Living a life of luxury doesn’t necessarily have to drain your pocketbook. With smart strategizing, you can live your best rich life affordably. And according to Andrea Woroch, a nationally recognized, consumer finance and savings expert, it all comes down to getting creative.
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Below are some purchases that will make you feel rich but are surprisingly affordable — as well as other ways to use your money wisely to feel like you’re living rich without the added costs.
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A Partial Massage
Woroch recommended being savvy at the spa. “Go for a foot massage rather than a full body massage, which will cost a fraction of the price but still give you that pampering feeling to relax and unwind,” she said.
Keep Your Manicure Simple
When you’re at the salon, Woroch recommended opting for a basic manicure or pedicure rather than adding all the extras and pricier gel style polish. “This will shave about $20 to $50 off your service while still giving you some pampering,” she noted.
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Discounted Dining Out
“Enjoy a meal out for less by looking for happy hour or early-bird dining deals rather than going out to eat during prime time,” Woroch advised. “Or grab a discount restaurant certificate from Groupon.”
4 Other Ways To Use Your Money Wisely
Spending on those three purchases can make you feel rich, but the following tips from Woroch can help you become wealthy.
Budget for a Splurge
“There’s nothing wrong with buying something that you really don’t need, but just make sure you budget for it, so you aren’t going into debt and paying interest for it,” said Woroch. “And so, it doesn’t get in the way of other bigger, important goals you’re working toward.”
She said this means including room in your monthly budget for “fun money” that can be stowed away in a specific account. Then, you can use this as you please on fashion, dining out, skincare, etc.
“However, this should be spent after you pay your bills, put money towards your savings goals or debt payments,” Woroch added.
Put Your Savings to Work
Every time you dodge an impulse purchase, Woroch advised putting the money you would’ve spent into a separate savings account.
“Preferably, opening a high-yield online savings account so it’s out of sight and out of mind, and so you can make money on your savings thanks to high interest rates,” she said.
And she added that this passive income can help you afford more without spending your hard-earned dollars.
Shop Savvy and Figure Out How To Spend the Least Possible
No matter how much you cut back on spending, Woroch said there will be things you need to buy for yourself and your family, so shop savvy to stretch your dollars in times of economic uncertainty.
“Before you buy anything brand new, think about other buying options. For instance, sign up for buy-nothing groups on Facebook and trade kid’s clothing at Swoondle Society,” she suggested.
Woroch also recommended always looking for gently used or refurbished options. You can find gently used clothing for up to 80% off at fashion resale sites like Tradesy or you could save 60% off refurbished gadgets from Best Buy or eBay that offer warranties.
Leverage Free Rewards for Splurges
“Get a robust cash back card that rewards your daily purchases and other monthly bills,” said Woroch. “You can also earn cash back through deal sites like CouponCabin.com on everything from clothing and home goods purchases to online grocery and takeout orders to travel bookings.”
She continued, “Or earn free gift cards by taking pictures of your receipts using the free Fetch app. You can then use this ‘FREE MONEY’ to put towards those occasional splurges, Starbucks Lattes or pricey dinners out with friends or concert tickets.”
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Sources
Andrea Woroch, Andrea Woroch
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Purchases That Will Make You Feel Rich but Are Surprisingly Affordable
