Money makes the world go round, doesn't it? There's a constant debate on whether or not money can buy happiness. I'm not saying it can, and I'm not saying it can't, but I think I'd be much happier driving a Mercedes-Benz G-Class to the bank than I would be driving a 1998 Ford Fusion to a minimum wage job. However, I don't get that luxurious option right now and it's a shame, but I've learned to work with what I got. I won't lie to you, it's a struggle. But if I can survive living life with champagne taste on a beer budget, so can you. How do I do it, you ask? Well, let's look and see.
Dining:
I can't tell you how many times I've watched an episode of a reality TV show when all the women are sitting around the table at some fancy restaurant that I typically could never afford as a young adult. The food looks to die for and I almost become envious at first and then suddenly it clicks. The lunch menu, duh! You'd be surprised how many high-end restaurants offer a less expensive menu for lunch. You're still getting the same luxurious experience, it just won't put a huge hole in your pocket!
Shopping:
Coming from a girl who should be going to Shoppers Anonymous meetings, I'd say this isn't the easiest category to tackle. Let's be real, wouldn't you rather be sporting this year's Chanel stunner shades than last year's Forever 21 plastic sunnies? Yeah, that's what I thought. Whatever, life isn't fair and you probably don't have the option to wear a pair of $500 sunglasses on the reg so here's what you're going to do. You're gonna put those $8.50 Forever 21 sunglasses on and you're gonna rock the hell outta them. Confidence is key. It doesn't matter the price or if it's designer or not, nobody is going to question your look as long as you're working it. If you're online shopping and you decide to sort by "price low to high" don't be embarrassed. This doesn't make you poor, this makes you smart. You're getting more bang for your buck.
Disclaimer: You should still be able to treat yourself every once in a while. We're living life with champagne taste, we obviously desire the finer things in life. If you've saved up for a while, you should be able to buy the Louis Vuitton bag you've dreamed of owning since you were a little girl. If you think you can afford it, go for it! So what if that means living off of Ramen and Easy Mac for the next few months, right? Your Louis bag will be there to console you.
Travel:
Traveling: The main reason I wish I was the winner of the billion dollar Power Ball. The world is an amazing place with so many interesting cultures to explore and breathtaking sights to see. I feel like it is such as waste to stay in one place your whole life. There's nothing I want more than to become a jet-setter and travel for the rest of my life, but I'll have to save that for when I'm making millions in my big girl job some day (a girl can dream.) Anyway, figuring out a way to satisfy the craving to travel when ballin' on a budget is difficult. Of course, I want to spend my summer in the South of France "doing it for the Instagram" making my life look much cooler than it actually is, but sometimes that's not how it works. Maybe instead of sipping Rosé in Saint Tropez you have to resort to drinking Bud Light at the Jersey Shore. The thought may make you cringe, but that's okay it's only temporary. One day you'll be able to sip as much Rosé as you want in Saint Tropez.
Basically, the only way to fully overcome the struggle that we're all currently facing is to work hard so that you're no longer living on a beer budget. To me, there's no better motivation than the thought of being able to eat what and where I want, shop where I want, buy what I want, and travel when and where I want without having to worry about financial consequences. Ten years from now I hope to be dining regularly at Nobu, wearing the latest designs from Givenchy or YSL, planning my next trip to Europe while sipping on some Champagne. We didn't choose the expensive taste lifestyle, it chose us. Let's work hard to maintain it.
