Five of the Best Purchases I've Ever Made

And how to shop smarter with the cost-per-use formula

Last week I wrote about five things I regret buying, so I thought I’d counter that with a roundup of some of the best investments I’ve made. I made the list by walking through each room in our home and jotting down the items that get the most use.

The exercise was eye-opening — when you start seeing your purchases through the cost-per-use lens, it truly changes how you shop. The formula is simple: divide the price of an item by (roughly) the number of times you've used it. With this math, the $300 coat you've worn hundreds of times is a far better deal than the $80 dress that's been collecting dust in your closet.

Here are the five purchases that came out on top:

photography by Vivian Johnson

Heath Ceramics Plates & Bowls

After my dad died, my brother and I started a new tradition. Every year on his anniversary we’d take a hike, grab lunch, and head to the Heath Ceramics outlet in Marin — each buying ourselves a couple of plates or bowls from the seconds collection. A way of lifting our spirits on a heavy day and growing a collection without investing all at once. I now own a full set. The ceramics are extraordinarily durable, timeless in design, and feel deeply personal. I plan to have them for a lifetime.

My Metal Pill Case

I know it seems insane to spend $90 on a metal pill case, but this one comes from a small family-owned business with the sweetest origin story: two brothers who were tired of watching their dad struggle to open his pill case. It’s sleek, compact, unbreakable, and plastic-free. I use it every single day, travel with it, and will never have to buy another pill case again. Take that, family members who laughed at me!

Organic Sheets & Towels

I used to feel strange about splurging on sheets and towels until I realized we put them on our bodies every single day. After lots of research and crowdsourcing I’ve gone all in on Coyuchi’s high-quality sheets and fluffy towels. I love the brand’s commitment to organic materials and ethical production - their bedding and bath essentials are made with 100% certified organic fibers, free of chemicals and synthetics, and support soil health and sustainable farming. They even have a take-back renewal program that promotes circularity.

photography by Vivian Johnson

My Daily-Use Jewelry

Clothes wear out. Shoes wear out. Jewelry, when chosen well, can last forever. I wear mine every day — to sleep, in the shower, everywhere. My collection is very small and almost entirely sentimental: a gold signet ring engraved with a “J” for my dad Jules, my wedding ring, the tiny gold studs and huggies I’ve collected over a lifetime, and this disc pendant with my girls’ names engraved on it which I bought myself after I finished my second book. I’ll be wearing most of it for the rest of my life.

My Carry-On Suitcase

I've had my Away small carry-on for a decade and it has been on every type of trip with me, from road trip getaways to multi-week adventures abroad. It's hard to put an exact number on the cost-per-use since my travel varies year to year, but Away's free repair and replacement program makes it a truly one-and-done purchase — and one of the best investments I've made.

Honorable Mention: Our Compact Wireless Printer

We bought our tiny HP Tango wireless printer (sadly discontinued) when we bought our home fourteen years ago. We don’t print often, but this is one of the only electronics in our house that has genuinely stood the test of time. It still works perfectly. Here's hoping it's the last printer we ever buy.

Items That Almost Always Win on Cost-Per-Use

If you’re looking to apply this formula to your own shopping, these categories tend to deliver the best return (my next purchase will be a good chef’s knife):

• Kitchen staples (a good knife, a cast iron pan)

• A good suitcase

• Quality bedding and towels

• A well crafted handbag or wallet

• Art you love to look at

• Fine jewelry

• A good mattress

• A classic coat or puffer

• A reusable water bottle or coffee cup

Prompts for Shopping More Intentionally

Before your next purchase, try asking yourself:

• How many times will I realistically use this in a year?

• What’s my cost-per-use if I own it for 3, 5, or 10 years?

• Am I buying this because I need it, or because it’s on sale?

• Do I already own something that does this job?

• Will I still love this in five years, or is it trend-driven?

• Is there a higher-quality version worth saving up for?

• Could I borrow, rent, or buy this secondhand instead?

Reader Prompt: I’m so curious - What are your best cost-per-use purchases? I’d love to hear what’s earning its place in your home or life.

Watching: Company Retreat - the follow up to the critically acclaimed Jury Duty mockumentary series - so earnest and sweet!

Reading: Make Time - How to Focus on What Matters every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

Making: No-bake energy bites - so easy to make and a hit with the teens

Fewer Better Kitchen Essentials: A dripless olive oil dispenser, a ceramic garlic keeper, really good finishing salt, wooden dish brush, and this refillable glass dish soap dispenser

1:1 Business Mentoring: No-fluff strategy and support to help you tackle your large and small goals. Get support here

Curated Product Recs: My fewer better faves for your home, life, and wardrobe. To the recs

I Wrote Some Books: Actionable strategies to clear clutter, get organized, & elevate your home and life. To the books