How to get a life of luxury?

Now and then, it’s essential to pause and gain a little perspective on life.

Humans are complex creatures. We do not think like any other species. We can be hungry, but not feel like eating. We can spend an evening bickering over what to have for dinner, only to settle on the first meal suggested. We complain that our mobile phones need an upgrade, wasting hours deliberating on which new one to get.

Examining these statements in context makes it clear just how privileged we are! All of these choices are luxuries we take for granted.

The Lion Analogy: A Lesson in Gratitude

Take a lion, for instance. A lion doesn’t have these choices. It doesn’t sit with a menu, pondering whether to have a zebra or antelope with a side of buffalo. The lion stalks its territory, hoping to find food, grateful to discover anything to sustain itself.

We need to be more like a lion: grateful and present

What Makes a Luxury?

When people think about luxuries, they consider their cost. To be a luxury, something must be expensive enough that not everyone can afford it or extremely rare. Luxuries give people a sense of exclusivity, as if they are the only ones to possess them: the more expensive, the more exclusive, the more luxurious, and the more desired.

Imagine being a kid at school, and one of your classmates has a swimming pool. Imagine how envious the other kids would be. Imagine if everyone could afford a swimming pool. The other kids wouldn’t be so impressed, and it would no longer feel like a luxury.

How about when the first mobile phones came out, those huge, brick-like devices you see in ’80s movies? They were the height of luxury, as so few people had them. Not today; every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a mobile phone.

Luxury, as we know it, is about perception, price tag, and popularity. However, we don’t all consider the same things to be luxuries. Every person is different. We think differently, with varying likes and dislikes. With that in mind, luxury should be subjective, not dictated by others' perceptions, price tag, or popularity. The truth is, we are surrounded by so many luxuries from the moment we wake up...

Want to dig deeper into the difference between luxuries and necessities? Take a look at our easy-to-read guide: Luxury vs Necessity – How to Spot the Difference.

You stumble out of bed at 7 am, squinting at your phone’s brightness as you check the weather. Rain? Doesn’t matter you’re cosy in your PJs, debating whether to brew coffee or grab that leftover pizza from last night.

A quick trip to the bathroom follows, where fresh, clean water flows effortlessly from the tap. A flick of the wrist stops it just as easily. You brush your teeth until they sparkle with an electric toothbrush and toothpaste, then step into a shower with water heated to perfection.

Next, you grab some clothes and head to the kitchen. Nothing in the fridge catches your eye, so you raid the cupboards for a snack. You're no longer hungry. It's all good; the food will still be there later.

Finally, you collapse onto the sofa and turn on the TV to catch the news. The cooker, washing machine, dishwasher, and even the biweekly cleaner? None of it feels special anymore. It’s just... normal.

Many people dream of a life like this: a roof over their head, warmth, comfort, electricity, and clean water readily available. But to you, it’s standard.

Chasing a Life of Luxury

Some people spend their whole lives chasing luxury and even resort to a life of crime to achieve it. Others spend thousands of pounds chasing the “dream” of luxury, only to amass endless debt. People will even marry for money, regardless of their feelings for that person, to get a life of luxury.

How happy can you be chasing luxury? Luxury items have a sell-by date; when a new version is released, it will replace the old one. Chasing this type of so-called life is expensive and exhausting. Many get caught in a vicious spend circle.

So ask yourself: are you chasing happiness, or just the next upgrade? Because in the end, real luxury isn’t about what’s new, it’s about what lasts. Don’t let the chase wear you out. Appreciate what you’ve got, and you might realise you’re already living the good life.