If there is one thing all we shopaholics have in common, it is the constant search for that little pick me up. But if the state of your wallet is cramping your style, you need to give a little more thought to those impulse purchases. Of course, it is always easy to be spoon fed those items that give you an instant hit, they sit at the checkout, they are endorsed by your favorite celeb. But if you find yourself at a loss to think of a great replacement for these cashed up hits, I’ve made a little list to get you started. These pick me up’s are so cheap they are almost a steal!

Tea - You may not be a tea drinker, you may already have your favorite, but tea is a great pick me up in a tiny package.  I’m not just talking about its anti oxidant value here, but its aroma. From dark and smoky to light and floral, tea is perfume for your tongue. With one small package you can transport your imagination to colonial India, to the wilds of Brazil, or the parlor of Lady Grey. It costs less than a movie ticket to take this journey, and you can even do it in your pyjamas.  One of my favorite Tea adventures is visiting a fabulous little Taiwanese Tea house near me and spending over an hour at a time sitting with the proprietor as she prepares different blends to share with me, telling me the story of each one before I make my selection.  As far as pick me ups go, that is a two for one!

Lipstick – that old pearl.  As Wallstreet goes down, the sales of lipstick go up.  Yes it is true, but for many even the price of a new lippy might be the difference between having an internet connection or not (oh the horror!) With medium prices of lipstick here retailing around $22, it is a shot in the arm that you may not need. So here is my lipstick secret. AVON. You’ve got to love the Avon lady, even if she doesn’t dress in 1960′s pastel suits ( a’la Edward Scissor Hands). She comes to your house, and even better, she brings samples! These days it is like getting blood from a stone to prize samples from a cosmetic rep, but it makes all the difference to the end sale. Make friends with your local Avon lady.  She can give you samples of everything from face cream, lipstick to fragrance.  When you do decide to buy that new lippy, you won’t be breaking the bank either.  Some of my all time favorite shades and formulations are from AVON and they cost me no more than $9.99 a piece. Bargain.

Flowers – A fresh bouquet every week is a fabulous pick me up, but also an expensive one. I’ve tried replacing them with those little “potted color” plants, but inevitably they die within the month and then I’m left to fork out for a new one. I had to come up with a new strategy.  With my sporadic care and watering habits, I needed something that would love me even when I couldn’t love it back. So I turned to those marvelous plants, succulents. Yes, they do remind me of my Nana’s garden(so there is added points for nostalgia), but they are also hard to kill. They come in the most stunning varieties with flowers that run from the daily bloomers, to the waxy type that last weeks on end. Not only do these get points for being cheap and cheerful pick me ups, but they are a pleasure easily shared. You can break off a piece of your favorite one, shove it in some soil (nothing fancy) et viola! A gift for a friend that just about tends itself.

Music – If you are auditorially aroused, then music is high on the agenda for pick me ups.  But the cost of a new album each week could kill you. I’m not going to suggest anything illegal here, as just as you wouldn’t knock off a lippy from Chanel, I’m hoping you wouldn’t knock off some artists music. Instead, get creative. Get together with your friends and their ipods.  Create a special playlist just for them, then swap ipods for a day, a week, whatever you can part with. Given, if your music is on your phone, this makes the plan more difficult, but there are similar ways to share the experience.  Try out Muxtape. A place to create “mixtapes” to share with your friends online, just like we did in the olden days..well some of us anyway.

So put your purse away this week and enjoy some of life’s little luxuries!

Image from Dorothy Luggage

Before we kick off this first proper episode of Luxe & Less, let me explain what it is you will find here.  After reading some similarly entitled articles in the glossies, I was confounded to still find pieces and ideas that would cost more than an average weekly wage.  Rather than wheeling out the same tired ideas rehashed, what you’ll find here is some of my ideas for feeling luxe on a lesser budget. You may be strapped for cash, or you may just choose to spend it on other things.  Either way, you’ll be sure to find some inventive ideas for making the most of what you have.

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With Easter just around the corner, many of you will be planning how to spend your time now. The traditional long weekend away can be a costly venture, but there are ways you can make something special of this time.

Silver Service.

So many tourist businesses and their respective employees are suffering at the hand of our current economy.  Add to that the recent bushfire disaster here in Victoria, and you have some very lonely hotels. As a result, businesses are doing their utmost to entice you back with amazing accommodation deals and opportunities to experience quality  accommodation that prior to this time, was only available to the few. For example, some of the ritzier city hotels are now offering room rates at 1/3 their usual asking price.  If you’ve always wanted a silver service weekend complete with butler, now is you chance!  A little research will uncover a variety to choose from, or you can go here for an idea of what is out there now.

Drink to It.

Much of Victoria’s bushfire areas are also our most famous wine growing areas. And while only a handful of growers have been directly affected by the fires, the consequences for their businesses have been disastrous.  As people have feared traveling to these regions, many of these small operators that rely on tourist custom, are close to closing their doors.  As such, you can now take advantage of marvelous accommodation deals, and even great cellar door prices.  If your holiday budget doesn’t stretch to a weekend away, consider a day trip to your local vineyard and a bottle or two of the most delicious wine.  That way you can share the love of great wine with keeping people in business.

A Place in the Country.

The same tourist driven economy is also true of so many of our country towns. Easter is the perfect time to get away to one of these hidden gems and celebrate at all the free local activities and events. If your budget doesn’t stretch to a romantic getaway for two in a top hotel, consider a more friendly alternative.  Many of these towns have cottages that can be hired out for groups of entire families or friends, complete with breakfast, for very reasonable rates. I can tell you that I’ve recently found a lovely cottage that will take up to six of us for $180 a night.  And with everything you could possibly need like spas, linen and a fully equipped kitchen, you don’t need to spring for restaurant dinners if you choose.  So for a meager $30 a night per person, you can have your Easter get away, recharge with a change of scene and great company.

Fantasy Island.

When I was a kid I used to go camping all the time.  I didn’t go to the beach or to the woods, but just out the door and into my own backyard.  Dad would pitch a tent, help us build a small fire and we’d toast marshmallows and tell stories.  We’d never last the night, but much fun was still had.  Much of the fun of holidays is in setting the scene, and should you not be up for time away, time at home can be made just as interesting. Firstly you need to make a plan of your little “fantasy island”, create a willing guest list and then set the scene.  It may be an Indian themed weekend with friends sleeping on large cushions on the lounge room floor, after eating a feast of Korma. Swathing yourself in colourful sheets to make your best saris, donning sparkly bindis and practicing some Bollywood dance moves.  All this kind of holiday takes is some willing company, an eye for ambiance and a little inventiveness.  This kind of holiday is even better when you have kids as it avoids the constant, “are we there yet” that accompanies all car trips; and will let them indulge their imagination.

Even if you are not from here in Australia, the same principle applies to finding some great holiday deals. Look for smaller hoteliers that couldn’t exist without your business, investigate the charms of the smaller towns and cities, share the cost and have fun with friends or simply make something fabulous of your own home.