Hi! maximum life in times of sinking currency

Hi! maximum life in times of sinking currency

Forget the rupee’s mood swings. It’s time to have a life beyond the bulls, bears and onions of course.

Put your thinking cap and start living life king size. No need to mull over moolah. You can easily have a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. From food, fashion, travel to interiors, the possibilities of living a ‘high life’ is eminently possible.

Fashion designer Bhavin Trivedi divulges some wardrobe truths when he says, “Lifestyle is about individual statement. Celebrity fashion need not be the mantra. As designers we focus on signature styles. Yes, we do indulge in a lot of style suggestions. I would advise people to go for a ‘reclaim fashion’ which is in vogue.”

He adds it with an example, “When you want to repeat an outfit, play with your imagination. For example, you went for your friend’s wedding dressed in an anarkali last year. If you are going for another wedding this year, then wear the same outfit but instead of the salwar, opt for a ghagra and a dupatta. You will turn heads with this new avtar sans spending a bomb. Isn’t it cool?”

A champagne lifestyle is not about looking your best in designer togs, it’s about having a lifestyle that has chutzpah. So, if you fancy an art piece on your wall but you are not in a position to afford it at one go, there’s no need to lose heart. A leading art gallery in Ahmedabad has come out with an innovative EMI scheme for people who appreciate art but can’t afford it.

Chaitya Dhanvi Shah, director of an art gallery says, “I started this scheme from my own experiences. Some years ago, I wished to invest in M F Husain’s serigraphs and Harshil Patel’s original painting but due to lack of funds to pay at once, I had to push back my dream. I decided to start a scheme for people who can’t afford to spend much. The EMI period is for 25 months and there’s no interest on EMI, no file charges or processing charges.”

Many of us nurture this desire for a vacation only to exchange it for staycation. Actor Manav Gohil, who has done a travel show with his wife Shweta Kawatra in the past, says, “There are a lot of wrong perceptions associated with a vacation, especially those abroad.

Proper planning and doing so a little in advance is half the battle won, as it can give you cheaper tickets and accommodation. I have been abroad on a shoestring budget, but that didn’t prevent me from having lots of fun. The advantage that we have while travelling abroad is that you will always find other Indians settled there, and it acts as a great support system. And I would recommend off-season travel to travel enthusiasts.”

Interestingly, television actor Sheetal Shah sees champagne lifestyle in a tad different way. “Lifestyle is all about having pleasant, enjoyable experiences. Being creative is the most important point of having a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. Since last 10 years, I’ve been hosting new year eve parties at home and from decorations, music, food to campfire, I do everything on my own.”

She adds, “The same goes for interiors. Instead of having a drab lifeless wall, paint it in bright orange or blue and see how everything changes around you. Add your personal touch to your decor instead of spending a bomb.”