How To Lead A Luxury Lifestyle On A Budget

You want to look like you’ve just stepped out of a luxurious home and that you live a lifestyle focused on the best experiences and possessions, but does it feel like a daydream?

You don’t need to have a lot of money to be able to lead a luxurious lifestyle.

What, exactly, is a luxury lifestyle? A luxury lifestyle can be defined in different ways. One of the best ways to define it is to say that it’s a combination of convenience and comfort.

With that in mind, let’s look at how you can achieve a luxurious lifestyle without running into debt. After all, stress is never a good look.

Contents

Dress With Luxury In Mind, Without The Cost

How you dress tells the world a lot about who you are and what your lifestyle is about. Dressing expensively isn’t about spending a lot of money on filling your wardrobe with clothes.

By following some important tips, you can start to feel more luxurious.

Choose neutrals. Dressing in colors such as black, beige, and grey works well to give you a look that’s more expensive.
Go for structured pieces. These make a better impression than slouchy, relaxed clothing.
Steam your clothing. Make sure your clothing looks sleek and smooth – without those annoying creases that can make it look cheap and make you seem unkempt.
Get the right fit. If your clothes don’t fit you properly, they will look odd and less expensive than they should. It’s recommended that you get your clothing tailored. This is especially important for the items that you wear regularly to ensure that they’re flattering.
Avoid too many trends. While one or two trendy pieces can add a dash of color and style to your look, you want to avoid going over the top with trends. Not only will this pass, leaving you with a pile of clothing or accessories that you don’t want to wear anymore, but they will lack sophistication.
Keep your clothing in good condition. Loose buttons or threads can make the most expensive outfit appear to be of low quality. Always maintain your clothing and repair it so that it looks brand new.
Subtlety is stylish! This is a good fashion motto to bear in mind when you want to dress more luxuriously. One of the most important things that you should do when shopping for new clothes is to avoid anything with large logos. Focus on quality as that speaks volumes. You don’t have to be a walking billboard to feel or look expensive.
Keep updating your style. Your wardrobe is something that you have to keep updating every now and then to ensure that you remain sophisticated and classy.

Tips For Fine Dining On The Cheap

If you want to dine in style, you might worry about the hefty bill at the end of your meal. You can avoid that by considering the following points.

Ask important questions. You should find out beforehand if there are a la carte options if shared plates are available if there’s a service charge that’s added to the bill, and if there are discounted wine service evenings or any other specials.
Eat during restaurant week. Most cities offer restaurant week, which gives you the chance to enjoy a pared-down menu at a more affordable price.
Be wise about wine. Alcohol can quickly increase your dinner costs. If there’s no pairing wine that is affordable, request that the sommelier recommends a glass of wine that will work with your chosen meal. Another idea is to share the wine tasting experience with your dinner guest. Pro tip: don’t ask for two glasses as this might put off the wait staff.
Go for lunch instead. Usually, lunches are less expensive than dinners, so these could be an option for you if you want to enjoy fine dining without the stressful expenses attached to it.
Choose prix fixe. This term is french for “fixed price.” Many restaurants offer fixed menus that contain seasonal meals and up to six courses that have been personally picked by the chef. This can help you save money while experiencing the restaurant’s food.
Choose the cheapest luxury meals. Eating Michelin-star meals doesn’t always have to be expensive. No, really. The Michelin Guide has started giving its stars to cheaper street food spots in Asia, but many Michelin-starred restaurants will also give customers lunch deals that you can enjoy at a more affordable price. If you’re interested, you should check out a list on Fine Dining Lovers.

Save Money On Tech Gadgets

You want the latest device that has all the features and frills to make your life more comfortable, but don’t splurge for it. Here are some tips to enjoy tech without the high price tag.

Reconsider device contracts. A discount is often provided for devices such as cell phones when you open a contract for them. But this will result in you paying more money over time, so consider prepaid plans instead – this could save you more than $1,000 of your hard-earned cash.
Be smart about accessories. Do you really need expensive HDMI cables or chargers for your device? Cost-effective accessories will work just the same while saving you tons of money. Remember, just because something’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s of better quality. Focus on what you really need instead of what’s expensive.
Consider buying refurbished items. If you need a new device, such as a laptop, you should consider refurbished ones. These have been tested and inspected to ensure that they work just as well as new products, but you need to ensure that you purchase them from reputable dealers. The devices should have “factory certified” labels on them, as that’s a guarantee of their quality.
Use price-tracking tools. These tools can help you to find discounts on various tech gadgets that you want to buy.

How To Be A Social Butterfly On A Budget

If you want to rub shoulders with the rich and (almost) famous, it can end up costing you a lot of money. An example includes when it comes to black-tie events.

But, there are ways in which you can attend these social events without going broke. Here are some tips:

You might not think you can save money on a tux, but you can. Buying a tuxedo will ensure that you can wear it to various events while always looking sophisticated. Check out this guide (via Esquire) for information about discount tuxedos and where to find them.
Befriend a tailor. Whether you’re going to a black-tie event or some other social function, make sure you look good by having your clothes tailored beforehand. This will ensure that you always look sharp.
Scour the city for discounts. When attending a luxury event, such as going to the opera, search for free nights or discounts for what you’re looking for. Some good places to check include the local library as well as parks and recreation calendars.
Enjoy the simple pleasures. Honestly, you don’t have to go to expensive places or events to feel like a high roller. The simple pleasures can sometimes be the most luxurious, so pack a picnic basket and head to the beach with someone special, or watch the sunset from the top of a mountain.

Get A Chic Home Without The Cost

If you feel like your home could do with some improvements to make it more comfortable and luxurious, you’ll be pleased to know that paying a bit of attention to important details without spending a lot of money can be a game-changer.

Here are some tips to take your home from average to amazing.

Buy new fixtures. The bathroom and kitchen faucets are usually the first things that people see when they walk into those rooms of the house. Updating them will give your home a more luxurious atmosphere, and you can buy these items at discounted prices.
Create an accent wall. You might not have time or money to repaint an entire room in the house that could do with an update, but you don’t have to. Consider painting just one wall – this will become the accent wall of the space. A good tip to make it look sophisticated and striking is to choose a color for it that’s the darkest one in the color palette you’ve chosen for the room. You don’t have to limit yourself to painting an accent wall, though. You can use wallpaper or tile instead for even more character.
Clear away the clutter. If you have clutter in your home, this will make it look shabby and pull attention away from the great elements that are in it. Remove the clutter so that your home sparkles with cleanliness. This will also serve as a great background for ornaments or other decor items that you want to bring into space and put on display.
Change a light fixture (or two). It’s amazing the effect that changing a light fixture that is old and shabby can have on the entire room. Best of all, this is an easy DIY project you can do in your spare time.
Bring in molding. Wall moldings can update your room and add decorative touches to it that are sophisticated. You can choose narrow strips or go for crown molding, which gives you a more luxurious look without having to shell out a lot of money for it.
Add more greenery. Bringing plants into your home is an easy trick to make your home look more appealing and luxurious. The key is to mess it up a bit, such as by putting small plants in tiny places, large ones that take up a lot of space and choosing plants that trail down over items and furniture. However, make sure the pots are of quality and look good, even if that means you should repaint some old pots you have lying around, as this will ensure that the result is glamorous. Pro tip: You should always have fresh flowers displayed in your home as these are a staple in luxurious homes.
Choose luxurious decor accessories. Now, you really don’t have to spend money on expensive decor items for the home. Instead, opt for small items in high-end materials such as gold or marble. For example, floating marble shelves can be used as side tables in the bedroom and while they don’t cost a lot of money they look gorgeous.
Add a coat of paint. Earlier, we talked about how adding an accent wall to your home can offer an instant transformation, but painting your home, in general, is always a good idea. It gives your home a makeover and removing any dirty or damaged patches will make it look so much crisper and inviting.
Choose lustrous wallpaper. If you’re more of wallpaper than a paint fan, you should make sure you install shiny wallpaper. This will help to reflect the light in your living space and it also makes the entire room look so much more expensive.
Make your home smell expensive. Once you’ve made some small changes to your home’s design, you should also ensure that it smells luxurious. After all, our sense of smell is powerful – just think of how a certain fragrance you wear can set a certain mood for the whole day. Bring delicious fragrances into your home in the form of candles or essential oil diffusers.

How To Do Affordable Luxury Travel

Do you want to stay at the most luxurious, expensive hotels around the world? Do you want to fly by the seat of your pants as you explore various beautiful locations?

If so, then you’re going to want to know how to make it less expensive and more fun. Here are some tips.

Avoid The Trendiest Spots

While you might love the idea of traveling to a place such as the Maldives, everyone will be having the same thought. This can easily make things more expensive.

Therefore, consider avoiding the tourist spots and exploring countries that don’t see a lot of people, such as the Cook Islands, Paraguay, and Mongolia.

Here you can save money while getting to have a much more unique and luxurious holiday. In some countries where the cost of living is lower, such as in Africa or Poland, you will find luxury travel that’s more affordable.

Wait For Airline Sales

A huge chunk of your travel expenses usually goes to the cost of the flight to reach your destination and the flight to get back home, but you can cut costs by keeping an eye out for airline sales.

A good tip is to join the airline’s mailing list so you’ll be notified when there’s a sale of which you can take advantage.

Travel In A Group

If you want to enjoy a luxurious vacation with a group of friends, you could combine your money and splurge on a house or villa.

This type of accommodation will give you much more space and convenience while preventing you from having to shell out all your money to pay for it.

Choose Small Boutique Hotels

These are charming types of accommodation that are much cheaper than staying at large hotel chains.

The bonus of staying in boutique hotels is that they’re off the beaten path, so you’ll get a more unique experience and you’ll save money.

Try To Book Directly With The Hotel

Although you can find good, quick accommodation deals online, it’s always a smart idea to consult with the hotel where you are staying to find out if they have any deals to offer.

For example, you might learn that they have a better room rate or there are upgrades available on the room that is of no extra cost to you.

Another good tip when booking with the hotel is to check the loyalty schemes that are available. Large hotel chains usually have schemes for customers that offer them excellent discounts and perks.

Make Use Of The Hotel Bar

The bar in a luxury hotel is the perfect spot to enjoy some luxury without spending a lot of money. For example, you could enjoy tea, cocktails, or meals – some restaurants offer meals at the bar and these are usually cheaper.

Attend Restaurants After Dinner

While the idea of going to restaurants after dinner might sound strange, many luxury restaurants offer customers a chance to enjoy coffee and dessert after regular hours, so you’ll be able to enjoy a slice of luxury without the extra costs just by skipping dinner.

If you have your heart set on going to an expensive restaurant during their regular hours, consider having lunch instead of dinner as that can reduce your costs.

Get An Airline Credit Card

There are many benefits to owning an airline credit card, as long as you don’t mind regularly traveling with one airline.

These cards will charge annual fees of around $95 (via NerdWallet), but they offer many perks.

These include allowing you to earn frequent flyer miles, and you can redeem these miles for free flights, free checked bags, and priority boarding.

Avoid Booking Flights Directly From Airline Websites

While it might seem convenient to book flights from airlines directly, it can cause you to spend more on the flights than you need to.

Instead, opt for booking on third-party websites such as Priceline. Such websites will do the hard work for you by finding the cheapest flights that are currently available (via Time).

Make Sure You Have A Local SIM Card

When you’re traveling you’re going to want to have the convenience of being able to stay in touch with loved ones back home.

Make sure that you avoid that horrid WiFi and data roaming expenses. Get a local SIM card when you get to your destination so that you can prevent unnecessary costs.

What Does A Luxury Lifestyle Mean To You?

When you want to embark on a luxury lifestyle, it’s important to consider what this actually means for you. There are many different ways in which to define a luxury lifestyle.

For some people, it’s about having the latest gadgets and jet-setting to beautiful locations. For others, it’s about having greater convenience and enjoying some creature comforts at home.

By knowing exactly what you want to achieve, you’ll be able to meet your needs and save money.

Conclusion

Living a luxurious lifestyle doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. As we’ve seen in this guide to living your best life, you can save money in various areas of your life, such as when it comes to social events, clothing purchases, fine dining, and jet-setting to fantastic vacation locations.

Ultimately, taking some time to figure out what luxury lifestyles mean for you will enable you to make the most of affordable experiences and feel like a high roller wherever you are.

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