Savvy shoppers who desire the finer things in life can still have a designer lifestyle without breaking the bank.
Here are the websites you need to know about to get your hands on affordable designer labels, cut-price luxury homewares, discount fine dining, bargain beauty finds and even a first-class travel experience.
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1. A taste of first class at the airport
If you crave the pampering that goes hand in hand with business and first class flying, you can still pay for an economy ticket and get all the frills such as lounge access before you fly and fast track through security from as little as £24 at no1lounges.com.
It can organise a concierge service to meet you at the airport and even spa treatments before you fly.
The website has lounges at Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
A lounge pass includes food from the self-service selection, plus one dish from the made-to-order menu.
All drinks are included in the entry fee (excluding champagne which can be purchased for £6), plus newspapers, magazines and WiFi – not to mention a haven away from the chaotic feel of a typical terminal.
Besides, it’s easy to spend up to £20 at the airport by the time you buy yourself an (overpriced) coffee, baguette and sweet treat to see you through the long journey ahead.
And certainly if you opt for an alcoholic drink and hot meal in one of the restaurants.
Even better, if you have a Tastecard (the discount card for restaurants) you get 25% off lounge access for you and up to seven guests.
The VIP Departure Service [https://no1lounges.com/service/other-services/vip-departure-service] starts at £100 for up to four people and includes fast-track through check-in, security and a personal escort to your departure gate.
It also includes a return service where you will be met at the gate and escorted through passport control and help at baggage reclaim.
2. Bag a designer wardrobe
You can have a designer outfit without going anywhere near London’s Bond Street. There are websites crammed with discounted designer fashion.
Theoutnet.com is a good start. Discounts are typically around 50%-60%.
For example, at the time of publishing, you could pick up a Stella McCartney dress for £177 (50% off).
The website is currently offering 15% off first orders with the code FIRSTTIME£15.
If you are a fan of supporting sustainable fashion by buying pre-loved clothes (and get even more of a bargain), you could check out Deuxieme.
It is currently selling a Marc Jacobs coat for £183 and a Dolce & Gabbana jacket for £100.
3. Luxury living at home
For those who want to sleep in 400 thread count sheets, The White Company has two outlet stores where stock is up to 60% off.
There’s one in Bicester village and another in Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth selling all the usual luxury bed linen and home accessories.
Premium brand Neptune is famed for its sleek kitchens and upmarket furniture.
It has an outlet factory store near Swindon which sells a mix of ex-display, customer returns and discontinued lines with discounts of up to 50%.
New stock arrives roughly once every 1-2 weeks.
Christy is perhaps most widely known for bringing the luxury cotton towels to the elite players at Wimbledon.
It sells beach towels and bed linen too. Discounts are typically 60% off at outlet stores.
There’s one at the Ashford Designer Outlet, Gun Wharf Quays in Plymouth and at the Lowry Outlet in Manchester.
Look on your favourite brand’s website for a link to a clearance or outlet section.
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4. Fine dining
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Michelin stars are only for the rich and famous.
If you know where to look there are offers at restaurants with fine dining – they just don’t shout about it.
Try Galvin La Chapelle Book Galvin La Chapelle offering three courses & a glass of brut for £38. At City Social you can get three courses & a cocktail for £38.
Specialist websites like bookatable.co.uk can help you find the latest deals.
5. Premium beauty brands
There are lots of goodies from Benefit, Lancome, Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder at discount site like saveonmakeup.co.uk.
A Lancome lipstick is £9.99 down from £25 and an Elizabeth Arden eyeliner is just £7.99 from £22.
Select the 'Pick ‘n’ Mix' offer at Feel Unique where you receive five mini beauty samples for free from the likes of YSL, Clarins, Kiehls, Declor, Ren and Bare Minerals.
You just pay £3.95 delivery, which will then be returned to you in the form of a Feel Unique voucher code worth £3.95 to spend online against a future purchase (just not another Pick ‘n’ Mix).
You can also sign up to the free Debenhams 'Beauty Club' loyalty card and can bag beauty freebies which sometimes include full-sized products or services worth around £10.
You can find bargains in person – in Poundland – where you might find the likes of Stila and OPI.
It’s a lottery what might be in the store at any given time at. But it’s worth calling in to see what they’ve got if you’re passing.