What comes to mind when you think about a luxurious lifestyle? For many people, it’s high-end items like clothing, cars, vacations, or fancy dinners. And when that’s what we picture, it’s easy to get discouraged, especially when it seems like so many people are struggling with lifestyle inflation just to have certain luxuries of life.

But in reality, luxury has many meanings, and it looks different to everyone. It turns out that luxury has nothing to do with the items you’re surrounded with or the amount of money you’re spending, but it has everything to do with the way you feel.

Think about some of the most luxurious moments in your life. What did they all have in common? I’m guessing that for many of them, it was about feeling comfortable.At the end of the day, luxury is largely about comfort and it looks different for everyone.

Here are simple ways to live a luxurious life on a budget:

Create more free time in your schedule

There’s just something tingly about free time that feels luxurious, and yet so few of us actually create free time in our own schedules. Between careers, household, childcare, it feels like every moment is accounted for. But we forget that with some notable exceptions, we have control over our own calendars. Freeing up time in itself is huge when it comes to a luxury lifestyle.

Declutter your home

Think about how luxurious it feels to stay in a nice hotel or rental home. There’s open space, it’s clean, there's clean air and it’s completely clear of clutter. You don’t have to pay for a hotel to feel this type of luxury. Decluttering your own home can be just as luxurious. When your environment is clutter-free, you’ll find that you feel more relaxed, less stressed, and better able to focus on the good things happening.

Prioritize quality over quantity

Honestly, quality doesn’t have to mean unaffordable or breaking the bank. So often we purchase things on impulse. With a bit of research, you could probably find a higher-quality version of that same item on a budget. There’s no doubt that high-end items and those that many of us consider “luxury” are expensive. And while that’s true, they’re often worth it in the long run. 

Shop secondhand

Being on a budget doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t purchase high-end or expensive items. These days, it’s easier than ever to find gently used items on online Marketplace and other secondhand sites, there are loads of these sites on social media platforms. You'd be surprised what you find.

Make time to experience new things

The good news is that you don’t actually have to jump on a plane or a bus to experience this type of luxury. Chances are that there’s plenty in your own neighbourhood or in your city that you haven’t experienced before.

Even if it’s just walking through a new neighborhood or hiking in a new park, even visiting a new restaurant, it can feel surprisingly exciting and recreate that excitement you get on vacation.

It's possible to live a luxurious lifestyle and the key is to decide exactly what a luxurious lifestyle looks like to you and find ways to recreate it for less.