The things I buy are investments in my lifestyle. Since I want a stable lifestyle well into the future, I only want to buy things that will last for a very long time. Or when it comes to food, I only want to eat the most nutritious food, which means no seed oils or processed junk and lots of natural food, even if I'm spending more on each individual item. All because these are investments in myself. They pay off in reduced costs in the long run because I don't have to replace things and healthy foods keep me full for longer.