We Asked HuffPosters About Purchases That Made Them Feel Like Real Adults

"One of those fire/water proof envelope things to store valuables in now that I have them! I bought one for my brother for Christmas one year, [too]." Greta Geiselman, HuffPost's senior director of global workplace and security

Geiselman recommended this document bag, which is designed to withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees thanks to its double-layered, silicone-coated fiberglass. (The silicone coating also promises to make this item waterproof.) It has a built-in code lock that you can set with a customized combination, and a strong handle so you can easily travel with it.

"It gives me anxiety to spend more than $200 on anything, but in my mid-30s I realized it was time to invest in a real vacuum (i.e. not my push-roller vacuum that left all my shedded hair in clumps on my carpet), so I bought a Dyson Animal vacuum (the kind that specializes in sucking up hair). Let me tell you that I've never missed those hundreds of dollars since. I can now do yoga on the floor of my apartment without getting creeped out by hairballs and tumbleweeds, and I don't fear the judgment of my mother every time she visits me. A cordless Dyson can do wonders for your maturity." Kristen Aiken , head of HuffPost Life

"I grew up doing woodworking with my dad, fully relying on his well-stocked garage of tools. Now that I'm a grownup and my dad has passed, it's a little daunting to replicate those resources all on my own especially since I live in a 400-square-foot apartment. But this mini-circular saw has completely changed the game. I can cut through most pieces of wood for around-the-house type of projects with this little guy, and it even has a hose to suck up all the sawdust and prevent it from blowing all over my kitchen, which is about 5 feet away from my living room. I've used it to cut and install moulding, to level uneven bar stools, and to make my own photo frames." Aiken

"Mine is a slightly older version, but I think this is the most up-to-date model. It is the most simply, thoughtfully designed vacuum and it works incredibly well after more than 10 years of heavy use. The suction power is incredible and it's so easy to use on both carpet and hardwood floors thanks to the variety of attachments. Last year, we added the parquet twister attachment to our arsenal, which I also highly recommend." Emily Ruane , HuffPost Shopping managing editor

While its not a product purchase at all, the first time I used TaskRabbit to find a qualified person to hang some framed artwork that had been sitting in my hallway forever, it felt so liberating. Finally, I had the maturity to admit that I was never, ever going to complete this task myself and delegating the project to someone else felt like the ultimate grown-up move. The Tasker that I hired was fast, professional and came incredibly prepared. Ruane

A few years ago my dresser became such an unsightly mess that I had to take action. I started researching jewelry boxes and I realized if I wanted anything that was going to hold all of my accessories and look nice, I was going to have to shell out. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I accepted it God knows Ive shelled out enough for my jewelry over the years, so why not make sure it was housed safely and presentably? The one I ended up buying is no longer available at West Elm, but this acorn wood-veneer option thats accented with brass hardware is very similar. I do feel it was worth every penny. My dresser is no longer an eyesore and I know that all of my baubles are stored safely. Ruane

"Cloth napkins and placemats... any of that 'special occasion' tableware." Claudia Koerner , senior crime editor

We chose these neutral Crate & Barrel placemats that are uniquely stylish and easy to clean thanks to their textured vinyl design, and this set of four organic cotton napkins sport fun yet casual colorful trims to add some personality to your table.

"Probably things that made me SO excited as a grown-up that would have fully sucked to receive as gifts as a kid. Like my Roomba." Abigail Williams , head of audience

This Roomba has versatile brushes that pick up everything from dirt and dust to pet hair (including on carpet), and can detect which areas in your home are particularly dirty, like a high-traffic entryway, so it can clean them more thoroughly. It can connect to your Alexa or Google Assistant device, and when its 90-minute runtime is up, it automatically docks itself to recharge.

"A few years ago I briefly lived in an apartment that didn't have laundry machine hook-ups, so I bought a portable clothes washer that works with a kitchen sink and a (relatively) lightweight clothes dryer that works with any regular wall outlet. Although I was very well into adulthood by that point, I had a good laugh at the fact I was buying my very first big 'adult' appliances, and enjoyed the extra feeling of maturity. I can't tell you how handy these continue to be, whether for quick delicate loads, a second dryer for bedding wash day and beyond (reviewers love them for use in RVs , cabins and small apartments , and for skipping the laundromat and stairs ). The washing machine has cleaning power beyond what I expected (and an automatic drain pump, so there's no labor involved), and the clothes dryer dries a load of clothes in the same time it takes my 'big' one. Neither requires a special hookup or outlet." Janie Campbell , senior editor

"I bought it so I could drill into the wall of my house in Florida which is made of concrete. This drill/driver had all the power I needed to get that job done. It's compact too, which is a plus for storage and getting into small spaces." Chris McGonigal , senior photo editor

"I had just turned 30 the first time I bought a couch that wasn't a hand-me-down. It felt very significant not only to make a big furniture investment on my own but to also feel like it fully aligned with my personal design choices. I did a ton of research and ended up getting a sofa from Burrow because I wanted it to be something I could assemble on my own, since I moved frequently at the time.I love that it was comfy, cozy and had a minimalist silhouette." Lourdes Avila Uribe , senior shopping writer

"My mother kept a thorough address book while I was growing up, which lists contact information for everyone from family and family friends to coworkers, my twins and my friends families and other important contacts. It seemed very adult at the time and like a treasure trove of information.

"As I got older, I made do by asking her to pull an address from her book whenever I needed it, and then hunted through my texts with her when I would inevitably need the address again. I'd do the same when I'd text my friends for their addresses. This tactic quickly proved more difficult than I had anticipated, especially since my text messages auto-delete after a certain amount of time to help save space on my phone. Scrawling addresses on random sticky notes never to be seen again proved to be hardly an improvement and an equal waste of time.

"I finally invested in an address book of my own, and it feels great. Everyones information is now easily findable at a glance and organized into a neat little book. I am looking forward to continuing to fill it out as the years go by until it its as full-fleshed as my moms is. And to boot, this seemingly-adult purchase was super affordable, important to me since I tend to be frugal." Haley Zovickian , shopping writer

"Like I said, I am loathe to spend unnecessary money, so for years Ive been content with stuffing my plethora of toiletries into Ziplock bags whenever I travel. While this was mostly effective, helping to contain my conditioner the several times its burst in my bag due to plane altitude, its been a sad and kind of gross endeavor. The interior of the bags tended to inexplicably collect humidity from my toiletries, and were somewhat difficult to clean afterwards.

"I finally took the plunge and bought an actual toiletry travel bag from CalPak, and I absolutely love it. Its chic yet practical, with a clear body that lets me see its contents super easily, and it keeps all of my precious skincare and makeup packed compactly and upright so nothing spills. I love carrying it for everything from longer trips to overnighters. Plus, its super easy to clean I just take a wipe to its inside and outside and its as good as new. Its also impressively sturdy thanks to its reinforced edges, so I know itll serve me for the long haul. I bought the medium size but Ill be back for the small and large sizes soon. I own the mauve color but Im also obsessed with the mocha and lavender ones (which are limited colorways)." Zovickian

"I had been holding off on investing in a foam roller despite increasingly dealing with muscle pain and discomfort. Yet after finally trying out a friends roller and experiencing for myself the way it gently unknotted my muscles and relieved my soreness, I had to concede to myself that my body was no longer the spritely teen it once was and that it was finally time to buy a foam roller. The Amazon Basics version satisfies my needs; it's dense yet extremely lightweight so I can easily carry it from room-to-room whenever I need to stretch my muscles out." Zovickian

"A subtle but impactful adult swap: Putting my photos and prints in actual frames instead of leaning them against objects for stability or putting them on my wall with poster putty . My photos look so much better and I feel more at ease knowing theyre better protected from dust (and that their backs wont get residue from the putty or otherwise damaged when its time to remove them from the wall). Ive found that Amazons frames are affordable and good-quality; these come in a value pack of 10, can be mounted on the wall or stand alone on a counter or table, and work either vertically or horizontally." Zovickian