Expensive But Worth It

One common mistake people make is focusing on the cost of something, as opposed to its value. Think, "buy once, cry once." Get the best you can afford and worry about the price one time. Generally, the better quality leads to less replacements or problems. Hence, price is what you pay; value is what you get.

Inspired by some mediocre commentary on Twitter, I wanted to put together a list of things that are expensive, but worth it, or where the value is more important than the cost. This is a helpful mentality to have, and is applicable at any price point, and not just for the material world:

1. A housekeeper. You don’t need a Roomba; you need a Rosalina. How much is your time worth? A clean and orderly house (without any effort or consideration) benefits all aspects of your life.

2. Skincare. Men now make up 30% of the skincare market - because they need it. Men have thicker skin and higher levels of sebum, cortisol (stress hormones), and adrenaline. Taking care of your skin is a long term investment, and much more complicated than simply throwing on some moisturizer:

   → Face wash dissolves oils and pollutants, and locks in moisture

   → An activator to combat the stress and irritation of shaving

   → A serum to decelerate collagen and elastin breakdown

   → Moisturizer for nourishment and protection

   Keep extra product in your gym bag, and don’t neglect your neck otherwise you’ll end up looking like a turkey in 30 years.

3. Flying first class. This has its obvious perks - getting on and off first, more comfort, a better class of people (if you don’t count the Willy Loman frequent flyers), and better service. However, if the flight is less than three hours, I prefer Economy Plus for one very specific reason - productivity. I still get the convenience of saving time - sitting close to the front. But, instead of reclining and enjoying a few drinks, I endure the slight discomfort, sit upright, keep my AirPods in to dissuade people from talking to me, decline the food and beverage service, and get a few hours of solid, productive work done.

4. Sporting events.  If its not in the suite or front row, the experience is better at home. (Exception: really big events where you have an emotional investment.)

5. Drugs. Don’t risk it in the fentanyl era. I’ve seen otherwise exemplary lives cut short, and legacies unfairly destroyed. At the very least, buy only the best, let someone else try it first, and get some of those fentanyl test strips.

6. Dinner with friends. First of all, never split a check. (Credit card roulette is okay in your 20s, but after that, it’s time to grow up.) Skip the theater and drama where people reach for their wallets or argue over a bill. At the beginning of a meal, discreetly hand the waiter your credit card. It typically evens out over time, and cheapskates are culled from the herd. Regardless, in my experience, the person paying the tab has more fun (and control).

7. Laundry service. Time is too short to do your own laundry.

8. Making a home comfortable . The most expensive house you’ll own is the one you never want to spend any time in. When I was in my early 20s, a Minotti couch, nice TV, and a Playstation saved me thousands of dollars a year. Incentivize yourself to spend more time at home, and entertain guests more frequently. Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams and Arhaus are great places to get ideas.

9. Cedar shoe trees . It seems like an unnecessary expense, but quality cedar shoe trees preserve the look of shoes, absorb odor and moisture, and prolong the life of your shoes by years.

10. A quality mattress.  We’re talking about 1/3rd of our lives; why is this considered an extravagance worthy of price-shopping and holiday sales? Hästens are handmade in Sweden and cost as much as a car, but do your own research and try some out; it’s a very personal decision.

11. Lasik eye surgery. I’ve personally never needed it (yet), but I don’t know a single person who has regretted it. Just don’t pick the doctor from a billboard.

12. Home exercise equipment. I find home exercise to be an essential compliment to a gym membership. But, nothing can be quite as de-motivating as a shaky treadmill or cheap elliptical machine. Buy the best you can afford (although I prefer this elliptical so I can better control my heart rate for longer without putting stress on my body), and have it professionally assembled. Other than that, it’s all about value and efficiency; this is all you need at home: a weight bench, adjustable weights, medicine ball, and a jump rope.

13. Alcohol. Cheap liquor and wine puts the toxin in intoxication. It’s terrible for you, and makes hangovers considerably worse. Buy the best you can reasonably afford, or just drink less often.

14. Kitchenware. Simply put, it cooks better, cleans easier, is healthier for you (cheap pans literally kill you slowly), and lasts for generations. Start with a top-of-the-line cast iron pan. It will last forever. Also, Le Creuset and Sur La Table (which also hosts fun, boozy couples cooking classes) are both great for all of your kitchen needs.

15. Dress shoes.  This is one of the most obvious examples of value over cost and expensive but worth it. A solid pair of $800 Gucci loafers lasts 5x longer than some $300 Cole Haans, and look infinitely better. Cheap shoes ruin an expensive outfit.

16. Kitchen knives. You should do everything you can to make cooking less of a chore, so don’t skimp on kitchen knives. If you can’t swing a trip to Kyoto, pick up this complete set, or one of these handmade, forged steel Japanese knives. Also, this sounds pretentious but quality steak knives are a statement, and a conversation piece.

17. Proteins (Meat, Eggs, Poultry, Fish). Expensive eggs are better for you. Farmed fish gives you cancer. Poultry farms are unethical (as is most factory farming) and US chicken is prohibited for export to EU countries because of chlorine washing. In terms of red meat, the idea that it is bad for you is a myth propagated by corrupt shills. However, the quality of your meat is still incredibly important. Most cows are slaughtered at 18-24 months old. Feed lot cows are pumped so full of antibiotics, hormones, and high-caloric filler food (made from chicken excrement) that if not slaughtered, they’d only live for another year or so naturally; whereas, free range, grass-fed cows are healthy enough to live another 20 years. Find a provider of locally and ethically-sourced proteins, and wild-caught fish. As I say about the cows from my ranch, “they only have one bad day.”

18. A Vitamix blender. Fruit juice is terrible for you; the best ingredients are discarded. I use my Vitamix (definitely go with the larger 64oz) every single day. $10 a day in fruit sounds expensive, but it’s worth it. In addition to the obvious staples, don’t forget ginger, lime, honey, and mint.

19. Hotels on vacation. I’ve never understood the logic of saying, “we don’t need a nice hotel; it’s just a place to sleep.” Go to any Aman, Claridges in London, or the Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo and get back to me. Also, I don't like meeting new people, but if you do, this is a no-brainer. We live in a world that rewards intelligence, creativity, hard work, and risk-taking with wealth. The bars and pools at exclusive hotels have more interesting and refined people, and less riffraff.

20. Earphones.  I use the new AirPods because I’m too lazy to research possible alternatives, and unlike the previous generation, these stay in even when running. If you factor in the hours of use and value-add, it’s one of the cheapest items you’ll own. I’ll sometimes wear mine without listening to anything, just so people don’t talk to me.

21. Suits and ties. Business attire is gone, and generally, people tend not to dress up as often as they used to. So when you do, make it count: get a tailor (much better value), get in shape before you get measured (and stay that size), and then spend more money on expensive ties - Zegna, Brioni, Tom Ford, etc. If wearing a tie is now a special occasion, make it special.

22. Luggage. It should be durable enough to last a lifetime and distinct enough to locate on a conveyor belt. My Ralph Lauren safari bag has been to six continents. Every time I pull it out, I have fond memories. They don’t make it anymore, but here’s the canvas weekender.

23. A watch. They serve a purpose — presenting yourself as “high-status” is proven to make you appear more attractive to women. Patek and AP would be obvious choices (and historically solid investments), depending on what you can afford. But in my opinion, the best value watch is the Rolex Daytona - flashy yet understated, formal yet casual, classic yet cool. Whatever you do, do not waste money on a “fashion watch” - anything $1,000-$5,000. That just tells people you care, but can’t afford anything nice. If you can’t afford a decent starter watch (DateJust or Submariner), just don’t wear a watch, or stick with something whimsical (Swatch) or practical (Apple). Alternatively, buy a used, vintage Rolex and let people assume you inherited it.

24. The bar tab. Just put your card behind the bar. You’re more handsome. Your jokes are funnier. And you have more control. It’s kind of a sad reality, but we can’t argue with evolutionary biology.

25. Cooking oil. In simple terms, seed oils are an industrial lubricant. They will kill you, after they make you fat. And many olive oils aren’t even real - like how Jose Cuervo Tequila is 49% vodka because it’s cheaper. You don’t have to go crazy, but upgrade your olive or avocado oil.

26. Sheets, duvet, and pillows. If you’re spending $10,000 on a mattress, don’t neglect the rest of the team. Find what you like, regardless of what it costs.

27. Sushi. I’m not a fine dining snob; some of my best meals have been on milk crates  in Laos and Mexico. And just look around the Michelin-starred restaurants in New York and London - people aren’t having that much fun. But I always make an exception for sushi. In terms of the quality of the experience and the food, you get what you pay for.

28. Regular foot massages. Reflexology has been practiced for thousands of years for a reason. And while it may not cure cancer, it’s been proven to help with stress and anxiety. I go weekly, and unlike a full body massage, I can use this time productively - reading or working in a conducive and relaxing space.

29. Fresh produce. Fruit and vegetables have lost more than 70% of their nutritional value in the last 100 years due to changes in production methods and the depletion of nutrients from top soil. If you have time and space, start a garden. Otherwise, buy from your local farmer’s market (because the strawberries at Whole Foods are the same ones at Costco).

30. Quality sunglasses. Let women know you appreciate nice things and are responsible enough not to lose them. I appreciate a spectrum - from slightly garish Gucci to classically understated Tom Ford. It’s down to personal taste, but it’s nice not to be one of a thousands guys wearing the same Ray-Bans.

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John LeFevre is the creator of @GSElevator and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Amazon Book of the Month, and TIME Book of the summer, Straight To Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, And Billion-Dollar Deals.