Humphrey Yang: 10 Best Things To Spend Money on When You Have Disposable Income
Extra cash burning a hole in your budget? Before you blow it on another round of impulse buys you'll forget about by next month, personal finance creator Humphrey Yang has a better idea. In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, Yang broke down the purchases he recommends that actually move the needle financially — the kind that pay you back in savings, health or sanity long after the receipt is gone.
The catch: None of these are flashy. Yang's list leans into the boring-but-brilliant category of spending. Here are the 10 best things Yang believes you should spend money on when you've got some breathing room in your budget.
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1. Good Chef's Knife and Pan
The average American spends around $330 a month eating out, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which comes out to almost $4,000 a year.
One way to cut that bill is by making cooking at home easy enough that it actually happens. Yang recommended buying two things to do just that. The first is a solid chef’s knife like the Victorinox Fibrox or the Mercer Renaissance for $50 to $100. The second is a quality, nonstick pan.
Good tools remove the friction that usually kills home-cooking intentions, and once meal prep stops feeling like a chore, the savings tend to take care of themselves.
2. A Cash-Back Credit Card
The average American household spends $78,535 a year, or about $6,545 a month, according to the BLS. If you're already spending that money anyway, you might as well earn something back.
“A basic cash-back credit card ... can get you anywhere from 1.5% to 2% cash back on everything that you buy,” Yang said.
It's not going to make you rich, but it's free money for spending you were already doing.
3. Contributing to a Roth IRA
Yang said that if you’re in your 20s, 30s or 40s and haven’t opened up a Roth IRA yet, this should come before any other purchase you make.
A Roth IRA lets you invest after-tax money and watch it grow completely tax-free — meaning whatever you pull out in retirement, including all the gains, won't be taxed. You can open one in minutes at any major brokerage, like Fidelity or Vanguard.
4. A Reliable, Used Car
New cars averaged $49,220 in May 2026, according to Kelley Blue Book. Used cars, meanwhile, ran closer to $26,000. That's basically half off for a vehicle that still gets you where you're going.
If you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to take on an expensive car loan, Yang suggested getting a reliable used car instead of buying a brand new one. Just don't skip the due diligence. A good deal on a bad car isn't a good deal.
5. A Good Mattress
We spend one-third of our lives sleeping, so it’s definitely worth investing in a good mattress that allows you to get quality rest.
“You don't have to get the most expensive one in the store, but just get something that actually supports your body, and I think you will notice that difference immediately,” Yang said.
Better sleep means more energy, sharper focus and a lot fewer days that feel like you're wading through mud.
6. A Great Desk Setup
If you work from home eight hours a day, it’s important to invest in a solid desk setup. Working with an ergonomic setup not only makes you more productive but also lowers the risk of burning out or developing an injury like lower back pain or neck strain.
“It's really hard to put an exact dollar amount on this, but I think that the people who invest in their desk setup, they're going to tend to outearn those people who don't over a long period of time," Yang said.
7. Your Own Education
You don’t necessarily have to go back to school or get another four-year degree, but Yang believes that investing in your own education by upskilling or getting a certificate can pay off.
“If you can be more curious about the world and you stay open-minded to new technologies, you are going to be ahead of others,” he said.
8. One Great Personal Finance Book
A National Financial Educators Council survey of 1,200 people found the average American believes they're losing $948 a year simply from not knowing enough about personal finance. That's an expensive knowledge gap to leave open.
If you want to improve your financial literacy, Yang suggested reading one of his favorite personal finance books: "The Millionaire Next Door, The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel and "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi.
9. Your Health
Health is wealth. You can always make more money, but it's much harder to get your health back once you've lost it. Investing in your physical and mental well-being now is one of the few purchases that pays dividends for the rest of your life, and it usually means spending less on healthcare down the road.
10. Pair of Everyday Shoes
If you wear the same shoes almost every day, buy a pair that's comfortable and built to last. Your feet, knees and back will thank you, and you probably won't have to replace them as often as a bargain pair.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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