I agree with Sharonna's answer. Some things might not earn money through interest or resale, but they can prevent more expensive problems or bring positive benefits in other ways.
On the other hand, some people use language in manipulative ways. Edward De Bono advises, "Watch out for currant bun thinking." The bun is just a tasteless bit of baked dough made from white flour and baking soda, unhealthy. Without the currants to flavour it, no one would eat it. What De Bono means is that some arguments are so poor that unless emotional sweeteners are added, no one would be persuaded. Politicians do this when they put a spin on some news item, lessening the severity of some bad result they must admit, or magnifying the good of some very modest achievement. Advertisers and salesmen do the same thing when spruiking their wares. So your wife might use the word "invest" when she's hoping to talk you into something she fears you won't want to spend money on. If this is the case, she might be hoping you won't notice exactly how she talked you into it.
Another possibility is that your wife might be loose with her language - she doesn't really care about the exact meaning as long as it sort of sounds good. Or she might be using the word with a touch of irony and humour. Or she might have no idea what "invest" means - though I don't think you would have married a woman with poor language skills.
Thing is, we can't know. You know her best. What do you suspect?
Invest definition: expend money with the expectation of achieving a profit or material result by putting it into financial schemes, shares, or property, or by using it to develop a commercial venture.
So ... investing in a new car. No, you won't make money when you sell it. Buy you expect to achieve the material results of having fewer repair bills, lower gas mileage, better "creature comforts", etc.
I have 'invested' in some old motorcycles over the years. I sold a group of 6 that maybe I broke even on. I have one that will do well when I decide to sell it. But even then it won't make me rich.
Rather than just look at one definition of the words “invest” or “investment”, consider that another way to look at them is in the long-term advantages that may arise after having paid for a product or service. For example, a life-saving object, a time-saving object, a labor-saving device, a money-saver, a money-generator, anything that offers a better way to do something, etc. If in the long run, the purchase yields ways that it pays for itself times over, or helps cut future expenses, I’m sure can be seen as an investment in addition to merely being a purchase. ~
WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH 