Opening the book…
Stuff mostly fades into the background of a life; experiences and good tools don't. A trip, a shared meal, a skill learned stays with you and keeps giving. And a tool you use every day quietly shapes how that day feels. I've noticed I never remember the gadget I bought to impress, only the ones that made real work lighter.
Spend freely on the things you'll use daily and the experiences you'll carry: the good chair, the sharp knife, the trip with people you love. Buy the cheap version of what you rarely touch. When unsure, ask whether this becomes a memory or a skill. I try to spend where the value compounds.
This assumes the money is there to spend, and dressing up every purchase as an 'experience' is its own quiet trap. Debt for a memory can outlast the memory. Spend on what lasts, but only what you actually have.