From our eighth-floor balcony, my spouse and I watched the full moon climb over the ocean. Earlier that evening we’d strolled in the surf, relaxed in the hot tub, swum in the pool and had cocktails at the hotel bar. In the morning we enjoyed a full breakfast (included with the room) before driving onto the beach in Daytona, Florida (one of the few spots that still allows that).
The only out-of-pocket expense for our upscale Hyatt stay was roughly $30 for drinks and tips. The room itself was covered entirely with credit card points.
A deal like that is perfect if your earnings aren’t what they used to be (as in our situation), or if a big portion of your paycheck is tied up in student loan payments. But even if you have a reasonable amount of disposable income, it pays to hunt for low-cost ways to enjoy life. The less you spend on small luxuries, the more of them you can afford, right?
Fortunately, you can feel affluent, have memorable experiences and acquire luxury items for far less than you might expect. You just need to learn how to live grand on a modest budget. Here are 10 ways to do precisely that.
1. Attend the Symphony for Free
Many orchestras offer at least one free night each year or host other no-cost events. For example, the Nashville Symphony hosts their Free Day of Music annually. The Houston Symphony presents 10 free Summer Neighborhood Concerts in a season, and in Los Angeles the Symphony in the Glen Free Concert program has staged 42 free performances over 21 years.
Sometimes these complimentary events are limited to local residents; other times they’re open to anyone who shows up. When you search online for “free symphony,” try repeating the search with the names of nearby cities to uncover more options.
2. Purchase High-Quality Secondhand Clothing
If you want to dress well for that symphony evening, thrift stores are a good place to begin. You can often find decent suits, and dresses typically go for very low prices. I’ve also picked up good outdoor gear at thrift shops, including a North Face vest.
One personal finance blogger says he bought a North Face parka for $5 and later sold it for $85 on eBay, so selling items occasionally can help fund your purchases.
Speaking of eBay, it’s an excellent resource for brand-name used clothing at a fraction of retail prices. For instance, J Brand jeans often retail near $200 new but are commonly available in great condition for $25 to $40. For more sources of quality pre-owned apparel, check posts about reselling clothing online.
3. Take an Affordable Cruise
When we relocated to southern Florida, we wanted more time on the water. We discovered a coupon for the Naples Princess for $24 per person and enjoyed a couple of hours cruising the inland bays. Later, we used a coupon for the Big M Casino cruise: five hours at sea and a gourmet buffet for just $10 each (normally about $28). Yes, we tried a few penny slots and played a round of bingo. Still, the entire day was under $50.
Using coupons for day cruises is one way to keep costs down, but longer voyages can be inexpensive too. In their Guide to Cruises Under $200, CruiseMates.com lists a Carnival four-night Bahamas cruise for $179. They note shorter itineraries and older ships are the keys to budget-friendly cruises.
4. Use Cloth Napkins
Small indulgences at home can make you feel wealthier. Cloth napkins are a simple example and might even be cheaper over time compared with disposable paper ones. If you want to elevate your table setting, learn to fold napkins into elegant shapes.
5. Stay in Upscale Hotels Cheaply or Free
Travel credit cards and hotel loyalty cards can significantly reduce the cost of nicer accommodations. We used points from our Chase Hyatt Card for the night in Daytona Beach. We’ve also redeemed points for complimentary nights in Miami, Denver, Coral Springs, Tampa and Lake Tahoe.
Besides award nights, we receive an “anniversary” free night at a category one-to-four Hyatt each year, which is a fair return for a $75 annual fee.
Consider a Marriott Rewards card as well (I recently applied). You receive a free night when your account is approved, and if you charge $1,000 in the first three months you’ll earn 50,000 points—enough for multiple nights. The $85 annual fee is waived the first year, so you could potentially get up to seven free nights in year one by paying everyday expenses, then cancel before the second-year fee is billed.
6. Buy High-Quality Secondhand Art
Want nicer artwork on your walls? Try rummage sales, flea markets and thrift stores. While sprucing up your home with quality art, you might get lucky—like Zach Bodish, who discovered a signed Picasso print valued at $6,000 for only $14 at a thrift shop.
7. Buy a Pre-Owned Luxury Car
Once a car leaves the lot it’s a used car, so why pay extra for “new”? Luxury vehicles depreciate steeply. A dealer specializing in them notes they often sell for less than one-tenth of their original cost after ten years.
If you think a luxury car is out of reach, reconsider. For example, Cars.com reports a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class that once topped $54,000 new now falls in the $5,653 to $14,761 range.
8. Buy Other Pre-Owned Luxury Goods
Designer handbags and other upscale items can be found at a small slice of their retail prices. Watch for eBay auctions and explore resale sites like Tradesy. Quality watches and jewelry often turn up at coin and collectible shops. And, of course, keep checking thrift stores.
That’s how one shopper scored a designer handbag valued at $500,000 for just $30. More commonly you’ll find high-quality items priced at five to twenty times less than new.
9. Find an Affordable Home in a Wealthy Area
You don’t have to be rich to live where the wealthy live. Consider Naples, Florida, which appears on several lists of cities with many millionaires. Yes, after a $47 million purchase one residence was listed at an asking price of $68 million, and small two-bedroom houses on our street once fetched over $300,000. Yet when we lived there we bought a condo for $89,000, with the pool only steps away.
Keep an open mind and you may find certain housing types or locations are considerably cheaper than the averages imply.
There are many perks to residing among affluent neighbors. In Naples we enjoyed free symphony concerts, attended free outdoor performances, and as local residents didn’t have to pay for beach parking.
10. Dine Affordably at an Upscale Restaurant
Is there a pricey restaurant you’d love to visit? Maybe it offers a spectacular view, standout decor, or some other draw (delicious food would be a bonus).
Here’s a trick to make it budget-friendly: After you eat at home, dress in your best thrift-store finery—watch, jewelry, and all—and go to that fancy spot just for dessert. A slice of tiramisu or a pie with ice cream usually won’t break the bank, even at an expensive venue. You’ll still experience the service, surroundings, view, and ambiance (most of what you’re after) at a fraction of the price others pay.
David Mercer is the author of “101 Strange Ways to Make Money” and runs EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. He’s worked as a repo man, carved walking sticks, evaluated search engines, flipped houses, driven trams, served legal papers, participated as a mock juror, and dealt roulette, but of more than 100 ways he’s earned money, writing is his favorite (so far).
