Live Like the Rich and Famous (When You're Not Exactly Either)

Yes, it’s totally possible to live a life of luxury without having to pay top dollar.

- Jacqueline Smith.

You know you shouldn’t compare yourself to the Rich Kids of Instagram. But you can’t help but scroll through their feeds, thinking your life would be so much more fulfilled if you could just lie on a bed covered in brand new Birkin bags and travel to an exclusive resort in the Maldives every other week.

The good news is, you too can post lust-worthy pics of your high-fashion OOTDs, fancy meals and resort-chic vacations, without maxing out your credit cards. All it takes is a few strategic purchases and a very strict budget.

Andrea Kennedy, Singapore-based author of Own Your Financial Freedom, says the first thing women need to do is set a budget that will allow them to save at least 10 percent of their paycheck. The second thing they need to do is decide on the one thing they will let themselves splurge on.