Lacking wealth should not keep you from enjoying a lot of the finer things in life. Outside-of-the-box thinking and old-fashioned bargain hunting can help you obtain many of life’s luxuries.
Whether you’re on a limited income or simply don’t like spending a lot of money, live wealthy without being rich.
Living wealthy by using a little creativity can help you live the good life without spending a fortune.
Can You Live Wealthy Without Actually Being Rich?
Living a life of luxury may be tough for the majority of the working class.
But modern technology has made it easier to enjoy a lot of the same pleasures as the upper crust.
In today’s world, even many of the working class can enjoy the most affordable luxuries.
Twenty years ago, the richest person in the world could not have purchased a wireless device that was a combination computer, television, camera and telephone.
According to Google Shop, you can buy such a device for about $169. With the tablet, you can watch all the streaming videos you want, read almost every book ever published, surf the web or play video games as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.
Believe it or not, a lot of people you see wearing nice clothes, driving expensive cars, or eating at fine restaurants may not have any more money than you do.
They know how to enjoy the finer things in life without spending a lot of money.
But how can you REALLY live it up, without being rich? Here are some ideas.
Travel
Flying on commercial airliners may not be fun or luxurious, but it is fairly cheap. If you take advantage of websites like Kayak and Priceline it’s possible to book a flight between two large cities for under $100.
If you’re willing to fly during the middle of the week, travelers can save even more.
If you have the time to shop around and travel during the off-season, finding a good deal on a hotel room at a four-star property is possible.
Those willing to stay at lesser-known hotels can book a room in midtown Manhattan for under $150. Deals on even the best known hotels, including the Waldorf Astoria are available on discount travel websites.
Hotels, airlines, resorts, ski areas, theme parks, cruise lines and other travel venues usually offer off-season or discount travel prices when they have a hard time filling seats and rooms.
The off-season is usually when school is in session for most vacation destinations, while the off weeks for ski resorts are usually the first two weeks in April, right before many close for the season.
Those who book at that time often get a discount.
A little research at websites like Priceline or kayak.com can help you identify such deals. Another good way to identify the off-season is to call a hotel or a resort directly and ask about rates.
Food
Whole Foods and other high-end grocery stores offer chef-prepared meals at fairly low prices. The cost is slightly higher than fast food, but still cheaper than a comparable meal at a restaurant.
Not only are some of these meals made from high quality ingredients, but many are also prepared by trained chefs.
Gourmet food can be purchased at a discount. Trader Joe’s, which is opening locations all over the country sells thousands of exotic and imported foods at fantastic prices. Favorites include 16 ounces of brie cheese for just $6.99, 16 ounces of Turkish apricots for $2.99 and Italian truffle cheese for just $11.99 a pound.
A good bottle of wine can be considered one of the affordable luxuries when purchased at a discount. If you watch the sales and shop the bargain bins at many large liquor stores, you can still pick up a good bottle of imported wine in the four to five dollar range.
Trader Joe’s sells its popular high-quality Grand Reserve wines for as low as $12.99 a bottle.
Good beer is now so cheap that many liquor stores use it as a loss leader. Even the everyday price for some top-of-the-line beers like Heineken is one of the affordable luxuries when you’re on a limited budget.
Entertainment
Thanks to services like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu it’s never been a better time to take in unlimited amounts of television shows and movies.
Netflix subscribers get one of the most affordable luxuries at discounts available and stream as many movies and TV shows they want to see.
Transportation
Modern vehicles are so well made that three or four-year-old cars often run like new, yet the cost can be half of what a new car is. The base price for a 2014 Mercedes Benz C Class Sedan is $33,794, according to U.S. News & World Report.
If you’re nervous about driving a used car, then buy a certified pre-owned vehicle from a dealership. They get the exact maintenance as new cars without the markup.
Not only can you cut your car payment by driving a used car, you can also lower car insurance premiums.
In some select locations, Hertz rents dream cars like Porsche, BMW and Mercedes for $150-$200 a weekend.
Enterprise’s exotic car collection includes dream machines like the Aston Martin Vantage, the Dodge Viper, the Maserati GT Coupe, and Bentleys in select cities. Regular customers might be able to get a discount on a luxury car rental.
Shopping
Thrift stores are a great place to purchase clothes, shoes, small appliances, tools and household items at bargain prices. Try shopping for designer or dress clothing at thrift stores, where consumers buy lots of fancy clothing, never wear them and then give them away.
Thrift stores are also a great place to shop for small appliances because people often get them as gifts, but never use them.
Pawn shops also offer tools, jewelry, watches, sporting equipment, guns, electronics and other goods at lower prices than retailers.
Sometimes incredible bargains are available at pawn shops during an economic downturn. Some pawn shops also sell merchandise online.
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