Live Rich without shelling out much

Nowadays, more are brand conscious and crave for luxurious lifestyles. Can someone in tight budget really live well heeled? Of course! You can be wearing an Issey Miyake de ukay-ukay, carrying a $1 vintage clutch, but if you look great and feel great, who cares?! There are plenty of ways to feel luxurious, stylish, and pampered without spending much. Remember, there’s always a party with an open bar for some free champagne, and tons of other low-priced substitutes. Bear in mind, it’s all in the attitude…

How to live rich without shelling out much:
Simplify your life. Think of the things you can live without. Material things do not always denote true richness and joie de vivre. Focus on what makes you happy, not keeping up with the latest “it” bag carried by the latest “it” girl. Remember, your self-worth doesn’t come from a pair of Jimmy Choos, but from character and confidence.

Be resourceful. Find out where and when there are events that usually have an open bar for a limited time period. A little champagne never hurt any one! At the bigger events where crowd control isn’t so tight, you can crash and say you’re “looking” for someone already there. Just be sure to be appropriately dressed and always confident.

Be polite to everyone and smile. Royalty does this all the time and it works. A haughty look won’t get you invited to the right places by the right people. Also, spend a few minutes making chi-chat with doormen, bouncers, waiters, and various staff. A bit of PR can go a very long way.

Be creative. Don’t forget that having fun is still free. Use your imagination – there are a lot of things that can be achieved without having to shell out. Don’t be afraid of substituting. Develop your own look – this creates an air of uniqueness that people just love. Before you know it, you’ll be on everyone’s guest list.

Do your research. Read the papers, scan the magazine – this way you know what’s going on and who is who. Keeping yourself informed about various topics, from fashion to film to politics will make it easy to strike up a conversation. Also, it helps to brush up on basic manners and etiquette the mark of true breeding.

(source: Cosmopolitan Phils.)