How to afford more luxury for your money

I have a somehow strange way of managing my money. I don’t mind foregoing every day spending in search of a greater reward. As such, I almost never shop for clothes, or I go to a thrift store. My latest find was a $150 pair of snow shoes that I paid $7 for, and a goose feather winter coat from Calvin Klein that cost me $3. Both were barely used and I couldn’t care less if someone wore them before. One wash and they’re just like any other clothes I used myself.

I hate waste, I’ll go crazy if you leave the fridge door open longer than necessary or leave the lights on when you exit the room, I’ll go through great length to reuse and recycle everything, food and leftovers come to mind, but I’ll also turn old clothes into rags or food containers into Tupperware.

Yet at the same time, I like to splurge on exceptional things. I own various luxury items that cost me a pretty penny, but give me great enjoyment day in, day out. I bought my last house cash. I travel the world for months on end and never think twice when it comes to experiencing a new restaurant, sampling a new beer or staying in a nice city.

I don’t know if my priorities are right for everyone, but they sure are for me. And when people start asking how I can possibly afford such extensive travels and leisure, I try to explain that it comes naturally to me to save on other things in life, because I’d rather travel the world in my thrift store clothes than stay at home in my brand new jeans.

These kinds of discussions are usually followed by a list of excuses why people can’t do the same. No time to look for bargains, or to cook after work, bla bla bla. I’m not here to convince you, and I couldn’t care less about how you spend your own money. You’ve earned it, you can spend it the way you want.

However, if you want to add a little luxury to your life, look at this infographic that Oliver’s Travels created. It shows how you could afford little or big luxuries by changing one habit in your life. Instead of buying seven lattes at Starbucks, you could buy an oyster and Champagne dinner. Neat, don’t you think?

3.5 months of cable amount to a nice dinner in a Michelin restaurant. 4 nights out in town could buy you a trip to Iceland to see the Northern lights. See how it works? Little amounts add up, and you probably won’t remember that random Friday night you spent at a bar, whereas that Iceland trip will leave you long lasting memories. So what will you choose? Luxury isn’t that expensive if you plan and save for it.