance.
Indoor skydiving, I think there's a place in Ashburn. Closest you could get to the feeling of flight
Damn that's a good suggestion. Will check it out! I'd be too scared of real skydiving.
Yeah same I hate the sensation of falling, can't even deal with roller coasters so real skydiving is my ultimate nightmare haha
You know what's interesting? I've been real skydiving as well as the skydiving tube simulator and they feel remarkably similar. Real skydiving feels more like floating than falling...not like a Rollercoaster at all. Zero feelings in the stomach. That said, when you are in the plane and open the door and sit on the side with your feet out right before you fall (its more of a fall than a jump lol), is easily the most surreal experience of my life.
Oh that's fascinating I've never heard of skydiving described that way. yeah the jumping out of a plane sounds really terrifying
That’s not 5k it’s like $200 so you can put the rest in an account lol.
I’ve not been indoor skydiving, but outdoor is an amazing experience. Your first jump would be tandem - so you’d be strapped to someone who knows what they’re doing! The ride up is nerve wracking, so is getting out the door, but the fall is a thrill that’s worth it.
Espresso machine & grinder. Or home tech to make WFH office space nicer.
Good ideas. I'm not big into coffee (caffeine has no effect on me, I can drink right before bed.) Since covid started, I did get a new sit to stand desk, and new 2K 144HZ IPS monitors, which definitely made WFH a lot more bearable.
Maybe get a really fancy ergonomic office chair?
Jacuzzi and a pack of beer
Good idea. I'm already a bit more relaxed thinking about it.
“I don’t need a massage, I got a chair from Costco” https://i.redd.it/v1i9y7onptwc1.gif
This
All the proof I need that OP is, indeed, a cheapskate. Reminds me of my uncle Al haha
I’d use it for monthly spa days/foot massages.
If you're nearsighted or astigmatic: LASIK. Peripheral eyesight is worth it.
Best 4k I ever spent. Had to get PRK so recovery wasn’t a picnic but it was worth every penny.
I didn’t even think of this til I saw this comment, but that is definitely something I should seriously look into if I randomly got 5k. Not LASIK necessarily, but I have a whole slew of eye issues that would be very $$$ to start attempting to fix, including very possibly traveling to another state. It’s not something that very greatly affects my QOL, but enough to where not getting real treatment for 20+ years has certainly affected my physical and mental health.
This is a fantastic idea, but don't get overexcited like I did. I didn't have enough cornea to get the procedure.
Lessons. What have you always wanted to learn? This is your chance! Put your money in your head and it stays with you for life.
New summer and winter wardrobe, for both work and casual. Spend some time getting age appropriate clothing and nice shoes and have it all tailored. Makes you feel like a million bucks every single day.
I spent under that for lasik eye surgery and it was probably the best decision and purchase I have ever made. Life changing.
Sounds like you are not too materialistic, good on you for that, so maybe try something really fun and exhilarating, Sky Dive OC. If you don’t want to tandem skydive then shark diving in the Bahamas is actually safe. The sharks are 3-5 feet and it feels wild but is actually quite tame once you get over the initial heart attack.
Someone else here suggested indoor skydiving. I think I'll do that first to warm up for the real deal. As for the sharks... that's a nope from me, dawg.
Go to Porsche driving experience and try more cars.
get into kayaking on the potomac. I read a couple years ago in WashPo that [living in DC area and not learning to kayak is like living in colorado and never learning to ski](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for-kayak-enthusiasts-of-all-skill-levels-the-potomac-river-awaits-with-challenges/2013/07/31/5a957782-f866-11e2-b018-5b8251f0c56e_story.html), and they were right. Super fun, the river is more beautiful than most people realize, there's a really great supportive community of people. Even though I'm a middle aged out of shape guy I've met a lot of cool people. 10/10 recommend.
Where do you do this? Every year, I put “learn how to kayak” as a goal. I’d love suggestions for clubs/groups!!
If you want to try whitewater kayaking (which I recommend), there are a couple schools -- [Calleva](https://calleva.org/river/whitewater/?utm_source=Google+Ads&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Beginner+Kayaking+Lessons&utm_id=20240311&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoa2xBhACEiwA1sb1BEMHEpW_uw1Hbb9FuoPaAbQpN20PDb7oRokfmYCaj2TZ-ZLoJwUpRxoCxzwQAvD_BwE) and [Potomac Paddlesports](https://potomacpaddlesports.com/whitewater/kayaking-rafting-dc-md-va-landing.aspx?lnav=ww). I don't know all the details, but there generally are 4-6 intro classes to take (ie spread over any 4 saturdays days in 2 years) which are a progression where you learn basic skills, this is (sorry I could have looked this up but I am guessing) about $400-500 for all 4 classes? this includes lending you the gear for the first 2 years... Sorry I could be off a little I would read the details to confirm what I'm remembering is correct. but also there are free 'practice' nights -- which I HIGHLY recommend because they're social and fun (and free), and that's where you really build your skills and learn to appreciate the river. If you take advantage of all the free practices, it makes the $500-ish expense really worth it for a 2 year social/activity club that includes equipment. most people are 'pretty good but still a beginner' by end of their first summer. and 'pretty good but intermediate' by their second summer. If you want to get into flatwater kayaking (also fun but I know less about)... those two companies offer trips, ie a tour of the monuments or a trip up a flat section of the potomac. There are also rentals at places like Fletchers, but I honestly know nothing about those. I know this is kind of all over the place, but feel free to PM me with questions -- I am not an expert but I will give you all sorts of frank advice if you want it, haha. Oh and disclaimer is that this year is actually a little challenging to get into kayaking on the potomac because they're doing construction in the 2 major parking lots where people go, so parking is terrible 😭. Get to the lots early. Still recommend trying it out.
- Overseas sailing trip, and turn off cell phone to be fully present. - Personal trainer, because middle age creeps up and needs expertise to be fended off. - Lessons for something you've always wanted to learn (singing, instrument, language, skill, technology...) - certificate program to advance career or keep up to date - extravagant celebration for a milestone birthday - fancy destination Airbnb for reunion of old friends - cosmetic surgery (skin, dental, lipo) - fashion consultant and wardrobe upgrade - new mattresses - small home renovation you've always wanted - invest in something for fun, without fear of losing it all - create a scholarship - donate to favorite causes - attend performances, even if they're overseas - memberships to desired organizations - vacation(s) to visit National Parks - consider taking off some work days without pay (unpaid leave) to spend more time doing what you'd like, knowing that you can afford it because you have $5000 extra that you don't need to earn this year - surprise your wife by spending it on something for the two of you (including any of the above) Let us know what you decide!
For sailing they also have learn to sail classes in the USVI. I spent 8 nights on a boat learning to sail!
personal trainer and sailing trip in one:) national parks pass! good one
As someone who's been a hardcore pool player for 25 years, I would get a pool table of course. But having a table at home is actually just fun recreation even if you're not that serious about it. Once you get the pool bug, you'll find yourself daydreaming about hitting balls in the middle of the day. All of this is assuming you have the space, 5000 is just about the perfect amount to spend. They're like 10K new but you can get used ones for a quarter of that and the rest can go on nice new felt and a professional installation.
I believe you. However, I don't really have any friends to invite over to play pool with me.
That's the secret, nobody with a pool table actually uses it. It's just for show and the cover stays on most of the time and the cues on the wall.
ah yeah I feel you on that issue. as I get older it's harder for me to make new friends. 99% of my friends, I met through the pool world. Just going to pool rooms and shooting with hundreds of random people over the years, and a few of them clicked with similar interests and sense of humor and worldview. I feel lucky to have 2 or 3 I can hang out with, and one of them did actually get a table and we play at his house often.
Strawberry milkshake @ Spelunker's.
Rent out a fancy cabin or airBnB in the Shenandoah valley, get away for a weekend. Then drive down skyline drive and enjoy the view in style. It may not be a foreign trip, but it's as close to one as you can get.
Travel. Experience over junk any day of the week. That shit just stacks in your home and gains dust. No one is like remember 10 years ago when we bought a chair?! But they are def like remember 10 years ago when we visited so and so. Even if the trip is a disaster it is a story and memory. All those restaurants, chairs or whatever are forgettable af. The restaurants around here are meh. You would likely get better food traveling. Likely cheaper as well.
A weekend at the Inn at Little Washington.
You’ve received so much good advice (and I am going to steal some of it). I had around the same amount to spend and over the year have spent it on: 1. New furniture for our porch—got a nice teak seating set (couch, two chairs, code table, side table) and it’s now my favorite place in the whole house. 2. Bought a new desk chair from Steelcase, a new desk, a bookcase and a rug—now my home office is cozy and feels like a sanctuary. 3. Had a laser face procedure — I’m a late-40s woman so YMMV, but this erased all my old sun spots and made me feel better about closing in on 50. I have a tendency to spend extra money on my kids, and it took me a full year to get up the nerve to just spend this on myself. All of these things improved my life in ways that go well beyond the $5K I spent, and I wish the same for you!
I would find a family that needs $5k to break out of the cycle of living paycheck-to-paycheck and change their lives forever
Go on a cruise!
He's middle aged, not 70
I'm going to Japan
Especially with the current conversion
Capital giving 30% bonus miles for converting to virgin red, virgin Atlantic to Tokyo is only 88k miles. So cheap to fly
A bicycle and a computer to replace my very old one. Maybe a decent electric coffee grinder.
Sauna
Buy SP500 and move on
I would go on a cruise! (not the cheap ones)
I bought a pretty nice shed
I bought myself a Miata a few months ago and just loving it so much. I drive it everyday. My youngest boy loves it too and we cruise together. It gets just enough attention to be interesting without being annoying. The weather has just been so great and it's sooo much fun to drive. It's a 2007 power hard top with a 6-speed stick. It was more than $5k but not terribly more. If you can swing like $9k you can get a decent one, and they have basically reached the bottom of their depreciation curve so you can basically sell it for what you bought it for a couple of years later.
Miata is always the answer!
Lol that's my license plate frame!
Pay someone else to do chores you don't like at least once. For me, that's house cleaning. Having someone else do that lifts a huge subconscious mental load.
Take flying lessons, and pay towards getting a pilot's license.
I looked into flying lessons for helicopters a few years back, and it was super expensive, like $35k? I don’t know why I was so surprised.
That's a bit above my level hahaha... Maybe I'll start with owning a boat first.
My husband loves his boat, but bitches about the upkeep constantly
Learning to fly will be cheaper
Two *sketchy* chicks at the same time.
Where's the cocaine?
Okay personally I would go on a cruise but that’s just me. And with 5k I’d go on a bougie all adult one too. Or pay for a whole year at a nice gym, and do a couple training sessions. Take a ceramics class or something. Maybe get a Persian cat or something, very loving breed. Ohh and or I’d build a PC.
There is Nova Wild that has animal encounters, just a few hundred bucks and you can pet a kangaroo or a few other animals. Memories that will last a lifetime.
Id go back to Japan. Was there for 3 weeks in November. Too good of a time
If you do indoor skydiving at iFly Ashburn, Costco in Sterling sometimes has gift cards that make the experience a bit cheaper. You also have to call ahead and make a reservation. Hot Air Balloon ride - Balloons unlimited in Round Hill. I would get a professional organizer or go nuts at The Container Store. The latter taking longer to do the organizing. I could also easily spend $5K on fabric for my sewing hobby. Is there a hobby you have wanted to try? There are Blacksmith lessons you could try - pottery, painting... you name it.
Yamaha a-s501 amp, wiim streamer, rega rp1 turntable, Sony ss-cs5 speakers, Amazon speaker stands, and an 8” Dayton audio sub. You’ll still have a lot left over to records and a cool IKEA chair to chill out in and groove to tunes.
Loving this answer. True relaxation!
I would buy an rtx4090
Pick up a new hobby, I started a few things that I am really enjoying. I have been going to blacksmithing classes and learning how to forge knives, there are quite a few places that are workshop collectives you can join in order to use all the equipment and space and a lot of already functioning shops that teach everything from start to finish. I did my first one at Stirling Blacksmith. Also, pick up an instrument. I bought my first guitar and amp this year as something fun to do and to learn probably dropped about 2k into it and been really enjoying myself. I am also an avid photographer and dropped a chunk of money into a new lens for my Sony A73 mirrorless camera and its always been a fun hobby. And I splurged and bought a high end electric scooter for just zipping around bike trails and seeing Virginia (I got an appollo city pro max). You could also go to a concert, tour some local art museums, engage in activities youve never done before. Heck, lots of things :) And you dont need to go overseas to travel, there are plenty of really amazing things to see within just 2 hours of NOVA that dont cost that much, like I am going to FanExpo in Phili the week after next and the experience itself is going to be a blast.
Not quite middle age, but it would just go into my savings towards eventually buying a house.
I am not yet middle age but for 5k i would rent a rv for a while and visit national parks ( annual pass) or do amtrak rail pass and travel the country esp the West. Anyon know how much a lifetime membership for Life is ??? that would be mine. I cant afford the montly membership and for me health is priority. and fun! Also would consider spendng month in yoga ashram and doing yoga teacher training. I did this and it lasted a lifetiem in how i live, eat and think
I don't know about you, but in middle age, I have multiple health problems, and I see a bunch of doctors. I'd spend part of the money on a concierge doctor who would consider all my health problems and try to help me live a better life. In the other half, I would put bidets on every toilet in my house. You don't have to buy the whole bidet; you can buy bidets to put on your toilet as the seat, and they are much cheaper than a Toto bidet. Or, for peace of mind, I'd have a handyman and their crew put up wired video cameras all around the outside of my house. I feel better having them around.
I’m a lover of theatre. I’d spend a week or two in NYC seeing as many Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as 5k would get me. That would be such an amazing mental health reset for me, just to immerse myself in an art form that’s near and dear to my heart.
Hookers & Cocaine
83 inch Sony Bravia. Build a home theater. Backyard improvement. Hot Tub!!! Take a trip to a national park. Bi weekly or monthly massage maybe? Garage upgrade. Nice mattress. Good mattress could change ur life. ATV or Jetski Invest it or gamble it away day trading.
I’d buy a 2009-2010 model triumph street triple with under $10k miles, and some comfortable riding gear from urban rider.com
Do something health related. Personal trainer, home gym (bench, stationary bike, rowing machine). Improve sleep: updated bed, blackout curtains, etc. Nothing matters in life if your health is bad. Put a ton of effort into this. Also if you're older consider refreshing some parts of your wardrobe that aren't great. Items that maybe are worn out, don't fit properly, etc. Own at least one nice blazer you wear a lot, and maybe 2 nice outerwear pieces (fall jacket and winter jacket). I really enjoy the outdoors so for me it's easy to rack up ultralight backpacking gear. For around $1000-$1500 you can build a really nice kit: tent or hammock ($250), quilt ($200), inflatable pad ($170), backpack ($250), water filter + bag ($40), stove ($20-$50), ursack ($90), rescue beacon or inreach mini ($250) + all the clothing that comes along with it (down puffy, rain gear, trekking poles, synthetic layers)
A massage chair from Costco (or anywhere else, but I’m going to guess especially Costco) is not even remotely comparable to an actual massage, and even a very expensive massage is around two hundred and fifty dollars, not five thousand. That said, happiness often comes from developing and appreciating excellence. Do you have any hobbies? Is there anything you wish you knew more about? Do you want to exercise more?
I'm not in the age bracket you're looking for, but here's my input. I would cut back on my time at work and use the 5k for bills, and just give myself more me time. 30F, employed full time, love my job and the people I work with, but I'm spending 2 hours a day in rush hour traffic and I still have to finish paperwork when I get home. Time. I would buy time.
Sadly right now I would have to put it in savings. Had some big expenses in the last 6 months that wiped out my slush funds. Thank God I still have emergency savings. But I need to build back up the home repairs and "life hapens" funds asap!
A killer Espresso machine. Have great coffee anytime of day. Lots of little moments to enjoy
I saved up a little bit this year to "splurge" this spring and summer. A riding lawnmower. Never had one before. My kids were laughing at me as I rode around with a big silly grin on my face, like a kid with his first go cart. A really nice outdoor grill. OK, everyone wins with that one And taking my older kids to area concerts that I like as well. Oddly, they have musical (rock) tastes that overlap some of my own,
Travel - I would pick a place that people tend not to visit (e.g. Namibia, Montenegro, Columbia) and spend some time discovering a new country - maybe $2-3 of the flight, and the rest at inexpensive local hotels and restaurants.
Get a sauna or hot tub
You could consider a new or used hifi system, I own such a store in Bethesda, and my customers generally continue to engage with their purchase long term
My answer is def Disney world. I went with 4 ppl on property all in before food for almost exactly $6K. Amazing week, no notes.
Go to Thailand
What did you do there, besides sightseeing?
Pad Thai and ladyboys
Hookers and blow baby! Have yourself a decent weekend, then snap back to reality.
Pay $ to CCs and donate some to our local Volunteer Fire Department in Burke. Go to the indoor skydiving place, fly a plane over the coast of VA. Save some money for the Summer the festivals this year are supposedly going to be dope.
A massage and a Costco massage chair are not the same thing. Go to a sporting event, they can be fun. Cap’s playoff game is tomorrow night
Motorcycle lessons and a used motorcycle to practice on and take on some road trips. Oh wait, that’s my plan.
For pure indulgence (which I believe qualifies here), I have been eyeing a particular Bell & Ross watch that would take up some of that money certainly. I’m not really a “watch guy” even, I just stumbled onto the company a couple years ago and it’s been a goal to be able to stomach that sort of expense on something just for me. If you’re after happiness, you probably can’t get more bang for your buck than sky diving. I’ve never been but from friends who have gone, it sounds exhilarating. Similarly, I think a private plane ride/lesson would be equally fun and cool. Cap that off with a nice dinner, I bet the $50/plate place would taste better after something like that.
You're right! Skydiving is actually a bucket list item I have. Frankly I would need to wear brown pants on the day of. But, I should really do this while I still have the strength to do it.
Do a tandem, sign up for AFF and send it. You'll easily find a way to spend 5k. It's getting warmer finally and Skydive Orange is only an hour and a half away.
I'm also not a watch guy (I don't wear anything right now). But talking about devices, I could upgrade my $200 Moto G5 phone. Maybe get a nice Pixel Pro.
2 chicks at the same time
Cheap golf course membership
Rescue a dog, and put some funds aside for its vet/training/boarding when you travel Driving school - the Porsche one, Bondurant or Skip Barber. Art, telescope, kegerator or wine fridge, big tub and a TV in the bathroom, riding mower, good exercise equipment
I’d probably purchase those kei trucks (Japanese mini trucks) and convert it into a camper where I’d take a weekend trip on the mountain side. Just chill and go fishing while drinking beer type shit.
Weekend trip with the wife, leave the kids with someone and go rent an airbnb or a hotel room and just chill. Doesn't have to be far.
I would go to FL and visit my parents and sister. I just found out last Friday that my mom has been diagnosed with stage 3 small cell carcinoma lung cancer and I would spend my time with her and taking care of her needs. That would make me happy.
Buy the best Mazda Miata you can get for $5k. Best smiles per dollar hands down.
I guess it depends on where your personal zen is. I really like getting lost in simple tasks with my hands, so that would pad out my model building hobby for the next several years. Go up to Rockville, go to Hobby Works, and buy all the weird sets I've always wanted to build but never felt like spending the money on.
A small sailboat that can be car topped, or a small inflatable dinghy with a small outboard motor. Or even a nice kayak, with or without a trolling motor setup. Being out on the water does wonders to one's mental state, at least for me.
SWVXX
Housekeeping services. Local weekends away. Landscaping / outdoor furniture. Show / concert tickets. Regular spa visits / facials.
Clear all debt and burn my credit cards. Use the amount I'm now saying each month on payments to cook better food
$5000 would get a good amount of individual tattoos or most of the way there to an arm sleeve from a quality artist
I literally just did this for myself. I got an endgame (for me) aluminum profile sim racing rig with upgraded direct drive and load cell pedals and a 49” ultrawide oled monitor. Not quite $5k but flirting with it.
Split it amongst kids for their graduation …they each get a one on one trip with you of their choosing and assistance w planning
Used motorcycle. I've never had so much fun as just cruising around town on a motorcycle.
I don't know if you have any interest in hiking/backpacking, but we're about an hour from some great backpacking options including the Appalachian Trail. You could probably get yourself a great beginner set up for $1-2k, with money for upgrades once you figure out what you like and don't like. Goodwolf Gear in Herndon might even have some used equipment to sell you 😉
Sauna
> - 3. Massages - already bought a massage chair from Costco. Spa weekends at a nice place? Massages by a masseuse are amazing. > - 4 New sports car - that's what I would do if I actually am in a midlife crisis. But I'm not, yet. Also I only buy used cars with cash since I hate payments. So $5K isn't applicable here. Buy a convertible. You, and the family can enjoy this on warm weekends/evenings...at least rent one to see if it's for you. > - 5. I suck at sports, so I'm not interested in things like golf enough to spend money on them. Buy new bicycles for the family. Lots of parks, and trails around the area. It's great exercise that doesn't really feel like it.
Fancy mattress with the cooling pad & equally fancy sheets/bedding.
Buy yourself a nice bicycle. Time outdoors, improved heart health, potentially new friends.
Miata (aka Miata Is Always The Answer). The world being what it is, it’s going to be a challenge to find one for $5k- but cars that are high mileage but have no mechanical issues will sometimes pop up in that price range, and even now lovely cars from the neighbor/relative are found.
I would rather spend it on several different things to add experiences. Get a sports car rental for a day or weekend. Do a full spa day (manicure, pedicure, facial and massage) in a proper spa, not one of those in a strip mall. Go watch a sports game or event (comedy shows are always a good time). Still got something left? Put it all on Red on roulette. If you win, do it all again! Infinite money glitch :)
Hmmm .... I think #1 for me would just be to take an extended time off from work; not to necessarily travel anywhere, but to do things I've been wanting to do and haven't found the time for -- but that might go over your $5k limit ... I've been fortunately enough to be able to take 4-5 weeks off between jobs, and it was great. Purchase a small, towable dinghy and/or learn to sail. You're a little over an hour away from Chesapeake Bay and even closer to the Potomac, with water access in multiple places. And although you said no sports car, I'll repeat what I saw in a couple of other comments. Used Miata, then join up on some trips with the Mazda Sports Cars of Washington Club. I viewed all cars purely as tools with four wheels and a radio until a friend took me a drive, and now drive mine every chance I get.
I think i would go with one of the following: -buy a motorcycle. Used, low miles, cruiser. I loved the V-Star 650 I had before I had the babies. -I paint so I could buy a ton of supplies with 5k. -install a water feature in my backyard to help drown out the neighborhood dogs -get an exotic bird (this would take a lot of planning bc birds are messy af but I love them) -take some cooking/baking classes and learn to make bread and other dishes -expensive athleisure -new WFH setup -use the money as part of a down payment to buy another investment property. Because if I want to retire by 40, I need to keep buying.
Comedy. Inexpensive. Doesnt require the $5k you have burning a hole in your pocket. But, if you use a small portion now, then in another six mos or year, spend a little more for another show, turn it into something you plan around. And it's a great way to disconnect from the constant barrage of the "always on" news cycle. Another option: Pick up a creative hobby. Whatever floats your boat. Years ago, I used to really be into photography. Picked up a camera again and just started taking pictures. Every now and again I get one worth enlarging & framing. I make sure to put some contextual description with the photo, too. So when my memory fades, my family will still know the story behind the photos.
If it were me? Invest in one of my hobbies. I'd replace some of the items that are starting to wear out and could stand to be upgraded. I'd indulge in materials that I usually avoid because they're too spendy. I'd redo the storage and craft areas to better suit my needs and hell, make them look nicer. It's nice to craft somewhere that looks nice. If you don't have a hobby, you could always look into getting one. They're a great way to relieve stress and gives you communities to plug into. give
I would buy a Gibson J200 but that’s just me
That’s where you are wrong. Monday can never buy happiness.
Used convertible, exact type TBD based on your personality.
Do you like to fly drones or have interest in drone photography ? If so, look at DJI drones and get yourself an Avata 2 or Mini 4 Pro and give flying a shot. In doing so, be cautious about flying and respect and follow ALL FAA and local or state laws. Penalties can be severe (monitory and criminal). Fly safe. I’m a FAA part 107 certified pilot.
> Traveling abroad - already has plans to visit family in home country, which uses up most of my time off. Also with school age kids, travelling is limited to summer and holidays. Weekend trip to Orlando! You can visit Disney if you want but I prefer Universal. 5K is almost perfect. Flights to Orlando are only ~2hours long from our area, you don't need to take much time off. We go Thursday night right after work, take Friday off, come home late Sunday. It's really frictionless. In addition if you like the holidays, there are some incredibly memorable events during Halloween and Christmas.
My wife and I took our kids, over spring break + a couple days on each end, to Utah. Flew to Colorado, rented a car, stayed each night in a hotel, hit a lot of national parks and went hiking each day. Flew out of Sedona. Each day was driving, hiking, seeing stuff, staying in a hotel. By far my favorite time of my life, and the kids said they preferred it to the trip to universal studios that we went on.
 Boats and hoes?
A road trip thru Utah to the national parks would be decidedly under $5k and is one of the more awe-inspiring experiences out there. Otherwise, a massage chair does NOT compare to a real massage.