ethanrocker Ahh, the morning in the the life of a high roller. You wake up from your glorious slumber in your tempur pedic mattres to the sound of your high tech coffee machine, slowly sprinkling out droplets of fresh Columbian goodness. Then, as you look out your bay window towards the Atlantic Ocean, you casually slip into your newest Dolce and Gabbana suit and spray some Clive Christian onto your neck. After about fifteen minutes of planning the day, your private chef whips up a freshly prepared breakfast, replete with every morning delicacy one could possibly imagine. Knowing that you have the dish work taken care of, you immediately walk out your door and gracefully slip into your red Ferrari 458 Italia.
As the scent of high quality Italian leather reaches your olfactory glands, you are reminded by your supermodel girlfriend via bluetooth about the fashion show in Milan she had invited you to. You then realize that the event is going down this weekend, only a few days away! No worries. You speed dial your personal assistant to pack your bag with all of the necessities. As you start to pull off, you slowly inhale the salty ocean air and set off for the adventure of a new day.
Sounds somewhat like a fantasy, doesn’t it? For most people, it is. But for a lucky handful of individuals, living the ‘high life’ is synonymous to breathing (no, we’re not talking about drugs). In a popular culture that glorifies this glitzy, glamorous lifestyle with examples ranging from MTV’s Cribs to the James Bond chronicles, we are inclined to believe that this way of living is preeminent over the rest of the pack. Given a healthy mind, body, and soul, it very well might be. However, there are other more realistic options for the everyday person longing for the salivating taste of good living. And they don’t put you in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt! Here are some alternatives.
If you can’t buy it, rent it.
If your going away and want to experience some luxury, why not take this escapism to the next level? Luxury rentals are a great way to experience the lifestyles of the rich and famous without the million dollar price tag. Of course, there’s a catch: it is only temporary. But for those just dying to feel like royalty, a weekend of indulgence is better than no indulgence at all. You can rent anything from exotic cars and yachts to breathtaking mansions equipped with pools, hot tubs, and oceanside vistas.
For a cool $1, 250 per day at Gotham Dream Cars, you can speed down the highway with a Lamborghini Gallardo, relishing in attention you receive from interested onlookers. If cars aren’t your thing, you can rent a chartered yacht and relax off the coast with a pina colada in one hand and a Cuban cigar in the other. Or, you can even rent a luxury home on the waterfront for a few thousand a night.
Better yet, you can rent all three on the same vacation. But if you do this, I warn you that you might fall into a short depressive episode after realizing that in a few days, you will have to revert back to sipping burnt coffee while driving your busted Honda Civic to work. But hey, life is short and we all have to enjoy our money sometimes. Depressive episode or not, living like a god for a weekend might just be worth it.
Shop with knowledge and confidence.
If this struggling economy has taught us one thing, it is how to get the most out of our money. All it takes is effort and most importantly, confidence. This first entails finding discount stores that meet your needs. Looking for clothes but don’t want to damage your wallet? Shop at places like Burlington Coat Factory and Ross. The clothing in stores such as these costs up to 70% less yet contain brands that are just as fashionable.
Case in point: During a recent trip to southern California, my friend coaxed me into accompanying him to Ross. With no initial intention of buying anything, I walked out with two pairs of shoes, a stylish corduroy jacket, and a few brand name tees, all for about $70. As a approached the check out line, I realized that I had absolutely no room in my suitcase for three shirts, let alone a thick winter jacket and two pairs of shoes. But I was so compelled to take advantage of these great deals that I shoved that worry aside and fished out my debit card.
Part 2 Coming Soon!
