9 Affordable Luxuries That Deliver a Richer Lifestyle
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on fancy hotels or designer clothes to elevate your lifestyle. Personal finance creator Nischa Shah believes some of the best luxuries are inexpensive upgrades that make your life better.
In a YouTube video on her channel, Shah explained how after taking an 84% pay cut, she still wanted her life to feel “beautiful, intentional and enjoyable on a daily basis.”
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Instead of giving up the things that made her feel good, she started looking for more affordable ways to create that same sense of comfort and enjoyment.
Here are the nine small luxuries she said helped her do it.
1. Physical Copies of Books You Love
Shah reads most books digitally, then buys a physical copy only when she really likes the book and wants to reread it. This helps her create a curated library instead of filling her shelves with books she barely touches.
“It really is the difference between collecting […] versus curating,” she said.
2. The Same Luxury Item or Experience for Less
Before paying a premium for an experience, Shah said she tries to find an alternative that can offer essentially the same benefit at a more affordable price. For example, you might replace a $20 Hailey Bieber Erewhon smoothie with a homemade version or choose a scenic public beach and pack a picnic instead of paying for an expensive beach club.
3. A Physical Journal and a Good Pen
Shah also keeps a simple paper journal specifically for thoughts, and then takes pictures of the pages she wants to preserve.
“This is one of the smallest things on the list, but genuinely one of my favorites," she explained. "I use this for writing about my feelings, my emotions [and] my thoughts."
4. Candles and Diffusers
“I almost always have a candle going. Always. It's like it's the first thing I do when I sit down or eat or when I sit down to work in the evenings,” Shah shared.
She said she doesn’t believe in buying expensive candles, explaining that budget versions can also do the same job. Ultimately, there’s no need to spend more than $10 on a candle when a $4 candle can provide the same experience.
5. A Tidy Wardrobe With Matching Hangers
You don’t necessarily need more clothes to elevate your everyday life. Shah shared that organizing her closet actually made her more appreciative of what she already owns.
“It's such a small thing, but I find that I actually wear different clothes more often now because I can actually see what's in there instead of half my clothes being hidden behind another set of my clothes,” she said.
6. A Water Bottle You Actually Like
“Whether that's placebo or not, I'm not sure. But just drinking from a nice water bottle makes me feel good,” Shah said.
If you always forget to drink water throughout the day, buying a water bottle you like may help you remember to stay hydrated, as well.
7. Houseplants
Studies have shown that having greenery in your home and workplace can boost productivity, enhancing mood and focus. Shah said she used to buy fresh flowers every week, but after taking a pay cut, she replaced her weekly fresh flowers with longer-lasting plants to save money.
If you’re on a budget, some affordable and long-lasting plants you can add to your home include peace lilies, rubber plants, jade plants, parlor palms and dracaenas.
8. Upgrade One Thing, Downgrade Another Method
Whenever Shah adds a want to her budget, she removes another. This forces her to decide what she values most instead of continually expanding discretionary spending. As she puts it, the splurge then “actually feels paid for.”
9. Expertise
After years of using expensive skincare products, Shah paid for a dermatologist who helped her simplify her routine.
“The luxury was the expertise; not actually the packaging,” she explained.
If you’ve been trying to solve the same problem for years, whether it’s skincare, fitness or learning a language, it may be worth paying an expert to help you avoid wasting more time and money on trial and error.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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