How to live lavishly while being poor

Let’s face it: Most likely we are not going to be millionaires. While I say we, I’m not sure who exactly is reading this post, but I’m gonna assume it’s people like me, drifting down the lower income whiskey river. While our pockets may not be that deep, our boat is definitely where the party’s at. This is because those of us on the “poor people who still kill it,” boat know how to stretch a dollar further than its fibers should be capable of. We also know how to share.

One way to live like a boss on an intern’s salary is to shop at thrift stores. I did a post about doing this in Melbourne, but the fact is, thrift store shopping is the easiest way to own possessions, find good styles and actually shop frequently while poor. The amount of things we have in circulation is outstanding, and the quality of items tossed away is absolutely ridiculous. It honestly blows my mind that we are still creating new items.

Along with this, food is another way to save money. We are all familiar with expiration dates, but the fact is this system is flawed. The dates put on food don’t actually tell real expiration, but only when a store should stop selling them in the event one person decides they don’t like the taste of something and they want to sue. Manager special items are still really good, and cost half the price. If you are really thrifty, dumpster diving is the next level of food justice.

The last and most important tip is to make a network of other poor friends who live like ballers. In the last year six months living on $20-$30 a day, I've stayed in 4-star hotels, in beach houses in resort towns and eaten amazing meals. Much like the idea behind thrift store shopping, in this world, it seems, everything is in abundance. Opportunities to do things or go to places that poor people normally never frequent pop up all the time, one just needs to know where to find them. Networking, sharing ideas and learning about new ways to work the system will open up doors to living the good life.

Opportunities to thrive that have never been possible before are popping all around, all you need to do is find them. It’s also never bad to have a few friends by your side either. Be smart, stay aware and for God's sake, make some new friends, and you'll be living the good life in no time!

Photo courtesy of Afom