The Best Post-Divorce Purchases
I’ve been thinking about the literal and figurative costs of my divorce. When my marriage ended, I moved into an apartment that was, to put it gently, a blank canvas. Most of the stuff I bought during my marriage had either stayed in the house or was a joint purchase that felt tainted. I realized quickly that this new single life wasn't about replacing what I lost; it was about investing in something new. Here are the best purchases I made.
1. The Real Tools (And Learning to Use Them)
When I moved out, the tool situation was laughable: a rusty screwdriver, and a box of screws. My first empowering purchase was a premium tool kit and a quality drill. The Intent: To become genuinely self-sufficient and capable in my own space. I watched a few YouTube videos on woodworking and the rest was history. Now, if a pipe leaks or a shelf breaks, I fix it.
2. The Focus Chair and Desk
For years, I worked on the couch with a laptop. The new apartment meant a separate home office space, but I was reluctant to spend money on something just for me. I finally bit the bullet and invested in a top-of-the-line ergonomic chair and a solid standing desk. The Intent: To prioritize my career, my long-term health, and, most importantly, my mental clarity.
3. The New Hobby Starter Pack
I used to love playing guitar, but my instrument had been collecting dust in the wardrobe for a decade. My final purchase was a used, high-quality acoustic guitar and a subscription to an online lesson service. The Intent: To reclaim a part of my identity that had been dormant and to cultivate joy purely for its own sake. It was for those quiet, empty evenings. I’d spend thirty minutes stumbling through a new chord progression. It gave me a new skill, a productive outlet, and a feeling of growth rather than decline.
4. The High-Quality Coffee Setup
The joint coffee maker was a massive, complicated machine we bought for entertaining. It stayed with the house. My purchase was a simple, high-quality pour-over system (a Chemex or a good electric kettle and grinder). The Intent: To elevate a mundane daily ritual into a moment of mindful self-care, proving that luxury can be simple and personal. My mornings used to be rushed chaos. Now, making coffee is a quiet, deliberate ten-minute process where I measure the beans, heat the water, and just wait.
Think about investments in your independence. That's the best purchase a newly single person can ever make.
Hasib Afzal