A luxurious lifestyle typically means owning high-end clothing, cars, or vacations. It could also mean splurging on something special, like a weekend getaway abroad or fine dining at a top-rated restaurant.
While it may throw most people’s budget out the window, living luxuriously at low to no cost is possible. If you’re looking for ways to feel luxurious on a budget, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five tips to have a luxurious lifestyle without spending a fortune.
Rent
Formal occasions typically call for top designer brands’ luxurious attires. They’re not mandatory in most private events like weddings. However, they typically show modesty and decency, especially in business-related social gatherings. The problem is that luxurious outfits can be outrageously expensive.
The good news is that you don’t have to own a designer outfit to enjoy luxe indulgences. Rent out! Several luxurious attires are available for rent from online fashion rental companies for only a fraction of the retail cost. It’s not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendlier since renting promotes sustainability and decreases overall waste.
Product Testing
If you want to get a hold of the trendiest high-end gadget or fashion item at no cost, consider signing up for product testing. It’s a type of market research where you use the products for free, give the companies feedback about them, and get paid for doing so — very easy, right?
The pay is around anywhere from $3-$500 or could be more, depending on how in-depth the testing process is. There are other perks you’ll love too! Such benefits include keeping the testers to yourself even after the test and experiencing different brands without dishing out a purchase or risking losing money on products you don’t ultimately love.
The main disadvantage of product testing is that it’s a harder gig to get. One of the ways to be a product tester is to sign up with product testing companies or market research firms. They’ll typically send you screener emails for you to fill out first and for them to see whether you’re qualified for their current product test jobs or not.
Sponsored Social Media Posts
A sponsored post is a social media post where you highlight a brand or product that you’ve been paid to promote. For example, you can advertise the payday loan from CreditNinja in your social media stories, posts, or video content and get paid for doing so. It’s one of the most common ways for new influencers to make money.
Sponsored social media posts are quite similar to product testing. Both will pay you for using products free of charge and giving comments about them, except you’ll publicly share your feedback on social media. Also, many brands will also give free luxurious gifts to influencers apart from the product testers.
Contrary to a long-term partnership as a brand ambassador, a sponsored social media post is more of a groundswell approach to generate exposure and brand awareness. They’ll likely keep in touch with you for more collaborations if your number of views, total time watching, engagement, sharing, and conversions are all increasing. All of these bring you profits both from the brands and social media sites.
Cheap Luxe
Take advantage of affordable luxe at online marketplaces. They let both sellers and buyers buy, sell, and bid on luxury items on their digital platforms. Many users opt for them because they’re open 24/7, convenient, and way cheaper.
In addition, many luxury buyers consign their like-new, upscale, and costly items to local consignment shops, mainly to reinvest their money. These shops sell these luxe items that are sometimes still brand new, unworn, and with the original packaging at budget-friendly prices.
You can also enjoy up to 70% off the retail price of last season’s luxury items. Many design houses ship their overstock pieces from previous seasons to their outlet stores. Plus, you can save even more if you sign up for email lists and befriend the sales staff to get notified first for special discounts, events, and markdowns.
Prix Fixe Menus and Happy Hours
“Prix fixe” or “fixed price” menus are a way for restaurants to attract new customers. Not only does it increase sales and traffic to the restaurant, but it also helps businesses to relieve staff on busy holidays. For customers, a fixed-price menu requires little-to-no decision-making and ensures you can enjoy the experience of having multiple courses.
The best part of these fixed-price menus is they’re often less expensive than a la carte options. With these menus, you can enjoy a three- or four-course meal from a recently opened trendy new restaurant without taking a big bite out of your budget.
Another way to have a luxurious meal on a budget is to hit a new restaurant at lunch or happy hour instead of dinner. These two meal times have less foot traffic, so many restaurants tend to lower their prices at these times to attract diners.
Final Thoughts
A luxurious lifestyle is a state of mind. It has nothing to do with expensive things or experiences, but it’s your feelings about it. The bottom line is you don’t have to break the bank to feel truly luxurious. Enjoy your definition of luxury and treat yourself from time to time.
