A couple weeks ago, our company gave each employee $300 cash in an envelope. We drove to the mall and were told we had 1.5 hours to spend it all, or we had to give it back. What a very cool concept. Had I been given a $300 bonus, I most likely would have saved it. Instead, I was able to buy a few items I really wanted, but would never have bought with “my own” money.

Quite a few items came to mind when we were first told about this. I thought about splurging it all at Gamestop and buying six or so Xbox games, but I realized that was a bit excessive. I knew I wanted new running shoes, but didn’t want to fret with trying to find the right ones in an hour and a half. I briefly considered an I-Robot Vacuum, something I have always wanted, but unfortunately I just don’t think it would fare well in our apartment.

So here’s what I ended up with:

Shun 7″ Santoku Knife

I have wanted a nice, sharp knife for years now. When my wife and I got married, we received an expensive Cuisinart knife set, as well as an electric knife sharpener. I don’t recall the chef’s knife ever being particularly sharp, and the cheap knife sharpener probably didn’t help, but as of now it can’t cut, well, anything.

So I looked for the best knife I could find. First, I decided to go with a Santoku over a standard Chef’s knife, as they are supposedly more adept at cutting things like onions and peppers, but can’t handle cutting bones. Considering I never even knew you could cut a bone with a knife, I was happy enough with the Santoku.

As for the brand, I originally looked at Wusthof, the famous German knife brand. That was all well and good, but when I read that Shun was a Japanese company and had supposedly perfected the Santoku, I just had to have it.

And let me tell you – cooking with it feels like cheating. It’s an incredible knife, and I’m going to be sure to take care of it like a first born child.

Cost: $123 - $23 sale price - $14 gift card = $86

Keurig B60 K-Cup Coffee Brewer

I love coffee, and I need it. I drink, on average, three cups a day – probably about the norm for your standard office worker. In fact, I often have it around 9 or 10 at night recently, as I can’t seem to stay up past then without caffeine (yet I’m asleep thirty seconds after my head hits the pillow, no matter how recently I drank the coffee).

Anyway, I don’t drink coffee all that often at home. In the morning my commute is only seven minutes long, and at work I have access to a professional version of what I bought here. However, when I do need coffee at home (mostly during the weekends), I couldn’t find a reasonable way to make it. The problem is that buying a pound of coffee left me with old beans, as I didn’t use it quick enough. Making coffee in a coffeemaker left me with several cups extra, as my wife doesn’t drink coffee. I tried a French press, but didn’t love the taste and it was a pain.

I absolutely love this thing though. Thirty seconds to a cup of excellent coffee, especially compared to the terrible Dunkin Donuts I had gotten accustomed too. My wife even loves the machine for the hot chocolate and instant hot water for tea.

A bit excessive? Yes. I also wouldn’t have bought it if I drank coffee every day, as the cups for it can get expensive. But for my moderate usage, it’s perfect.

Cost: $150 – 20% coupon = $120

Dead Rising

Who doesn’t love killing a massive mob of zombies?

Cost: $30

I also picked up a cutting board and pizza stone, bringing the total to $300. The whole experience was a blast – we even got a nice lunch at The Cheesecake Factory after.

As for my real, end of year bonus I get in two weeks? Straight to savings!