Fancy living like a celebrity, but don't think you can afford it? Check out these top tips to find out how you can!
Want the five star lifestyle but your budget is more TK Maxx than Tiffany? You’re not alone! But with a bit of savvy know-how you can afford that five star lifestyle but without the six figure price tag.
Get into the VIP Airport Lounge
The rich and famous don’t struggle through Starbucks at the airport; they’re whisked away from prying eyes to enjoy a drink or two before boarding. And for just over the price of a coffee and sandwich you too could be kicking back and sipping champagne in the VIP airport lounge.
At loungepass.com you can buy a ticket for over one hundred and fifty airport lounges around the world from just £13.50.
Once through the doors, you can help yourself to unlimited drinks and snacks, read the latest magazines, watch TV, or even take a shower. And in some lounges there’s the added bonus of waiter service.
Ok so that’s all great before you get on the plane, but what happens at the other end? While you shuffle out looking red-eyed and tired, you can bet those first class passengers will look like they’ve just spent the day at a spa, so make sure you book a lounge pass for your transit destination too if you’ve got a long wait.
First class seats with an economy ticket
The best seats are always going to come with a first class price tag, but if you can’t afford the fare, a good way in is to join an airline’s frequent flyer scheme.
This way you’ll boost your chances of getting an upgrade as you’ll be seen as a ‘loyal’ customer. Dress smartly and carry quality luggage at check-in when talking upgrades - you need to look like you’d fit in with those passengers who can afford to stump up full price.
Another tactic is asking if you can be put down as ‘SFU’ - that’s airline speak for ‘suitable for upgrade’ which means you should get on the priority list to secure the best chance of getting an upgrade at the gate.
Just in case you end up stuck in economy, check which airlines offer the best seats before booking at airlinequality.com - where you’ll find details of seat sizes and legroom on all the major airlines.
And because you can see plans of the plane layout, you’ll know which seat numbers to ask for at check-in, as well as which to avoid, such as those rows near the toilets.
Hire don’t buy
Even the rich and famous borrow their gems for those red carpet occasions, so if you’ve got a big night out, why not hire a statement piece of jewellery that you could never afford to buy?
It may not cost as much as you think. In fact, you can hire pieces from £50 a week at rentyourrocks.com, which has loaned sparklers for TV shows including The X Factor. Get your hands on a show stopping £1,800 cocktail ring for £115 a week or a £4,000 pendant necklace for £265, including postage and insurance.
And when it comes to designer handbags, if you can’t afford the ‘off the peg’ £600 price tag for a Mulberry ‘Bayswater’ bag, you can hire one for £20 a week at handbaghirehq.co.uk.
Or go for a Chloe ‘Bay’ bag - a big hit with Kylie Minogue - which costs £35 a week to hire. Prices start from £10 and you can hire on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis plus the monthly £7.50 membership fee.
Alternatively, if you like to keep your bags for more than one week, but can only afford one designer bag, you could swap it whenever you wanted a new one via whatsmineisyours.com. This site also allows you to swap clothes and furniture.
Get your own personal stylist
Want to dodge the crowds and save queuing for the changing rooms? Enlist the services of a personal stylist to make sure you find the perfect outfit that makes you feel a million dollars.
For free fashion advice, book an appointment with an in-store stylist at one of the big name high street department stores, such as House of Fraser where you’ll get a glass of champagne while trying on the latest designs and getting tips and advice on what works for you.
Alternatively, try Debenhams for advice on how to get more from your existing wardrobe.
Red carpet close up
Ever wished you had your own make-up artist on hand so you could leave the house looking fabulous and flawless even after a big night out?
Most of the consultants on make-up counters at places such as Boots will give you a free makeover if you ask, particularly when they’ve got promotions on or the new season colours have come in.
In some cases, you may even get sample sizes of the posh name brands to take away with you. The trick is to let them think you’re going to be splashing out on some new make-up, so don’t let on you’re going for a night out or just got in from one!
Get the show home look for less
If asking Linda Barker or Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen to give your home a new look is beyond your bank balance, you can still give your pad the ‘show home’ touch.
Pick up ex-show home furniture and sample pieces from stores including M&S, DFS, John Lewis, or Laura Ashley at The Showhome Warehouse for up to a 75% discount.
For example, you can pick up a £2,000 dining room table for under £500 or £800 display cabinets for under £200 - and there’s free coffee on hand while you browse.
For bargains on the latest plasma screen TVs, washing machines and dishwashers, you need to find where the ex display, end of line and unsold products end up as stores such as Clearance Comet sell their own products online with big discounts.
And don't forget freegle and freecycle - believe it or not, sometimes people give away beautiful antique furniture for free!
If you like bargains, check out our new Frugal Friday blog, which rounds up the hottest bargains, freebies and discounts available on the high street, every Friday. If you're registered on lovemoney.com, you can follow the blog and find new posts as soon as they are published, via your personal homepage. Never miss a bargain again - register now.
More: Claim £££ of your money back | Six steps to frugal fashion