What’s the Best Thing (Over $200) You Bought Yourself This Year?

AmandaShires

I tell my husband it’s my COVID check when I’m caught spritzing it too many times per day. (I don’t need to spray it so much, I just love the smell).

JenniferCattaui

The inflatable movie screen has been great for our kids, who are 14 and 16. It’s easy to set up and is so big that you can maintain social distance and still easily see it. We are binging on the classics:Fletch,The Wedding Singer, andDead Poets Society.

ByronPeart

For cozying up at home and layering outdoors in all seasons.

DorindaMedley

I replaced various picture frames I collected over the years with these old-school Tiffany frames. Timeless and elegant. I haven’t replaced all of mine yet — I guess you know what to get me for Christmas!

DaniellePriano

My daughters and I play with it almost every night. We’ve made so many great memories together.

RachelHochhauser

I already have a Dyson, so if you had told me six months ago I would be getting asecondvacuum, I would have been concerned for my own well-being. But by mid-summer, life was beginning to feel like one big cleaning cycle. The Roomba allowed me to embrace a new “set it and forget it” lifestyle.

ChrisGayomali

Gorgeous and folds down flat, making it stupid easy to store and transport. It got a lot of quasi-illegal use on my building’s roof this summer, especially for last-minute barbecues or when I received a CSA bag full of shisitos.

TracyAnderson

These sweaters are indestructible. I’ve worn the same one for ten years, but I did get myself a new one this year that’s the color of pinot noir.

StanParish

My quest for the perfect biker jacket lasted longer than my last three relationships combined. The gurus of elevated basics at A.P.C. hit the sweet spot: Leather that’s somehow buttery and sturdy, a legit lining for cool fall days, and hardware that doesn’t make you look like a Hells Angel.

I finished my novel, meditated, and rewatchedThe Sopranosfrom the comfort of my new favorite piece of furniture. This design is a classic for a reason: It’s like someone molded fiberglass to hug from behind and then upholstered it in cashmere (spring for the cashmere fabric).

VanessaPrice

The Zoom universe requires our faces to be more stylish than anything else. These make me feel like I’m getting gussied up to hit the town, even if my commute is only from the bedroom to the living room.

MichaelIanBlack

Let me be clear: I am not a great pianist. Not even a good pianist. But I’ve always wanted a piano and when lockdown started, I decided to take all the money I’d won from playing poker over the last year or so and spend it on a piano. You might be thinking, “A mahogany baby grand piano is extravagant, Michael.” It was.

HeléneYorke

An adorable and surprisingly cost-effective way to get around. I love pulling up to sidewalk dinners and hearing my friends be like, “Oh mygawd!”

Yes, I am that person. But let me tell you something: It’s amazing. This thing has instructors and classes for everyone. My boyfriend’s mom is in her 60s and is crushing it on the app every damn day. Also, I am a sucker for motivational quotes. My favorite instructor, Jess Sims, says, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” Gets me every time.

JamesB.Whiteside

I had London’s William Welstead make me a raw diamond necklace on a fine gold chain as a “you better werk” gift to myself.

Music is the reason I dance, so a great portable speaker is essential. This Bose one will keep me dancing in the showers of hotels across the globe — as soon as we start traveling again.

JenniferBeallSaxton

It’s the only ride on toy that allows you to custom adjust each element, from who steers to who pedals or pushes, so that parents can relinquish some control at each stage of development.

We get so many compliments when we take my daughter to the zoo in this. Other wagons ride low to the ground, but this lets her sit up high enough to see over the fences at the exhibits. There’s a little door she loves to climb in through and lots of storage spots for snacks and toys.

TrinityMouzonWofford

After looking at the Kigumi table for several months, I finally went for it early on in quarantine. It has served as my desk, my dining table for three daily meals, and the site of many a Golde photoshoot. It’s the perfect size for my Brooklyn apartment, and could easily seat six whenever having house guests feels appropriate again.

TommyDorfman

When Jonathan Anderson hinted at home goods for Loewe, my nostrils flexed from thousands of miles away. The day they dropped I treated myself to the Beetroot candle because, honestly, what the fuck is that going to smell like? Bliss.

ZibbyOwens

My 5-year-old and 7-year-old went through a huge LOL phase during quarantine, fueled by the popularity of the YouTube unboxing videos they watched by superstars like Cookie Swirl C. For months they pined over the Winter Chalet whenever they saw ads on TV, so I finally caved in and got this for them as a joint gift. They have literally played with it every single day since, enacting complicated stories, dramas, characters, and scenes.

ConwayLiao

The most versatile and well-made kitchen item. Things I’ve made in it: sourdough, my favorite soup (Conway’s Icelandic Fish Soup), duck confit, coq au vin, chicken pho, budae jigae, and even deep-fried chicken karage.

Julia‘Itsblitzzz’

These boots are so comfortable and built to withstand the apocalypse. They also have removable insoles that can be hand-washed or replaced.

MichelleSmith

When COVID hit and SoulCycle shut down, I started running like a madwoman in Central Park almost every day. The Hypervolt gun takes care of my tight, sore running muscles.

DoreeShafrir

After six months of working from home on my husband’s discarded office chair, the prospect of revising my forthcoming book in an uncomfortable seat was depressing. So I got this: It’s lightweight yet solid; buoyant yet firm. You can also get it with casters for hardwood or for carpeting — I never knew the joys of having casters specifically made for carpeting until now.

TayariJones

The Big Green Egg is the Cadillac of grills. I fire this baby up several times a week for old-school BBQ chicken, brisket cooked slow and low, and even pizza. There is nothing as satisfying as cooking with actual fire.

VerenavonPfetten

I boughtmy firstOffhours Homecoat in 2019, but I bought my second one in 2020. Having two is the real luxury, mostly because my boyfriend kept stealing mine.

PamelaLove

The stress of COVID really affected my and my husband’s sleep. We bought a new mattress from Aireloom that is more comfortable and supportive.

Incredibly comfortable and flattering. They make me look and feel awesome, even while stuck at home doing pretty mundane tasks.

PatLaFrieda

Were it not for this, I do not know how I would have gotten through these dark days without starving. The Breville toaster, which is more like a mini oven, has prepared everything I have put into it, from porterhouse steaks to pizza. It’s powerful enough to get the results someone like myself requires.

I have owned and or leased just about every vehicle, but none have been as fun to drive as this. It has four doors, seats five or six comfortably, and has a covered bed that can store just about anything. The most fun I have had with it was when I took my two kids to a drive-in movie theater during the peak of COVID. They laid down bedding and made one big sofa out of the rear of the truck and would’ve stayed for days if I didn’t drive away.

PhillipPicardi

The most luxurious and whimsical version of a “house shoe” I’ve ever owned. I love them so much, I didn’t even mind when literally every fashion person in the world started wearing them. They still feel special.

MikeColter

My daughter was about 15 months old at the start of quarantine. Putting her down each night was tough. This chair has been a game-changer. From soothing, to rocking, to reclining, it really does it all.

ElisaJohnson

An easy way to elevate a look, whether I am throwing it on over some workout gear on the way to a class, with a simple black tee and some slacks, or with an oversize white men’s dress shirt and biker shorts on warmer days. The pink hue is so elegant.

JuliaFox

You can choose different settings and what area you want to target using an app on your phone. After just two uses, I swear my friends said they noticed a difference.

DavidMcGillivray

I’ve never looked forward to cleaning like I do with this thing. It feels like a precision tool and it just works really well.

TaylaPark

This makes it super easy to infuse things you cook with cannabis. Beyond cooking, you can use it to make pain salves and massage oils.

BrettHeyman

I originally fell in love with one of Ryan’s lights, but ultimately went with a purple sculptural chair. It’s kind of a perfect throne to sit in and eat cheese. You can contact the studio for made-to-order pieces like mine.

AndrewKuo

The most comfortable, lightest boots I’ve ever worn. Perfect for stomping around New York City in the gray slushy months but also in the fall and spring.

PaulScheer

I figured if I couldn’t physically leave the house, I’d do it virtually. The quest takes up no room at all: It’s just a headset and two small controllers no bigger than a Nintendo Switch. I can set it up in any room and the VR experiences are great. If you loveStar Wars, the entireVader Immortalstory is just awesome. I loveThe Climb, which is literally climbing up Mt. Everest. Yeah, I got winded.

TuesdayBassen

I’ve used my fair share of $30 bidets before, but the c100 is wild: It mists before you go, provides light white noise, heats the seat (and the stream!), and has a drying feature along with a front/back spray option. Some things really are worth the upgrade.

KrissyJones

After buying it, I could really tell a difference in my indoor air quality. There is a quiet mode that I love, and the thing isn’ttooobnoxious looking.

Ceramist Cassie Griffin hand paints each Walter. They’re beautiful and functional.

SofiaCoppola

BrianDavis

I still get dressed everyday, but don’t necessarily leave the house, and wanted something more substantial than a house shoe or slipper that complimented my WFH fits. These camp mocs check all the boxes: Exceptional quality and construction, timeless style, and made locally (in Maine, at a family owned factory, since 1967).

HeidiRoseRobbins

When I came upon Redemption Rustics’s handmade furniture, I knew it was time to buy a new desk. I replaced my old antique school teacher’s desk with this huge, gorgeously crafted one. Work now feels like pleasure.

KristenTomlan

Definitely a splurge, but after my husband lost access to his fancy office coffee machine, and I couldn’t get my daily Starbucks espresso, we knew our regular at-home coffee just wasn’t going to cut it. This fuels our caffeine addiction.

TaylorTomasiHill

It’s known as Mom’s Chair, but of course my son piles all his “buddies” on it every morning to eat breakfast by the fireplace. I guess it’s true that things are always better when shared.

DanPelosi

The. Morning is my favorite time of day, and a cup of coffee is why I get out of bed. This is the most aesthetically pleasing coffee maker. And it comes in like 30-plus colors.

EmmaAllen

It’s a Japanese earthenware pot that requires a gas burner (I gota portable burner from Iwantanithat I can take to outdoor picnics or camping). Cooking something in thedonablefeels special: I love putting mine and the burner on the kitchen table and cooking right there.

DanielleGuizio

A clean and organized closet is important, which is why this really was a most satisfying purchase. My closet is the first place I start all of my days and now I look forward to getting dressed.

ZaraTisch

NicholasWilliams

KevinLiles

Some people are surprised to find out about my love of gaming. It’s one of the best stress-relievers for me.

Editor’s note: We’ve seen the PlayStation 5 go in and out of stock at Best Buy and other retailers, so we’re leaving it on this list for anyone who is keeping as close a watch as we are.