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You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the good things in life. Surround yourself with quality things and you will feel ‘rich’ without breaking the bank. Here are some essentials to invest on: Investment #1: A good (but not expensive) car The car you drive is a reflection of who you are. So go for a luxury car – a used luxury car, that is. Remember what they say – a Porsche is a Porsche, no matter how old it is. It is generally financially unwise to spend on a brand new car, especially if it does not have the same quality as a luxury car (which will still look good and run well for decades, provided you take care of it). Remember that a car depreciates in value, so it usually doesn’t make sense to pay installment for it. If you want to feel rich without spending too much, invest in a used luxury car. Choose a car from a line that does not change designs as often, has excellent reputation, and whose badge is equal to prestige. If you drive to a corporate headquarters everyday and need to look all suited up, for example, consider purchasing a late 1990’s Mercedes Benz E-class. This line of executive cars is timeless – no one will ever realize that you are actually driving an old model. Mercedes rarely ever changes its design. E-class head-turners in the late 1990’s have all the amenities and safety features of brand new cars (and more). Now that’s DEFINITELY better than a brand new rice rocket. Investment #2: A good wristwatch If you are fairly financially-stable man and have some savings, invest in a classic timepiece. You don’t have to go broke for a Vacheron Constantin or Patek Philippe, though – there are many other more affordable but very classy watches within the $1000 to $2000 price range. Word of advice: Stay away from brands like Tag Heuer and Rolex. These watches are too popular (read: there are a lot of fakes), and people probably know how much they go for. Keep people guessing about how much your wristwatch really is by investing instead on well-crafted timepieces that are not as popular but are just as good as (or even better than) run-of-the-mill brands. Consider understated alternatives such as the Oris Chronograph Navitimer. For roughly $1,300, you can get your hands on this entry-level Swiss chronograph that will last a lifetime. Investment #3: A good handbag (for the ladies) You could wear a $3 shirt and casual jeans and still look like a million bucks if you carry the right handbag. Handbags are the new jewelry – it can take you from drab to fab and even get you passes to the most exclusive places. Did you know that most high-end stores assess your buying power by looking at your handbag? Carry a good bag and they will let you window shop for as long as you want. As in any luxury item you can o for pre-owned handbags if you can’t afford brand new. Our advice: try to stay away from very popular brands that are easily faked, such as Louis Vuitton. Stick to classic designs that will never go out of style. A pre-owned Gucci, for example, will set you back an easy $500. That might seem like too much for a handbag, but trust us – you are getting a good deal. There are almost no designer bags below $1,000 anymore. Want to update your bag every month but don’t want to spend thousands? Then try borrowing. Companies like www.bagborroworsteal.com let you access the newest designer bags for as low as $20 a month. Simply select the bag you want to borrow, wait for it in the mail, use it, return it, and borrow your next bag. Now you can update your handbag as often as you like – for so much less. (contributed by )
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