How to Save Money – Living Like a Prince on a Pauper’s Budget

There’s an old saying that basically reads, “the fool is easily parted with his money.” These days, you don’t have to go farther than your local shopping mall to see the maxim in action. Every Smith in town has to keep up with the Joneses… so they spend their rent money in the process.

The stupefying fact is, most folks wouldn’t know how to save money if their lives depended on it. And the result is a country where the average household savings rate after taxes is a paltry 6.9% (Source: Martin Feldstein, Harvard Economist).

But there’s a thinly veiled paradox in life that the sheeple simply don’t see. It keeps the elite where they are, makes the wealthy more money, and keeps the Smiths at the heels of the Joneses. The paradox? Simply put, to live an almost regal lifestyle you don’t have to break the bank.

Despite what the marketing agencies would have us believe, true luxury isn’t a result of a fat wallet and a hole in the hand. True luxury is the child of intelligent buying… where every product becomes an investment. Let me give you two examples:

Wine on the cheap

Wine – the beverage of kings. The mere thought of wine invokes feelings of elegance, grace… and money. However, the real connoisseurs know that a stellar bottle of wine can be had for what many spend on a trip to the movies.

The trick? Take the time to educate yourself. Most of the best wines in the world are found off of the beaten path… and a fraction of the cost of the “sheeple syrups”. Two rich examples would be Malbec from Argentina, and Syrah from Australia.

Suits on the cheap

If it’s true that the clothes make the man (or woman), then care must be exercised in constructing your wardrobe. Spend the time to do the legwork to find great deals, and the added attention you get will pay you back ten-fold.

Do yourself a favor and don’t get seduced by name brands. Instead, pledge an allegiance to quality… quality in construction, materials and design. Want to really step away from the crowd? Look into custom tailored suits. They don’t cost nearly as much as one might imagine, and they tend to last a lifetime.

In Conclusion

As Coco Chanel said, “Luxury lies not in richness or ornateness, but in the absence of vulgarity.” So you don’t have to be late on the water bill to look stunning at the next social event. After all, isn’t every dollar saved free money for bills? So think differently, buy intelligently, and live well.

write by Michelle Burns