One of my fellow wellness bloggers (Kayla Kleinman) always gives a month’s worth of journal prompts to help people prepare for the new year. One of them this year asked: “what is the best thing you spent money on in 2020?” and a few things immediately came to mind!
2020 has been year of great isolation and a need to escape in some ways. I leaned into self-care and hobbies like fitness, reading, writing, baths, video games etc. The products below helped me do this and I’ve used them each every single day!
I know a lot of people went a bit overboard with the online shopping while stuck at home in 2020, but these things were honestly worth it. As always, there’s no pressure to buy anything I’m promoting (though if you choose to, I’d super appreciate if you used my links!). I simply want to share the things that brought me joy and enhanced my life during this wild year.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Kindle Paperwhite
Not only does the Kindle Paperwhite make reading so easy & accessible (Kindle books are cheaper than physical ones, and I rent most of my e-books from the local library using Overdrive/Libby!) but it’s also waterproof! This makes is perfect for a trip to the beach or pool, and it also makes me feel safer taking it into the bath with me.
I have a few lists of book recommendations that you should definitely check out if you get a kindle:
- Beach read recommendations
- Romance recommendations
- Romantic suspense recommendations
- Super steamy romance recommendations
- Wellness recommendations
I’ve been reading e-books off of an iPad for years now, but I m much prefer this Kindle. It’s smaller, waterproof, and has way less blue light (perfect for reading before bed!).
I got the ad supported version (it only shows ads on the page while the kindle sleeps in between uses – it in no way hinders the reading experience) and the smallest storage because I mostly rent books from the library, so they don’t stay in the Kindle’s memory.
Nintendo Switch Lite
I bought myself a Switch Lite at the very beginning of the pandemic, because I figured I was going to be stuck in the house for a while, so I might as well have some entertainment!
My favorite game by far is Animal Crossing, but I have also enjoyed Super Mario Bros U Deluxe and Super Mario Maker. Animal Crossing honestly got me through the first few months of quarantine – it gave me a safe place to be when the world felt so out of control.
I would say the Switch is worth it for anyone who knows they enjoy video games. I have had a Game Boy, Nintendo DS, and Wii in the past and always enjoyed Animal Crossing and Mario games, so I was pretty sure I would like the switch and I wasn’t disappointed!
I went with the Lite version mostly because the original Switch was sold out at the time I purchased it, but it’s also cheaper. The original switch allows for both handheld play and play on a TV, while the Lite only allows for handheld play. I prefer that anyway, so it was the perfect choice for me!
My Switch friend code: SW-4310-3883-2331 – come visit Molltopia (LOL)
Powerbeats Pro
I have been using Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones for a couple of years and loved the quality, but was never crazy about the clunky headband piece. On the other hand, the Powerbeats Pro are wireless earbuds are are so much less intrusive.
The best thing about the Powerbeats is how good they are for working out! They are waterproof/sweatproof and have a thin piece that clips around the ear so they stay in place super well (and my glasses don’t even interfere with this!). I have worn these through many different workouts and yoga practices and they never budge.
What were your best purchases of 2020?
