---
title: "Wise Money: Our Best Investments Under $500 — Quarry Hill Advisors"
description: Our team shares the most valuable purchases under $500 they made in 2025—smart, simple investments that also make great holiday gifts.
image: https://quarryhilladvisors.com/hubfs/pexels-suzyhazelwood-1178562.jpg
---
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# Wise Money: Our Best Investments Under $500
12.3.2025 | 3 min read
[Kyle Moore CFP®](https://quarryhilladvisors.com/blog/author/kyle-moore)
## Quote to Ponder
*"If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need."*
**— Warren Buffett**
## Recommended Links
- - - [Measuring Past Melt-Ups](https://x.com/thecompoundnews/status/1985045670047408254?s=12) - The Compound, X Post
- [The Melt-Up](https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2025/11/the-melt-up/) - A Wealth of Common Sense
- [Investing 101](https://youtu.be/1Ob-hAYCnJE?si=PFc5Q30rJFeTYnLl) - *Ben Felix, * YouTube Video
- [The Difference Between Rich and Wealthy](https://jus10castelli.substack.com/p/the-difference-between-rich-and-wealthy) - Justin Castelli Via Substack
- [Are U.S. Stocks Running Out of Steam? A Deep Dive into Valuations and Market Concentration](https://alphaarchitect.com/are-u-s-stocks-running-out-of-steam-a-deep-dive-into-valuations-and-market-concentration/) - Alpha Architect
- [What to Buy That Improves Quality of Life](https://www.developing.dev/p/what-to-buy-that-improves-quality) - Ryan Peterman Via Substack
- [Why Smart Investors Choose Not to Play, The Case Against Active Management](https://larryswedroe.substack.com/p/why-smart-investors-choose-not-to?r=zfph6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true) - *Larry Swedroe* Via Substack
## Recent Content From Quarry Hill
If you’ve been following along on social, you may have seen some of our new videos and resources. Here are a couple of our recent favorites:
## A note from the quarry Hill team
As we head into the holiday season, we wanted to share something a little different…and hopefully a little helpful. Throughout the year, our team comes across items, tools, and experiences that genuinely make life better. Some help us grow, some make everyday tasks smoother, and some simply bring more joy into our homes.
So for this month’s newsletter, we asked everyone at Quarry Hill Advisors to share *the best investment they made in 2025 for under $500.* Think of it as a gift guide with a personal twist: real recommendations from real people, each of which made a meaningful difference in our lives this year.
Keep reading to hear about the Quarry Hill team’s 2025 favorites:
---
### **Kyle – A Backyard Volleyball Net**
My favorite purchase this year has been a volleyball net. My daughter, Sophia, plays school and club volleyball, and she frequently wants to practice together. Madeline bought an inexpensive net for our front lawn this summer, and we’ve spent hours out there as a family playing. We only just took it down last week.
There was even one time she wanted to go out after dark, right before bed, and though we were all tired we went out and played a quick game. Fun family memories are being formed because of this net!
---
### **Bjorn – AirPods Pro 2 + an Audible Subscription**
I’m going to cheat and share two things that go hand-in-hand.
One of my favorite purchases in recent years has been the AirPods Pro 2. They’re fantastic for moving around the house or tackling yard work, even in noisy environments. The noise cancellation is a game-changer, making them perfect for everything from plane rides to outdoor chores. I almost always have them in my pocket. With Transparency Mode, I've even used them at concerts to be able to hear clearly without risking potential ear damage from excessive volume. There’s a newer version now, but mine work so well I’ve seen no reason to upgrade.
The second investment is an [Audible](https://www.audible.com/) subscription. I found myself too busy to read as much as I wanted (or maybe the internet has addled my attention span). Either way, subscribing to Audible reignited my habit of consuming books. A few years ago, I made a great decision to give myself an unlimited budget for Audible. If I see a book I want, I buy it. Later, if I find I haven't gotten to it, I simply return it. It’s made reading enjoyable and accessible again.
---
### **Thomas – Reclining Sun Chairs**
My best purchase of the year has been a pair of reclining sun chairs for the patio. There’s no better way to relax and recharge than lying in the sun without a screen or device in sight!
---
### **Emmanuel – Golf Lessons**
My best investment under $500 was paying for golf lessons. At first, it was uncomfortable — I had to completely adjust my setup and unlearn everything I thought I knew about my swing — but with practice, it paid off. I lowered my scoring average and even shot a career-low 77.
It also reminded me a lot of financial planning: you *can* do it on your own, but having a professional who can guide you, challenge old habits, and point you in the right direction often leads to better results and greater confidence.
---
### **Nou – A Starlink Wi-Fi Kit**
This year, my husband and I purchased a Starlink Wi-Fi Kit, and it’s been incredibly useful for road trips and camping in remote areas. Cell service is often unreliable where we travel, and we wanted a dependable way to stay connected.
With Starlink, we’ve had fast, stable internet even in places where our phones show zero signal. It’s made navigation, streaming, and staying in touch much easier. We’d recommend it to anyone who camps, travels off-grid, or needs reliable internet in rural locations.
---
**As we close out 2025…**
We hope these ideas spark inspiration. Whether you’re looking for thoughtful holiday gifts or simply want to invest in something that brings more value to your life in the new year.
From all of us at Quarry Hill Advisors, we wish you a warm, restful, and joyful holiday season.
See you in 2026!
*This material is intended for educational purposes only. You should always consult a financial, tax, or legal professional familiar with your unique circumstances before making any financial decisions. Nothing contained in the material constitutes a recommendation for purchase or sale of any security, investment advisory services or tax advice. The information and opinions expressed in the linked articles are from third parties, and while they are deemed reliable, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.*
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[Kyle Moore CFP®](https://quarryhilladvisors.com/blog/author/kyle-moore)
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