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‘Revenge Spend’ Responsibly With These 4 Outdoor Products
I recently learned of a new term, used to describe what people are doing with their money after a year of being locked up and prevented from doing anything fun. That term is “revenge spending,” and it basically means splurging to reward yourself for making it through the worst of COVID-19. (The name is nothing if not imprecise: Who are these spending habits supposed to be revenge against?) All of a sudden, shoppers are buying new cars, luxury clothing, and even bigger houses. With more and more people getting vaccinate and things looking up in general, everyone wants their own version of the “Summer of George.”
The desire to have nice things does not mean you need to be imprudent. There are ways to responsibly celebrate the opening up of America and the prospect of once again spending time with friends and family. For example, you will now be able to have gatherings at your house: Reward yourself with a sensible backyard purchase that spices up your life without breaking the bank.
Here are our suggestions:
Bar Table/Cooler:
A confession: This entire article was written in order to justify the purchase of this cooler-cum-table, available on Amazon. At over $80, it is nowhere near a must-have, but it is incredibly cool (literally!) and should make you feel a bit classier when you are entertaining company. It can hold up to 40 cans, and it is designed with a handy drainage plug so you don’t have to worry about the melting ice. My favorite part about this table is that you can actually adjust the height (as much as 10 inches) depending on what your needs are for a given occasion.
Zero Gravity Chairs
I feel like zero gravity chairs were a popular summer purchase a few years back, but if you did not capitalize on the trend then, now is your chance. Adjusting them could not possibly be any easier, as they offer comfort in countless positions by ensuring equal distribution of your weight. I read somewhere once that zero gravity chairs were actually designed for astronauts. I have no idea if that is true or just marketing claptrap, but either way they are a surefire way to improve your outdoor seating experience.
Weber Charcoal Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Black — $165
Think about it: This could be the year you become your friend group’s grill guy. You always wanted to count grilling among your hobbies, so why not take it up now? At $165, Weber’s original charcoal grill isn’t even particularly expensive, when you consider some of their gas grills can set you back more than a grand. Furthermore, what is typically the worst part about charcoal grilling, the cleanup, is made easy with Weber’s “One-Touch” ash sweeping system.
Intex Above-Ground Pool
Intex 26329EH 18ft x 52in Ultra XTR Frame Pool Set, Dark Grey for $1,978.99
All right, when it comes to price, this Intex pool is an order of magnitude more expensive than the other items on our list. The real reason it is included, however, is the minor miracle that it is actually in stock. If you remember back to summer 2020, anything even remotely resembling a pool was impossible to get, forcing people to get creative and convert stock tanks. Luckily, those days are behind us, and the $2,000 you’d spend on this highly-regarded pool from Intex represents significant savings from the $40,000 or $50,000 it would take to put in an in-ground alternative. As the reviews note, it is relatively easy to set up yourself, and there are many handy videos on YouTube to help you if needed.