People love calling everything an "investment" to feel better about spending money.

A new wardrobe? Not an investment.
A gym membership you ghost after two visits? Not an investment.
A car that drops 20% in value the second you drive off the lot? Definitely not an investment.

An actual investment has a reasonable shot at being worth more later. Everything else is just spending with a side of self-deception.

Most people confuse consumption with capital allocation. They're not the same thing.