When you think of luxury, you often think of expensive, which is usually what most people think of too. The reason is pretty obvious as luxury insinuates status and power which often come when you have exorbitant amounts of wealth and influence in the world. This is what many people think of when the word luxury comes up, so it’s hard to imagine experiencing luxury without having that power and wealth.
With that being said, you can still experience luxury without needing a 7, 8, or 9 figure bank account. There are plenty of ways to get the most out of life and reap the benefits of the high-class without actually being in the higher class. Here are some budget-friendly ways to still get luxury experiences.
LEASE A LUXURY CAR, DON’T BUY
If you want to feel like you’re the king of the castle every day, then a luxury car is one of the best ways to accomplish this feeling of power. People love to gawk at shiny luxury cars, and it’s not uncommon to dream of picturing yourself in a BMW or Mercedes rolling around town in style. The problem is that buying a new car is incredibly expensive, so the solution is to lease instead. Leasing is a good way to get the car of your dreams without breaking the bank, and it gives you a short term option if you realize you don’t actually like the car.
FIND TIME FOR A GOOD NIGHT
Celebrities love going out, tabloids love reporting on celebrities going out, and you can love going out too if you truly make a good night of it. No, this doesn’t mean going out to your local restaurant and bar, it means going clubbing like a superstar. A good way to heighten the experience is to arrive in style by limo, and affordable hiring options are more readily available now than ever. Hire a driver for a few hours one night, get some bottle service, and make some unforgettable memories as you live it up like a rockstar, even just for a night every once in a while.
SPLURGE ON A ONCE-IN-A-WHILE DINING EXPERIENCE
Dining out is another way to experience some luxury in a similar manner to a night out clubbing. The problem with dining, much like clubbing, is that it can get expensive depending on the restaurant and the experience. This shouldn’t dissuade you from trying to get a really refined culinary event because you only live once, right? The best restaurants usually require reservations and will cost more for one dish than an entire 3-course meal at many restaurants, but the food is worth it. Make a reservation ahead of time, budget up, and give yourself a treat every now and then.
TAKE A STAYCATION
Going on vacation is great fun, and it can really reset your clock with some rest and relaxation, but again, luxury costs money. Even a normal vacation will cost a couple of grand, so imagine how much it would cost to jet off to an exotic locale like Bali or Southern France? It’s not cheap, but you also don’t need to go very far to feel like a pampered superstar. The solution is to take a staycation. A staycation is as the name suggests, a vacation that is not-so-away from home. Most people like to rent a room in a hotel in their city to enjoy the fresh sheets, room service, and spa amenities. Now with Airbnb, you can even rent luxury homes and condos as well.
SPLIT THE COST OF BOX SEATS
The rich and famous always seem to get first in line when it comes to premium seating at concert or sporting events, and who can blame them, the experience is half the fun. The problem for regular folks is that these box seats are incredibly expensive for a single game or concert, but there is a simple solution. If you want to get this experience seeing your favorite team live in comfy recliners and with catering services, you should spread the wealth and split the cost with a group of friends. It’ll lower the average cost of tickets, and you get to enjoy it with your closest pals.
You don’t need to be a billionaire playboy, an oil tycoon, a CEO of a tech startup, or a financial genius to be able to experience true luxury, you just need to be realistic. While you won’t be on vacation in Malta every year, you can use some of these ideas to enjoy a life of luxury while still maintaining a budget.
