How to live a life of luxury on a budget.

NickX

lisyloo wrote: »

If I book a cruise I always shop around.
On one occassion I booked via the US in dollars rather than the UK and saved £250.

That is exactly the sort of tip that I'm talking about - then book on a cashback card to get a further discount.

Weren't you pleased with yourself to get that deal ? Even though the £250 probably won't change your life.

With regard to the car dealers, they do vary - some will accept that a wealthy person doesn't necessarily have to look particularly affluent and will ask appropriate questions to ascertain the background of the person.

However, there are instances of dealers being particularly snobbish to younger clientele. I heard Jenson Button say that when he went to buy his first Ferrari, the dealer didn't even recognise him and refused him the test drive. I guess Jenson just went to the dealer in the next town, big mistake by the original dealer.

Lizzie5

Hi, I have no idea what i am doing on this and was wondering if somebody could help me?

I'm trying to find a cheap train or bus tickets to London from Manchester on 23/08/08 and return on the 25/08/08. I've been on the megabus website and it is 20. Was wondering if anyone knows of any promotional codes or anything as i know you can normally get them alot cheaper on the megabus.

NickX

Lizzie5 wrote: »

I'm trying to find a cheap train or bus tickets to London from Manchester on 23/08/08 and return on the 25/08/08. I've been on the megabus website and it is 20.

Check out National Express aswell - they have "fun fares" on some of the London routes that can be as little as £2 each way.

Alternatively go on www.thetrainline.com, put your dates in and go to "Single Fares", some of the advance purchase tickets can be very cheap but probably not less than £20.

Lizzie5

Thank you very much. I've just been on those sites and cant seem to find anything cheaper than the megabus so think i'll just go for that one. I think as its a bank holiday its a bit more expensive. And for some reason its saying it takes 44 hours on the train. Not sure why that is...

Thank you for your help anyway, much appreciated! x

Pobby

I like this thread. To me it is about what might be percieved as ``luxury``. I am sure for many it would be debt and mortgage free. I am indeed fortunate to be in that position and it is luxury in its self. This reflects in how much we need to earn amd gives us options. I still haven a fetish for nice cars but it`s controllable,lol.

With the change in the economy many will have to pull back on spending and develop sensible ways to mange their money imho.

lisyloo

One way to have a much better life is to pay off your mortgage and debts.

I know that when I've paid mine off then I have the choice of either

1) Do something I enough more than 9-5 e.g. do something I love working with a charity or study
OR
2) I can carry on working the 9-5 and have a four figure sum each month extra to spend (or save for a more luxurious retriement).

The point is that I will have a choice.

Not having any debts is enabling me to pay off the mortgage quicker.
Having the mortagge paid off is a ticket to a better life IMO.

Whether you view of a "better" life is a luxurious lifestyle or working part time or being more secure is then a choice.

margaretclare

Back in the late 80s (and to a certain extent late 90s) when the City Bankers got their bonuses, they would often blow much of the bonus in the space of a few weeks, new car, new city pad, a few nights out in China Whites drinking top champagne etc.

Oh yes. Some of these - generalisation again - came from nothing, have never been used to having anything (like me!) but unlike me, they were never taught the value of money or basics like budgeting. A bit like some of the celebs, footballers, pop stars, winners of yesteryear - they went out to 'spend spend spend' but had no idea of keeping some of it for another day. And those same City boys are vulnerable to redundancy just like anyone else.

I often used to say, about my first husband, that he was born out of his time and place. He'd have done well being an 18th century aristocrat, because it was his firm belief that 'a gentleman doesn't talk about money'. To him, money was something that just came in and went out again, the idea of saving and budgeting was something he never discovered until the last few years of his life, by which time it was just too darned late. He 'didn't believe in' life assurance, for instance, which led to real hardship for me when his death in 1992 coincided with my redundancy from a senior NHS job.

DH, by contrast, has had decades in business and knows the value of a penny! He would agree with you about the fun of getting a good deal. He looks for a deal everywhere he goes and everything he does. We even got a deal on a recent weekend to Liverpool for a family wedding and 18th - we got 3 nights for the price of 2. And we've been offered a 5-night half-board deal at the Hotel Maier in Friedrichshaven from 7th September. Before that they were booked up for a conference, but once those business guests had gone, they're looking for 'bums in beds'!

AceCobra1

Check this video out

CopperPlate_2

Cool thread - everyone has their own concept of 'luxury' and it's all relative to your means. Think the 'Posh and Becks' lifestyle doesn't appeal to everyone (certainly not me!), but for those to whom it does, you can emulate a similar level of 'luxury' with some simple changes in the way you spend your money and being a bit more savvy as NickX has said.

lisyloo

I have a spa day booked in August that I bought from ebay at half price (unwanted gift). I put it on my AMEX card for 5% cashback.

I've just come back on Saturday from a deluxe makeover on Saturday which was less than half price from ebay (this went on a cashback card too).

It can take a lot of effort searching on ebay but sometimes it's worth it.