I’ve written before about how Warren Buffett, the world’s most famous and successful investor, believes the best investment you can make is to invest in yourself.
So this Christmas, as you’re thinking about the kinds of gifts you’d like to give to others (and receive from others), why not think about a gift you can give yourself? But not just any gift – think of something that would be an investment in your future.
Here are 13 ways you can invest in yourself:
- Register for a class or workshop you’ve always wanted to take
- Go back to school to get that degree
- Join a health club or fitness center
- Get a massage
- Quit smoking
- Plan a vacation
- Look for a new job
- Learn a new skill that will make you more valuable at work
- Do something to improve or build your relationship with your family
- Add money to your emergency fund or long-term savings
- Pay off a debt
- Take a trusted (or potential) adviser or mentor out to lunch and pick their brain for an hour
- Start a business or side hustle
Any of the items on this list can improve, and bring more balance to, your life (short or long-term). Interestingly, they can impact the lives of others (directly or indirectly) as you become a better parent, spouse, friend, and worker.
BONUS TIP – You can go farther faster by choosing to invest in one area that will give you also give you payoffs in other areas.
For example, when you invest in a vacation, it’s not just good for you, but also for your relationships with family. Going back to school not only increases your knowledge, but can also lead to higher pay. Paying off a debt will not just improve your finances, but also your relationship with your spouse, and might also give you the freedom to do things you wouldn’t have when you had the debt.
This Christmas, our family is doing #3 – we joined a fitness center. Actually, we’ve been members at the Y for many years, but its location made it difficult for everyone in our family to take full advantage of it. It was close to my office downtown, but not so close to home. And parking was a big hassle – unless you drove a Mini Cooper.
So, this month, we canceled that membership and got one at a brand new fitness center a mile from our home, making it easier for us to use.
Because it is so close to home, I can take one or more kids with me and we can play basketball together or work out before we go to work/school. We’ve used it a ton in the 9 days we’ve been members so far, and have had some great times together.
This month, I’ve gotten a lot more exercise, and I’ve had a great time with some of my kids at the same time. My investment in one area is paying off in multiple areas.
What kind of investment could, or should, you make in your life? Is there anything else you’d add to this list?
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