‘Bougie-broke’: How to be fancy on a tight budget, according to 11 FJ readers

“I use lemons from the gardens of neighbours, relatives and friends to make limoncello. It’s my best skill.”

We all deserve to feel a little fancy, but the cost-of-living crisis has put a damper on any bougie future plans. With budgets dwindling, we now have to think twice about splashing out on extraneous goods, whether it be clothing, food, beauty products or activities.

Luckily, with a little resourcefulness and creative thinking, it’s possible to continue living out the ‘bougie-broke’ dream. I’ve had friends tell me their secrets of making peach bellinis from $5 Aldi bubbly, doing homemade honey face masks and baking their own sweet treats for picnics.

Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.

Lately, my personal favourite tricks have been putting orange wedges and cucumber slices in my water and heading out to gallery openings and other art-happenings around town – for the culture, but also the free prosecco.

Always on the hunt for more methods to embrace cheap luxury, I put the question to Fashion Journal‘s smart and savvy readers: what are your best tips for being bougie on a budget?

Faye*, 28, she/her

However much you’re tightening the purse strings, getting up and putting your best outfit on always feels elevated, especially [when you’re] wearing the pieces you typically think of saving for special occasions.

If you’re heading out and either want to freshen up an outfit you feel like you’ve worn to death or wish you could treat yourself to a new scent but don’t have the disposable cash right now, stop in at the bougiest spot you can find to spritz yourself in an amazing perfume.

Cara*, 26, she/her

When I see something I like when online shopping, I’ll type the brand and the style name or key search terms into Depop to see if I can snag it secondhand – better for the wallet and the planet! The poor man buys twice, so I do this instead of trying to find a fast fashion dupe that won’t last as long.

Estrella*, 29, she/her

I love getting my nails done by someone from Facebook Marketplace. I went out on a limb and messaged her, and my first set was so strong and mighty (extra long, [and] lasted four weeks) that I recommended her so hard on my Instagram stories. The next time I went, she told me she had done the nails of five people who saw her on my story!

I’m also a sucker for the pre-theatre menu. They often serve them at really gorgeous eateries starting early (around 5pm) with the catch that you have to be out by 6.30pm (when they make their real money). I love eating early anyway.

My best hack is to look up the greatest restaurant you’ve been to that has a cheese list. Screenshot that. Get champagne at a supermarket when it’s on a great sale and stash this in your fridge.

See which of those cheeses you can buy at Farro or any other specialty supermarket. You’ve just got the intel of the best cheeses, plus a champagne. The next sunny Saturday, go to the park with the best crusty loaf you can find, your cheese, champagne and a picnic blanket, and toast to the fact that it wasn’t $350 to do so.

Madi*, 29, she/her

Feel like a facial? Can’t afford the $140 price tag? Put your diffuser on with essential oils, make a massage playlist and do an $11 La Roche Posay face mask from Chemist Warehouse.

Vera*, 23, she/her

Create your own bouquets for dinner parties by mixing and matching supermarket flowers and purchase the fabric from Spotlight for tablecloths.

Rachel*, 25, she/her

I’ve been finding inspiration from current trends on platforms like Pinterest and then shopping vintage. The 20-year fashion life cycle means that if something is trending now, it was likely trending before… you’d be surprised what you can find at your local op shop or online platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Depop. Be creative with updating your wardrobe. My friends and I love getting together for clothes swaps or selling our clothes at local markets.

Grace*, 23, she/her

I use lemons from the gardens of neighbours, relatives and friends to make limoncello. It’s my best skill.

Alma*, 28, she/her

Shop at places like Cheaper Buy Miles for cheese, kombucha, snacks and oat milk – it’s a great place if you want to make a fancy platter or aperitifs on a budget. Opt for a $1 can oat latte instead of buying your coffee out!

Also, freeze all your leftovers if you have the space. Don’t let anything go to waste! Make soups with leftover vegetables. You can freeze fresh herbs that you don’t finish. Even put your spring onions and their roots in a glass jar or cup and fill it with water… they will regrow and you can use them again and again!

Riley*, 35, she/her/they

Buy good but reasonably priced skincare (QV, CeraVe) and then spend a bit extra on a want, not a need – like an eye cream, eye mask, gua sha, etc. Also, buy dehydrated flowers. You buy them once and they last years and make your home feel fresh.

Buy matching linen sets – you will look like you belong in Double Bay or Mosman, but you can pick them up at reasonable places like Target for under $50 an item. It will keep you breezy in summer.

Gabriel*, 23, he/him

I rely mostly on thrift shopping (either at a thrift store or a local garage sale or market) and every six to 12 months, I purchase a more expensive, well-made, sustainable piece – typically from a designer or label that uses deadstock materials from high-end designer labels.

As a stylist, I love to reuse the same fit. If it’s good, why not let the world see it twice rather than having a new fit every single day? Always shop smaller labels and brands, whether it be local or international and stay groovy!

Jessie*, she/her

Join a hair model Facebook group – there are usually under-booked hairstylists and hairdressers doing extra training, or student hairdressers doing services for cheap or free. I’ve had an international hairdresser with 20 years of teaching experience do my hair for free!

*Names have been changed.

For more tips on being ‘bougie-broke’, head here.