I use eth for three things, I use to invest in an ICO and I am holding some of the eth for long term hold and final I am using eth to take money to fiat, it is easy to get eth when you are into bounty and airdrops so from time to time i due take fiat for my up keep in eth.
Could you use Bitcoin in stead? You could use BTC to invest in ICO's, hold BTC as a long term investment, and you could use BTC for fiat exchange purposes.