Cheap Stuff
Recession got you down? Follow our guide to luxury on a budget.
Your paycheck has shriveled. Your portfolio has tanked. And all of a sudden, that daily Starbucks and monthly gym membership are looking like outrageous extravagances. But just because we’re living through a global economic crisis doesn’t mean we have to settle for less. In this issue of HK Magazine we source the best deals around town. Read on immediately for easy tips on living large for little cash. The bargain hunting continues as we search for tech steals, spa deals and fine dining on a discount.
1. Bring Sweet Treats to a House Party
The brand-new COCO cake shop at The Mira is offering delicious discounts on their innovative and yummy cupcakes. With more than 20 types choose from daily (including crazy ones like the cocktail-themed margarita and pina colada), the cupcakes cost $25-$32. But with the current buy-four-get-two-free discount, each one is only around $20. A great alternative to the two bottles of Veuve Clicquot you’d normally bring.
COCO, G/F, The Mira, 118-130 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315-5566.
2. Cut Hair and Costs at the Same Time
Despite these troubling times, grooming is one habit you can’t take for granted. Keep yourself trim and tidy thanks to the many fledgling fixer-uppers around town. World-renowned stylists Toni & Guy normally charge at least $500 for a trim at their regular outlets, but drop in on their student academy for services starting at just $80 for a haircut. Salon Esprit provides a similar trainee service, with cuts as low as $250. And relieve your tension down at the Frederique Academy, with a full-body massage starting at just $160, and free grooming workshops.
www.toniandguy.com.hk, www.salonesprit.com, www.frederiqueacademy.com.hk
3. Become Your Own Barista
Making coffee at home can be cheap with a stovetop coffeemaker, but the cleaning is a bitch. Spending $35 a day at your favorite coffee shop is convenient, but it sure adds up ($12,775 for 365 days). Why not get a Nespresso machine and make good-quality coffee fuss-free? The machines—the cheapest being $2,588, and the shopkeeper will tell you the cheap model makes the same quality coffee as the expensive ones—operate at the push of a button and require cleaning only every six months. Throw in the cost of the coffee capsules (around $4.70 each) and their Aeroccino machine (an extra $650) to heat milk and make foam in 70 seconds, and a Nespresso latte still comes in at only around $15 per day over the course of a year.
Nespresso Boutique, Shop 1019B, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central, 2295-3395, www.nespresso.com.