If you can’t eat the rich, beat the rich — at their own game. Rich folks are out here spending their fortunes on their lavish lifestyles, but we’ve found some luxurious little loopholes that allow us to fake it till we make it without compromising our cheapskate tendencies.
1. Cook Gourmet Meals at Home
Next time you go to a fancy restaurant and order an expensive meal, consider what it would cost to replicate the same thing (and an undoubtedly larger portion) at home. We guarantee you’ll pay less to steam lobster yourself.
2. Shop Secondhand
Secondhand shopping used to have such a negative connotation, but these days, it’s all the rage. You can find plenty of gently used, nice clothes for a lower price than their brand-new counterparts. No one will ever know.
3. Shop Sales
Even high-end clothes go on sale every now and then. Wait for the sales and take advantage of them whenever possible.
4. DIY Home Decor
Home decor can be pricey, but it’s also pretty easy to replicate expensive-looking pieces yourself. Approach interior decorating DIY-style to achieve a high-end look for less.
5. Travel Off-Season
You don’t have to be rich to see the world, but one smart way to do it while saving money is to travel during off-seasons. So, while everyone else is heading to Italy during the summertime, you can explore a cheaper trip there during a different time of year.
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6. Attend Free Cultural Events
Admission to cultural events can be so expensive, but attending them feels so elite. Keep your eye out for such events that offer free admission instead.
7. Prioritize Self-Care
At-home spa days are a great way to treat yourself to something luxurious without having to pay professional spa prices. Break out the cucumbers and hot towels and activate self-care mode.
8. Host Elegant Gatherings
You don’t have to spend a fortune to host a fancy dinner party. Cultivate your menu around what’s on sale or in-season, approach decorations DIY-style, or consider a potluck to conserve costs.
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9. Make Small Home Upgrades
Simple home updates like swapping the hardware on your kitchen cabinets or creating some new decor for your living room can emulate a life of luxury in your own home.
10. Leverage Rewards Programs
Pay attention to which rewards programs might be suited to your lifestyle, whether it’s a credit card cash back situation or a punch card at your local nail salon that allows you to get your nails done for free after so many paid visits. Leverage these to your own makeshift lavish lifestyle.
11. Thrift Through Apps
Apps like ThredUp and Poshmark exist so you can score expensive, used brands without needing to spend a lot of money or leave the comfort of your home to shop. You can also sell your clothes on the same apps when you’re done with them to cover the costs of an upgraded wardrobe.
12. Learn New Skills
Find an affordable cooking or art class and sign yourself up. You’ll feel lavish, have fun, and learn something new all at the same time.
13. Rent Designer Clothes
If thrifting designer clothes isn’t for you, you can also explore apps like Rent the Runway, which allow you to rent designer threds. This hack is especially useful if you’re just trying to look fancy for one particular event. Plus, rich folks have a tendency not to wear the same clothes over and over.
14. Work Out at Home
You don’t need a fancy gym membership to stay fit. Workout at home instead and you’ll still feel good about yourself. Endorphins don’t require a specific origin, after all.
15. Beautify on a Budget
Whether you visit an esthetician in training to get your brows waxed or you visit a hair stylists just starting out to get your hair highlighted for cheaper, there are lots of ways to indulge your beauty desires without spending what rich people do.
16. Take a Staycation
If you can’t afford a vacation but you’re still craving a glamorous getaway, consider a staycation at a local hotel instead. The money you save on the “actually traveling” expenses can be used to splurge a bit more on a nicer hotel room or better yet: room service.
17. Make Your Own Gourmet Coffee
Don’t waste your money on Starbucks. Rich folks might get their caffeine fix there without a second thought, but you don’t have to spend $10 a day to enjoy gourmet coffee. Make it at home instead — you don’t have to compromise your morning jolt or your bank account.
18. Shop Out-of-Season Sales
Buy winter clothes when they go on sale as spring starts approaching, and grab summer outfits as fall starts rolling in. Everything will be cheaper, and you can hold it over until the next time the appropriate season comes around.
19. Splurge Sparingly
Treating yourself is a great way to feel rich for a day. The key there is “for a day.” You can’t splurge all the time. Just do it enough to scratch the itch.
20. Buy a Used Vehicle
A brand new Escalade might be out of the cards for you, but if you find the just-right deal on the used car lot, you’re in.
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