As I write this it’s a chilly 26° F in Boston and I’m wearing a pair of functional, cozy and stylish boots –  one of my best purchases ever!

Winter in New England calls for durable, waterproof boots that meet one of the most basic physiological needs on Maslow’s hierarchy – warmth!

While I encourage using what you have before bringing more clothes, cute shoes, furniture, organizing products, etc. into your space, we still want things that make us happy   – beyond the basics of warm feet.

In the spirit of surrounding yourself with possessions that make life easier, bring you joy and move you up the hierarchy to self-fulfillment (Maslow’s highest level), here are a few of my favorite things.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. All items listed are products that I have personally purchased, and I have used and /or continue to use. 

Mint

This money management tool displays all financial accounts in one place.  Mint allows for budgeting, tracking, and categorizing income and spending. This free app offers suggestions for financial products based on your spending habits. The functionality and clarity Mint provides through built-in charts and graphs, outweighs the inconvenience of recommendations (advertisements).

You Need A Budget (YNAB)

While Mint was a great starting point, You Need A Budget (YNAB) is now my go-to money management tool.
The mobile app is helpful to have on hand for on-the-spot purchases. At a glance see how much is available to spend in a particular budget category.  The philosophy built into the application is that every dollar has a purpose. Learning and committing to using this tool has given me a level of clarity around earnings, spending and saving that I had not been able to achieve with Excel formulas and pivot reports. This software has proved to be a fantastic return on investment.

Pilot G-2 Retractable Gel Pen

 As much as I enjoy technology and automation, for me, there’s no replacement for the action of writing – pen to paper. When it comes to free-form writing, I use the morning pages technique from the book The Artist’s Way.   The Pilot G-2 is my pen of choice because it easily glides across the page, allowing my hand to stay on pace with the thoughts and ideas that need an outlet on paper.

Reusable Bag

Cut down on the accumulation of plastic and paper bags and use a recyclable one. This one is light, colorful, durable and compact. It’s easy to clip onto a purse or key ring. When it gets grimy simply hand rinse, wring and hang to dry.

Kyocera Knife

This knife has been instrumental in my food prep. I’ve been using it almost daily for 7 years, and it’s still sharp and working fantastically.  This ceramic-blade knife is not for prying, crushing or for anything that requires the blade to “give”.  For fruits, vegetables, and other soft foods I consider it an essential kitchen tool.

Vitamix

After burning out more than a few blenders, I decided to invest in a Vitamix.  I use it mostly for smoothies but have made hummus, chocolate mousse, and soup in this powerhouse appliance.  It’s a high-ticket item, but well worth the investment since I use it every day…more than my car!

Garment Steamer

Finding this item revolutionized my laundry experience and I consider it the most important piece in my wardrobe.   The accumulation of plastic, wire hangers and chemicals (yuck!) that I generated from frequent trips to the dry cleaner have been significantly reduced.  In addition to reducing dry cleaning expenses, the time and freedom I’ve gained from eliminating ironing from my world have been priceless.

The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal   

This book is a great entry point for anyone that has a desire to journal and needs it to be simple. I discovered this little gem in 2013 and since then a the end of each day have been capturing something fun or something that I appreciated. Knowing the power that gratitude has to shift mood and overall happiness,  I’ve found this practice simple and powerful. Each calendar date has five entries per page, an easy way to track year-to-year experiences. It’s fun to see what happened on the same day the year before and eventually accumulate 5-years’ worth of memorable vignettes.

There’s a version of the book specifically for mothers.   Is there a  mother you know that feels guilty for not starting or finishing that well-intended baby book?  Consider this journal a low-effort, high-reward solution for recording daily milestones.

Whiskers on kittens? Warm woolen mittens? Geese that fly with the moon on their wings? I’d love for you to share some of your favorite things in the comments below.