How to Enjoy Luxury On A Budget – travel and everyday life

Life should have room for a little luxury if you aren’t breaking the bank. Luxury is an experience not an object. Remember to work hard and have a time for relaxing. Try a little luxurious living on a budget.

You don’t have to do all of these steps, but try a couple. Work a little harder, put in some overtime and splurge a little bit. It doesn’t cost much to stop and smell the roses, before they fade away.
Instructions
Step 1

Upgrade air travel United Economy Plus
UPGRADE AIRLINE SEATS: It costs about $14.00 – 65.00, depending on distance, to spread out with a little extra leg room in Economy Plus on United Airlines. Check with your travel agent for details on various price modes for each airline.
Step 2

Air Travel Curbside Checkin AT Airport
USE AIRPORT AMENITIES: Use Curbside Check at the airport when available, it is a great luxury. The Rule of Thumb is $2-3.00 tip per bag. They will check you in AND apply air miles all before entering the terminal. Once inside, get shuttled around for free. Give a tip and enjoy the ride
Step 3

Upgrade Car Rental
UPGRADE CAR RENTAL: Buy the Hertz Gold membership program. For $50 you get lots of benefits, including a free upgrade in cars. Amex travel club will pay for the gold membership. A nice luxury, go sporty or go with heated seats. Either way you get to be treated like Donald Trump, Oprah, Will Smith, Fergie, or Jolie & Pitt.
Step 4

Upgrade Hotel: Travel Hotels of Rich and Famous
Luxurious HOTELS many times will upgrade and provide discounts on things just because you ask. Call the 5* hotel and ASK. While you are there ask for that robe, or extra blanket and fluffy pillow.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a better room. Is there one with a Jacuzzi in it? This is a great principle to keep in mind; ASK, no matter what you are doing, hotel staying, furniture shopping or car repairing. Put on a smile. Be sincere and ask for something special. It never hurts to ask, so what if they say no?
Step5

Upgrade Sleep to Cloud 9
LUXURIOUS SLEEP: When buying new mattress, look for the most comfortable available. Test our and be aware of warranties and return policies. If buying sheets and pillows buy a grade up. SHEETS at 350-400 thread count are good but 600 count is so soft and smooth that the few extra dollars will not be regretted. PIMA is good SATEEN even better. FEEL how they will be after opening. If there is no demonstration sample, ask sales clerk to allow you to touch the product.
Step 6

Luxury Spa
UPGRADE LINENS: BUY 100% Egyptian cotton. These are the softest toweling you can buy. Soft and absorbent. If you have to scrimp buy the regular size of what you want instead of the extra larger towel of a less quality. Look for sales! Hide them from the family, and don’t save just for company.

Step 7

Dish Setting:: Fit for a King
LUXURY DINING AT HOME: Buy a couple of really cool mugs for drinking, a few great wine glasses for juices and other drink. Add a couple of awesome soup bowls so you can save money, having soup night once a week on dishes fit for a KING. Serve potato soup like it’s Filet Mignon.

Step 8

Coffee
ENJOY COFFEE OUT: Sip your java at a 5 star restaurant with a view. Slowly savor that view and your cup of coffee. For not much more than a visit to Starbucks, you enjoy a luxurious atmosphere. Go during a time that is between breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner. Call ahead to ask policy, to make sure what minimum charges might apply.
Step9

Avoid Traffic use toll roads
AVOID SNARLS WITH EASY DRIVING: Sometimes it is smart to pay for a toll road so that life is smoother. Or spend $4.00 more in gas a few times a month, to take a slightly longer, alternate route to work that has less traffic. In our case the alternate route adds 20 miles and 20 minutes. Using that longer route avoids morning rush hour headaches. This route is BEAUTIFUL, and peaceful with far less traffic and stress. Pure LUXURY.

Step 10

Phantom of Opera
FEED THE SOUL: Take some time and get dressed to the nines, go to that museum or art gallery. Listen to a concert in the park. Find the Entertainment Coupon book and go to IMAX. Do things out of the normal routine, but elegant and relatively inexpensive.

Step 11

Scalp massage- its the little things in life
PAMPER YOURSELF: Buy that heating, vibrating seat cover that you’ve wanted. Spend 5 bucks on cushioned insoles. Go to the beauty school and pamper yourself with scalp massage. Spend a few dollars extra on a specialty hot chocolate at Costco’s and invite some friends over. Instead of popcorn buy some MOOSE MIX and enjoy a rented movie.

Tips & Warnings
Choose one day a month to indulge but don’t overspend
Do the little things as they come up
Be creative to do it for less (entertainment coupon book etc.)
Don’t overdo it a little goes a long way