Including the walking shoes that one writer wore while logging 20,000 steps a day
Splurge-Worthy Picks We Swear By
- In “Perfect Condition” After 6 Years: Miele Classic Canister Vacuum, $398 (orig. $499); Amazon
- Great for Wide, Flat Feet: Saucony ProGrid Guide 7 Sneakers, $135; Saucony
- Hot Sleeper-Approved: Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set, $262 (orig. $308); Cozy Earth
- “Noticeably Softer Skin”: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream, $145; Amazon
- Still Looks Good as New: Rugs USA Maui Broken Stripe New Zealand Wool Rug, $159 (orig. $286); Rugs USA
- Holds an “Incredible Amount of Clothes”: Béis The Hybrid Carry-On Roller, $298; Béis
- Machine Washable: West Elm Fleur Shower Curtain, $49; West Elm
- 4 Hair Tools in 1: Shark FlexStyle, $230 (orig. $350); Amazon
- Carried Us Through 20,000+ Steps: Salomon XT-6 Sneakers, $180; Nordstrom
I love shopping deals as much as the next gal, but I have to admit: There really is something to the phrase “buy it nice or buy it twice.”
After going through three comforters in just one year, I decided to invest in a high-end option that will (hopefully) save me money in the long run — and so far, the quality improvement has been drastic. The swap got me thinking: What pricier products do my fellow shopping experts swear are worth every penny?
Below, we detailed our top splurge-worthy picks — plus similar highly reviewed versions for less — so you can decide whether you’d like to buy it nice or roll the dice on a cheaper option.
Related: I Track Wayfair Furniture Deals All Year, and These Are the 12 Best from Its Closeout Sale Section — Up to 67% Off
Buy It Nice
Miele Classic Canister Vacuum
$499 $398 at Amazon
"I've tried every vacuum there is — Dyson, Shark, mini robot options — and nothing compares to the Miele. Especially after I attached this LED light, it effortlessly gets rid of dust, cat hair, and crumbs. I still remember the sting of the $500 leaving my account, but after six years, my Miele is still in perfect condition. Plus, if you buy it right now, you can get it for less than I did." — Tatjana Freund, senior shopping editor
Roll the Dice
Kenmore BC3005 Canister Vacuum
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Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum Cleaner
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Buy It Nice
Viewstar Queen-Sized Pillows, Set of 2
$42 $32 at Amazon
“While not technically a splurge, these pillows have definitely saved me money in the long run. I purchased a set of two before moving into my apartment three years ago, and they still feel just as fluffy as the day I unboxed them. They’re firm, soft, and perfectly stuffed — everything you’d want in a quality pillow.” — Averi Baudler, shopping editor
Roll the Dice
Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Bed Pillows $29 at Amazon |
Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows
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Buy It Nice
Saucony ProGrid Guide 7 Sneakers
$135 at Saucony.com
“If my flat, wide feet have taught me anything, it's that I need supportive sneakers. These have a lightweight feel and a roomy design that allows my feet to comfortably spread. I was able to go on two hikes with these without any foot or back pain — plus, the subtle pop of pink makes them stylish and sporty.” — Rylee Johnston, shopping writer
Roll the Dice
Lucky Step Sneakers $43 at Amazon |
New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi V4 Running Shoe
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Buy It Nice
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream
$145 at Amazon
“I’m in my 40s, so my skin needs all the hydration it can get — and this Magic Cream really comes through. It’s a rich, creamy balm that melts right in, and I wake up with noticeably softer skin. A little dab goes a long way each night, so it lasts way longer than you’d think, which makes the splurge feel a lot more justified.” — Jeaneen Russell, shopping writer
Roll the Dice
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
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CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
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Buy It Nice
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
$308 $262 at Cozy Earth
“My Cozy Earth bamboo sheets are honestly the softest, smoothest sheets I’ve ever slept on, and somehow they just keep getting better with every wash. But the real win for me as a hot sleeper is how naturally cooling they are — I actually stay comfortable all night instead of waking up overheated.” — Jeaneen Russell
Roll the Dice
Decolure Sheet Set
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Rest Evercool Starter Sheet Set
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Buy It Nice
Béis The Hybrid Carry-On Roller
$298 at Beistravel.com
“I've always had a huge appreciation for my Béis carry-on. I've owned mine for several years, and it has held up extremely well and holds an incredible amount of clothes and essentials for multi-day trips. I recently upgraded to the newest Hybrid Carry-On Roller, and it's truly a step up from my old model. Why? It has a special connector system that attaches to my matching Check-In Roller for easy transport. It’s peak traveling luxury.” — Ali Faccenda, associate editor
Roll the Dice
Amazon Basics Hardside Carry-On Luggage $60 at Amazon |
Traveler’s Choice Pagosa Hardshell Luggage
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Buy It Nice
Rugs USA Maui Broken Stripe New Zealand Wool Rug
$286 $159 at Rugsusa.com
“I absolutely love Rugs USA for their fair prices and quick shipping, but I tend to cycle through their cheap options regularly. However, I've had this handmade textured rug for over two years, and it still looks just as good as when it arrived. I've found that pets are less likely to have accidents on this one, too. Perhaps it's the dual textures, or maybe they just recognize that it's nice! Unfortunately for Rugs USA, it's the last one I've bought from them since I haven't needed to replace it.” — Erin Johnson, editorial director
Roll the Dice
Safavieh Natura Collection Area Rug $133 at Amazon |
Shacos Textured Area Rug $66 at Amazon |
Buy It Nice
West Elm Fleur Shower Curtain
$49 at West Elm
“I just moved apartments, so I decided to splurge on a gorgeous shower curtain from West Elm. I've had to replace one too many over the years, and I’m ready for a quality piece that will last. This ruffled, striped curtain is made from 100 percent cotton and can be machine-washed and tumble-dried on low for no-frills maintenance (pun intended).” — Madison Yauger, senior shopping editor
Roll the Dice
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Skinny Stripe Shower Curtain $20 at Walmart |
AmazerBath Boho Shower Curtain
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Buy It Nice
Shark FlexStyle
$350 $230 at Amazon
“While I received this hair tool as a Christmas gift, I can confidently say that I’d buy it full-price. This nifty gadget really does it all! It dries, defrizzes, and curls my hair, depending on the attachment I use, and it's surprisingly compact despite its impressive blowing power — I never travel without it. Plus, it eliminated my need for a regular hair dryer and curling iron, freeing up space in my tiny New York City bathroom.” — Averi Baudler
Roll the Dice
Tymo CurlPro Curling Iron
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Sendowtek Hot Air Styler Brush Set
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Buy It Nice
Salomon XT-6 Sneakers
$180 at Nordstrom
“These are seriously some of the comfiest sneakers I own. I wore them on my trip to California, where I was doing a lot of hiking and averaging about 20,000 steps per day, and my feet didn't hurt once. They also have incredible arch support for those with collapsed arches and/or flat feet (like me). They're 110 percent worth the price and look so cute with casual summer outfits.” — Maddie Merinuk, shopping writer
Roll the Dice
Sadmon Sneakers $60 at Amazon |
Nortiv 8 Hiking Shoes
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Buy It Nice
KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
$1,200 $1,050 at Amazon
“As somebody who drinks Americanos like water, this machine has saved me countless coffee shop trips in the past year. It's programmed to make seven espresso-based drinks — which you can customize down to the water-coffee ratio and the fineness of the grind — including cappuccinos and lattes that use the built-in milk frother. It's also meticulous in its reminders to clean the components, empty the trays, and change the water filter. It's easily my favorite kitchen appliance.” — Clint Davis, shopping editor
Roll the Dice
Cuisinart Espresso Bar Espresso Machine
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Chefman CaféMaster Pro Espresso Machine $180 at Amazon |
Buy It Nice
Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar
$1,099 at Sonos.com
“I'm a big believer in paying a little extra (or a lot, in the case of Sonos), for sound equipment. In my experience, high-quality components like this will basically last forever, and they make watching movies and TV so much more of an event. I usually prefer multi-speaker setups, but the Sonos Arc is the only soundbar I've tested that actually gives the illusion of surround sound in a single unit. It makes dialogue crystal clear, music sound rich, and you can seriously crank the volume.” — Clint Davis
Roll the Dice
Sonos Ray Soundbar $219 at Sonos.com |
Sony Soundbar with Bass Reflex Speaker
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Buy It Nice
Burrow Span Sleeper Sofa Sectional
$3,669 $2,568 at Burrow
“I used to have a modular sleeper sofa that was so uncomfortable that no one even wanted to sit (let alone sleep) on it. But this Burrow sleeper sofa is both comfy and stylish, and the neutral color means I can keep it for years, even if I change up my décor style. The cushions fold outward to create a queen-sized bed in seconds, and there is ample storage under the corner section for extra linens.” — Erin Johnson
Roll the Dice
Honbay Modular Section Sleeper Sofa with Pull-Out Bed $770 at Amazon |
Homall Modular Sectional Sofa
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Buy It Nice
Bio Ionic Long-Barrel Curling Iron, 1.5-inch, $106 with code LOVEMOM
$163 $106 at Bioionic.com
“I’ve always loved those straight-from-the-salon waves but could never recreate them myself — until I got the Bio Ionic Long-Barrel Curling Iron. I've owned plenty of curling irons and wands over the years, and this specific 1.5-inch size is what sets it apart from all the rest. I also love how long it is, making it easy to get the perfect tousled waves that look like I got my hair professionally done.” — Ali Faccenda
Roll the Dice
Annlary 1.5-Inch Curling Iron
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Hoson 1.5-Inch Curling Iron $30 at Amazon |
Buy It Nice
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
$299 at Amazon
“I've tested so many pairs of noise-canceling headphones across a wide spectrum of prices, and Bose's ability to erase background clatter can't be beat. I've worn these in a crowded supermarket, and it felt like I was in a library. Plus, I've worn them while mowing the lawn (with a roaring, gas-powered mower, by the way) and been able to clearly hear an audiobook. Bonus: The sound quality and battery life are outstanding.” — Clint Davis
Roll the Dice
JBL Vibe Beam 2 Wireless Earbuds
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JLab JBuds ANC 3 Earbuds
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Buy It Nice
Lola Blankets Latte Check Lola Blanket XL
$425 at Lolablankets.com
“There are a lot of lookalikes for this viral blanket out there, but as someone who's tried a ton of them and owned the real thing, I can confidently say it's well worth the investment. Not only do I use it every day, but my guests fight over it when they come over. I own it in the largest size, and it's a dream for curling up in on the couch.” — Ali Faccenda
Roll the Dice
Anysay Faux-Fur Throw Blanket
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Bedsure Gentlesoft Throw Blanket $70 at Amazon |
Buy It Nice
Bellami Silk Seam Hair Extensions, $280 with code MDAY26
$350 $280 at Bellamihair.com
“My mom and I both got Bellami clip-in hair extensions about two years ago, and they are the epitome of ‘buy it nice or buy it twice.’ They're incredibly high-quality, but make sure to take them to your hair stylist after ordering so that they can show you proper placement and trim them to your desired length.” — Erin Johnson
Roll the Dice
Full Shine Weft Extensions
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Sunny Hair Clip-In Hair Extensions
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