12 Money Splurges Vancouverites Say Are 100% Worth the Money

A Vancouver Reddit thread asked this question: what do you buy so saving money does not feel like constant deprivation? Here are 12 of the strongest ideas, with current local details and shopping options where a side-by-side comparison helps.

1. A bidet attachment that makes every day better

One Reddit answer needed a single word: bidet. A non-electric attachment can turn an ordinary rental or condo bathroom into the kind of upgrade you miss when you travel. The simplest models sit beneath the toilet seat and run from the existing water line, while handheld sprayers offer more control and help with bathroom cleanup.

This is a small-space luxury with daily mileage. A pressure dial, slim profile and self-cleaning nozzle carry more value than decorative extras. Renters can keep the original hardware and restore the setup when they move.

Slim attachment

See Amazon

SAMODRA Ultra-Slim Bidet Attachment

Non-electric dual-nozzle attachment with an adjustable pressure control.

Buy on Amazon

Handheld pick

See Amazon

Arofa Handheld Bidet Sprayer

Stainless-steel handheld sprayer with adjustable water pressure and a flexible hose.

Buy on Amazon

Dual nozzle

See Amazon

LUXE Bidet Neo 185

Non-electric dual-nozzle attachment with a self-cleaning nozzle and pressure control.

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Canooq may earn from qualifying purchases.

2. A cleaner who gives you a weekend back

Two versions of this splurge appeared in the thread. One busy household pays about $240 a month for a team of four cleaners working for two hours. Another person hired a Taskrabbit cleaner for a bathroom deep clean at $50 an hour plus fees and tax. Both purchases turn money into visible time: no lost Saturday morning, no shower-grout battle and no resentment over whose turn it is.

A monthly visit handles the repeating workload. A one-room deep clean costs less and still resets the part of the home that drains the most energy. Clear counters and a short priority list help the cleaner spend the booked time on the work you want gone.

3. Proper air conditioning for Vancouver's hottest nights

Air conditioning drew immediate agreement. One commenter called the extra hydro cost an easy trade for better sleep. Another praised a portable unit, while someone with a heat pump paid much more for a quieter, more efficient permanent system. In a west-facing condo, a machine that cools the bedroom can feel more luxurious than anything on a shelf.

Portable units need an exhaust route through a sliding window and enough SACC cooling capacity for the room. Window units can cool more efficiently where the building permits them. A heat pump brings the highest upfront cost and can handle both summer cooling and winter heating.

Small room

See Amazon

Midea 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner

Portable three-in-one unit with cooling, fan and dehumidifier modes for a small room.

Buy on Amazon

Mid-size room

See Amazon

COSTWAY 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Portable 10,000 BTU unit with fan, dehumidifier, sleep mode and window kit.

Buy on Amazon

Popular brand

See Amazon

BLACK+DECKER Portable Air Conditioner

Portable BLACK+DECKER unit with remote control, washable filter, timer and window kit.

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Canooq may earn from qualifying purchases.

4. The large pho, every time

The most Vancouver answer in the thread may be the large pho. The upgrade often costs only $1 or $2 and brings more broth and noodles, enough for a second meal in the right container. It is indulgence without ceremony: a warmer lunch, a fuller bowl and tomorrow's dinner handled.

For takeout, ask for the noodles and broth in separate containers. The noodles keep their texture, and the leftover broth takes well to fresh noodles, greens or a soft-boiled egg the next day. That extra dollar buys one of the best value-to-happiness ratios in the city.

5. An IPL device for at-home hair removal

A home IPL device was one of the thread's biggest-ticket beauty picks. The original commenter uses a Ulike Air 10 while watching TV and praised its cooling contact. Other Vancouverites backed the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5. The appeal comes from moving a repetitive salon-style routine into private time at home.

IPL targets pigment, so results and device suitability vary by skin tone and hair colour. Follow the manufacturer's compatibility chart, treatment schedule and eye-safety instructions. Cooling contact can make longer sessions more comfortable around sensitive areas.

Thread favourite

See Amazon

Ulike Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Device

Ulike Air 10 IPL device with ice-cooling contact, dual lights and a skin sensor.

Buy on Amazon

Flat-head pick

See Amazon

Ulike Air 3 IPL Hair Removal Device

Ulike Air 3 IPL device with sapphire ice-cooling and a flat treatment head.

Buy on Amazon

Lower-cost pick

See Amazon

Aopvui IPL Hair Removal Device

Aopvui IPL device with an ice-cooling system and whole-body treatment modes.

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Canooq may earn from qualifying purchases.

6. T&T almond cookies for under $5

A box of almond cookies from T&T Supermarket landed on the list for a simple reason: the person had forgotten how good they were. T&T currently lists a 280 g container at $4.59 and a 300 g medium version at $4.99 online, although local selection can differ by store.

They are crumbly, almond-topped and easy to split over several tea breaks. Add a Portuguese egg tart if the bakery counter has a fresh tray. Vancouver mini luxury does not need a reservation or a three-digit receipt.

7. Back-to-back Bard on the Beach tickets

One Vancouverite bought tickets to multiple Bard on the Beach shows and goes every year. The 2026 festival runs at Sen̓áḵw/Vanier Park through September 19, with individual tickets starting at $30. This season pairs The Merry Wives of Windsor and Macbeth on the BMO Mainstage with Goblin:Oedipus and Antigone in the Douglas Campbell Theatre.

Back-to-back performances turn an ordinary summer week into a mini festival. The waterfront tents, modern staging and Vancouver setting keep the experience far from a stiff school-day reading of Shakespeare. Buying two shows also gives you the fun of comparing a comedy with a tragedy while both productions are still fresh.

8. A robot vacuum that cleans while you sleep

A parent with two kids praised the dust control. A two-adult household agreed. One commenter schedules a vacuum-and-mop robot for 1:30 a.m. and wakes up to clean floors; the nightly pickup becomes part of the household rhythm. The thread also named the MOVA P10 Pro and liked its multi-floor mapping.

Robot vacuums earn their place through repetition. Clear charging cables, socks and lightweight clutter from the route, then let the machine handle crumbs, hair and dust each night. Models with obstacle avoidance and a self-emptying dock demand less rescue and fewer trips to the bin.

Budget pick

See Amazon

Tikom G8000 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop

Slim vacuum-and-mop robot with app, remote and voice controls plus self-charging.

Buy on Amazon

Self-maintaining

See Amazon

eufy X10 Pro Omni

Vacuum-and-mop robot with obstacle avoidance, self-emptying and automatic mop washing.

Buy on Amazon

Premium dock

See Amazon

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra

Roborock vacuum-and-mop system with obstacle recognition, self-emptying and dock cleaning.

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Canooq may earn from qualifying purchases.

9. Travel-size perfume instead of a full bottle

A 10 ml fragrance turns a luxury scent into a manageable purchase. One commenter said his wife now buys small sizes of high-end perfume instead of waiting months for a full bottle. Another pointed her to Scentrique, Vancouver's independent niche perfumery at 466 Granville Street, where many fragrances come in sample or travel sizes.

The small format gives you weeks of real wear, including rainy commutes, warm offices and evenings out. It also leaves room to rotate scents instead of staring at one expensive 100 ml bottle for years. Scentrique's monthly Discovery Club currently sends five 2 ml samples for $44.90, while individual samples start much lower.

10. MUJI 0.38 mm pens

The thread singled out MUJI's 0.38 mm gel ink pens at the Robson store. MUJI Canada currently lists the capped pen at $2.40 and refills at $1.25 to $1.50. The fine point makes small handwriting and calendar notes feel clean, while the range of ink colours turns a workday supply into a tiny treat.

Buy the colour you will reach for, then keep a refill in the desk drawer. It is the cheapest item on this list and one of the easiest to enjoy several times a day.

11. A drink at Paragon Tea Room

Paragon Tea Room appeared beside restaurant meals and good sunscreen in one Vancouverite's favourite splurges. Paragon builds tea drinks with a Tea'spresso machine and runs locations at Pacific Centre, Cambie Street, Richmond and YVR. The official location page lists current hours for each shop.

A matcha or hojicha latte gives an afternoon errand a destination. The Pacific Centre counter works for a downtown reset, while Cambie is better suited to sitting down with a friend. Paragon also sells stone-milled tea powders for recreating the drink at home after you find a favourite.

12. A LimePrime membership for downtown trips

One downtown resident said LimePrime changed daily life. The membership waives unlock fees and extends vehicle reservations to 30 minutes. Lime's upgraded program also offers flat-rate rides in participating markets, with Vancouver's current price and ride terms shown in the Lime app.

The membership fits short, repeated trips that sit awkwardly between walking and transit: a meeting across downtown, groceries a few blocks away or the last stretch home. Frequent riders feel the waived unlock fee on every trip, which turns the scooter from an occasional novelty into a predictable transport option.

The real luxury is removing one recurring annoyance

Vancouver's favourite splurges range from $2.40 pens to four-figure cooling systems, yet the strongest answers are easy to explain. A cleaner returns time. An AC protects sleep. A robot vacuum handles dust. Large pho stretches lunch into dinner. Tickets, tea and perfume put a small event on the calendar.

Pick the annoyance you meet every week and spend there first. For more local ideas, browse Canooq's Experience Finder or head to the Save Money hub for deals that leave more room for the purchases you will notice.