Do This to Look Wealthy, Says Personal Finance Expert
Broke but bougie: how to live like the rich on a budget
TikTok has been all over the recession indicator trend lately, with influencers breaking down why Lady Gaga making good music or the rise of business casual signals an economic downturn. Leaning into the trend, a personal finance expert, Jamie Wall, points to an even stronger recession indicator: people aren’t chasing wealth anymore — they’re chasing the aesthetic of it. And the numbers back it up: Google searches for “how to live like the rich” have skyrocketed 70% during the last year, while “how to appear wealthy” spiked 51% just this week.
Here are a couple of cheat codes to keeping it luxe on a budget.
Thrift-flip your entire aesthetic
Hit up your local thrift stores on half-price days. Start by looking for quality basics with expensive-looking fabric like cashmere and silk. It takes practice to detect the perfect find, yet it’s worth it!
Another way to communicate a “rich” vibe through your style is to get creative: find vintage items and add paint, expensive buttons, distressing, or patches to make them scream designer. Whatever makes it look like you casually pay £1500 for an outfit. TikTok and Instagram are overflowing with thrift flip tutorials to help you turn your clothes into expensively unique pieces.
Enjoy luxury experiences at budget prices
Rich experiences are definitely more dope than rich-looking things. Downloading all restaurant apps for happy hour alerts and deals for trendy places is one way to go about this.
And there’s more: try diving into the scene of free music festivals, gallery openings, and free museum admission days. The vibes are immaculate, and your content will skyrocket with all the mysterious, artsy shots. After all, being cultured is the ultimate luxury.
Master the art of finding a good dupe
There’s a dupe for virtually anything. From makeup to home decor, the dupe game is strong right now. That West Elm coffee table? Have you tried Facebook Marketplace, plus a can of spray paint for the same vibe for 1/4 the price? Googling dupes with swatches costs you 10 minutes and spares you hundreds a month for the aesthetic.
Embrace quiet luxury with a minimalist lifestyle
Think about the homes of the ultra-wealthy: clean, clutter-free, effortlessly stylish. No need for an unlimited budget to achieve this look! Go for quality over quantity. Investing in a few well-made, timeless pieces will elevate your space, and you can proceed from there.
The best part is that the minimalist lifestyle doesn’t prevent you from elevating your routines. A morning coffee in a French press goes a long way, just as fruits-and-berry ice cubes do. And when someone asks how you’re thriving in this economy? Just say “clean mindset” and refuse to elaborate. Trust, they’ll think you’re secretly loaded.