The 7 Purchases I Will Never Regret (as a minimalist)

Summary

The creator reflects on seven purchases he still values—not because they were status symbols, but because they enabled experiences, skills, and activities that became part of his everyday life.

1. Wii U

As a teenager, he traded his more popular Xbox One for a Wii U so he could play the new Super Smash Bros. with friends. Though classmates thought it was an odd choice, it led to years of gaming, tournaments, and time together.

Lesson: Buy what genuinely matters to you, rather than what will impress others.

2. 1993 Mazda MX-6

His grandfather helped him find a red, manual-transmission car for about $800. Learning to drive brought him independence, along with the responsibility of owning and using a car.

Lesson: Consider purchases that give you access to new experiences and greater freedom.

3. Sony Xplod Subwoofer

He bought a 12-inch subwoofer for around $60, then spent about $40 on wiring and a box. Installing it with a friend made his frequent drives more enjoyable.

Lesson: A relatively inexpensive purchase can be worthwhile if it improves something you do regularly.

4. Studio One 5 Pro and Music-Production Tools

While in his final year of college, he spent roughly half of his $800 savings on professional music software and related plugins. He used them to improve his mixing and production and to make songs he might not otherwise have created.

Lesson: If you are already committed to an interest, sometimes spending money is a way of committing more seriously to it.

5. MacBook Air

As part of a year he designated for investing in himself, he replaced a slow, aging Dell with a MacBook Air with 1 TB of storage, costing about $1,500. It supports his video editing and music work.

Lesson: Trust your judgment when a tool seems like the right next step for what you want to do.

6. Roland TD-27KV2 Electronic Drum Kit

He spent about $3,700 on a high-end electronic kit that lets him practice and record drums in an apartment without making excessive noise. It helped him work on music and record an album with his friend Isaiah.

Lesson: When you are serious about a pursuit, investing in capable equipment can help you go further.

7. Final Cut Pro

After years of editing videos, he bought Apple’s professional editing software for about $300. Its speed and features made editing easier and helped him improve his videos.

Lesson: Quality tools can pay off when you have already demonstrated that you will use them.

Main Takeaways

• Believe in your own interests and trust your instincts.
• Invest in yourself, your skills, and the life you want to build—not only in saving money.
• Favor useful tools that change what you do or make everyday activities richer over purchases that are merely decorative or fashionable.

Notable Products and People

Wii U, Xbox One, Super Smash Bros., 1993 Mazda MX-6, Sony Xplod subwoofer, Studio One 5 Pro, Waves plugins, MacBook Air, Roland TD-27KV2, Final Cut Pro, and the creator’s friend and musical collaborator, Isaiah.