Shadowing Practice: 10 Ways to Live a Luxurious Life Without Lifestyle Creep - Learn English Speaking with Video

In case you needed reminding, you don't have to be on a six figure salary or live in a penthouse to feel luxurious.

Luxury is about intentionality, slowness and having choice.

And frugal, even though it's traditionally associated with penny pinching, stinginess, what it really boils down to is being savvy with your money.

And it's that savviness that allows you to have more choice.

So after years of being frugal and feeling ashamed of it, I created this philosophy called frugal chic.

And it's there to redefine what frugality means.

It's about living luxuriously while spending intentionally.

And today we're going to focus on the living luxuriously part.

This is actually part nice idea because for so long luxury has always been associated with designer logos,

flexing on Instagram or just the extravagant version of everyday things.

Even though there are things I do like to splurge on in life like my health, travel, experiences, overall I've projected that notion of superficial luxury

and what I want to adopt into my life today is one that's much more grounded in gratitude

and little luxuries that don't have to cost that much.

Number one is stop of having your church clothes on Sunday be your best outfit and you'd only wear them then.

Often we save our Sunday best, our nice suit or nice dress or even not something so formal, just an everyday beautiful white shirt we may not wear

because we think it's a bit too nice

or we might have a £30 hand soap

that we got given for Christmas and think I should save that for guests or for a special occasion.

But I think living this frugal chic or luxurious life requires you to Rather than saving these special things just for guests,

using them yourself.

Essentially just using your nice things.

Every day when you make your coffee, using your nicest mug, rather than thinking "I'll just save it".

Often when we're saving the nicest things that we have, it comes from a place of scarcity.

"If I use this up now, I may not get something in the future".

And if you've experienced that kind of mentality in the past, it's hard to break out of.

Perhaps you've had a period where you weren't on as much income, and things did feel tight, and in that instance it was financially responsible to save things for

stage in your life where your income is more stable or perhaps you're becoming a high earner.

There's so many different scenarios where it doesn't make sense to still hold that mindset.

My bedsheets for example, I use a higher thread count cotton duvet cover, I use a temper pillow and we do rent

so it was furnished but there's a really nice mattress

that we have and I think mattresses are really important for your sleep.

In your day -to -day life just ensure that the touch points

that you're having with these day -to -day objects you're enjoying and that they feel good

There's a lot of luxurious things that don't have to cost a lot, but it's more out of principle of not saving your best things just for a certain day or for guests.

The second habit is something I've been doing a lot, is opening my windows first thing.

You just get that breath of fresh air.

It feels almost like you're romanticising your life.

And also it helps with the circulation of air around your home.

I always think a good sign of hygiene

or taking care of your home is leaving your windows open for at least 15 minutes a day.

I watch a lot of cleaning talk and that's what a lot of them say.

I've read a lot of books on sleep like Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

and he says that you should expose yourself to sunlight early in the morning.

So I think this is quite a nice way to kill two birds with one one stone, you're getting the fresh air, you're getting the sunlight and instead of just waking up and immediately just scrolling on your phone and doom scrolling,

I think this is so much more of a healthier habit.

I arguably think this is more important than making your bed, just letting that fresh air get in.

I always feel so much more productive and the best part is it doesn't cost a thing.

Number three is making playlists for different aspects of your life.

I started doing this so I have a reading playlist and it has a lot of classical music in.

I think this is quite a nice I think it's quite nice to make playlists for when you're cleaning or doing chores.

Having playlists for specific things almost turns your life into a soundtrack, which I quite like.

Something that I also like to do is listen to a podcast while I'm cleaning or decluttering because yes, it's really nice to let your mind wander and have complete silence.

But at the same time, I often find myself saving YouTube videos or podcasts for later.

Oh, when I have time, I'll listen to that.

I often forget I don't need to listen to it just sitting down stationary.

I can listen to it while doing something.

I often listen to podcasts while I'm on the tube cleaning

because without over maximizing productivity i think it's quite a nice way of stacking those two different things

but i want you to take this seriously actually think about

the kind of music you're listening to is it having a

positive effect on you i also like to think about the playlist

so it's not random it's very intentional for example i also have a list of songs

that just make me happy

and i think that's really nice to have number four is eating slowly

and not rushing this applies to everything in life having the ability to not rush and take your time

and everything has to be so quick and fast paced.

It's almost like we accidentally put ourselves under unnecessary stress

and we raise our cortisol levels without realising by rushing through these everyday tasks

because we're chasing some kind of invisible productivity goal.

Very few people will be able to relate to this, but I run my own business.

I have very little time.

Sometimes eating can feel like a chore.

And I'm a foodie, so I love eating out, exploring new cuisines, but I more mean those times where you have to rustle up something quick before you forget about your next creative idea, or you lose your flow.

But something that I've had to force myself to do is take my time when I'm eating, because this is better for your digestion.

But also not going on an iPad or laptop or

actually just sitting there with your thought I think is quite important we can often forget

that there is joy in having your everyday meal having your

lunch it's a time to switch off it's time to actually take a break

and if you're scrolling while doing

that then you're not really in the moment I think it's

just about gratitude slowing down maybe there is a point in

life where you feel you do have to rush through things

maybe you're a mom maybe you're a nurse there's many different aspects of life where

that could be applicable but sometimes we just need reminding of them I certainly do number five is slow Actually, as part of my workday, I've discussed this in a few of my vlogs,

but I like to start my day with deep work and I like this to be something that I am working on, which is a self -directed project.

Now, you could be full -time employed or an employee

and still adopt this mindset that the first thing you do shouldn't be scrolling and watching other people's lives.

It should be building something that's yours and it doesn't have to have some monetary benefit.

It could simply be a project, whether it's a hobby, it's just doing something creative that's

to go and scroll on social media first thing in the morning within the first 90 minutes, because I think that's when my brain is most creative and that's when I have my best ideas.

And I used to wake up and go on my phone

and scroll and look at other people's lives and just feel terrible.

And that was a really bad way to start my day because I was starting my day with comparison and envy.

But now I started with really focusing on what I want from the day, doing something that belongs to me.

And I was doing this even when I was at my nine to five.

So I was creating content in the mornings and that was a hobby for me. for the day.

Start the day with something that you own.

The most powerful and luxurious thing you can do is be very selective with your attention.

Number six is taking a proper walk.

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I had some advice from a friend that said you should go on a walk and not listen to music, not listen to a podcast, be with your thoughts.

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And I was like to them, well where would I go?

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I often go out to a walk to go and run errands

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and they were like no just go for a walk with no intention, just walk.

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And this has been the biggest life -changing habit for me because number one I'm having creative ideas.

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When you're walking, I always mention this brain scan thing, but when you're walking, parts of your brain light up more than others.

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That's why I have my most creative ideas when I'm on a walk, rather than sitting in a room trying to muster up an idea

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or looking at a blank page just wondering when something will come to mind.

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Taking a walk with zero agenda is luxurious, arguably, because it suggests you have the time to do that at little cost.

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The next one is romanticising cooking at home.

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I am a big one for eating out.

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It's usually where I see my friends, family, I often like to treat people to meals.

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I just think it's a really nice social thing to do and I love to splurge on experiences.

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However, I think there's huge benefits in cooking at home.

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Of course, it saves you loads of money, but something that I find is it's just a nice way to switch off.

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Having lost wine while you're cooking, just unwinding, having some music on, perhaps you're with a partner or friend or housemate.

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Again, it could be a social thing to do, but if you've got out of the routine of cooking

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finding a new recipe trying out I would argue it could be considered a hobby

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if you have the whole evening free it is very easy

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to default to just sitting on the sofa watching binge watching a show

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but I think if you can incorporate cooking a nice meal

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and take your time to do it I think

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that can make your life feel a lot more luxurious the

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next one is doing a monthly wardrobe declutter now I also did a recent bit of short form on this

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and I spoke about how it's one of my monthly money habits

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but the weird part is it isn't financial it just has

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number one because I like to keep my space clean

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and tidy I don't like extra clutter it forces me to reflect on my purchases

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so I'm able to make smarter decisions in the future

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because I've really sat with what I've made before

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and thought wow this all used to be money in the future I'm gonna think well I didn't really wear

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that style of top so I'm not gonna buy that again

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or I honestly reached for that a ton

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so I need to buy more of

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that it just gives you such a clear direction for your wardrobe

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and don't think of it as a spring clean think of it more like you're that you wear the most.

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The thing is you can want more and more and more but you can often forget what you already have.

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But doing this every month I put some music on

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and I light a candle it just feels very romantic

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and I can take my time doing it and I feel so much better afterwards.

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Something I'd recommend you doing is separating your clothes.

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I would try and keep seasonal clothes separate

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because I've made the mistake before of getting rid of seasonal clothes

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because I hadn't worn them in many months and then I just forgot oh it's a different season.

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I always like to keep my winter clothes in a box.

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I like to keep my summer capsule wardrobe separate.

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and then my day to day clothes, I'll have them in easy reach.

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And so you may be wondering what do I do with my clothes?

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I try to sell them on Vinted or eBay or Depop first.

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I know that might seem a bit backwards, but I volunteered at a charity shop.

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And for my knowledge, if an item doesn't sell, that has a hole in it or something like that, it gets passed around a lot of other shops in that business.

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But if it doesn't sell, it could get sent to another country or could end up in landfill.

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So I think the most responsible thing you can actually do is try

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and sell it first because the person paying for it actually wants that item more.

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If it goes to a charity shop it's not guaranteed that it gets sold but obviously I do support charity shops, I want to give to charity shops

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but I just think a lot of people just treat them like dumping grounds and I think that's the wrong attitude.

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I think you should try and use what you have and pass things on responsibly.

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Number nine is using up your beauty products up properly before you go and buy something else.

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Something that is not very luxurious is just hoarding a load of products

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and going to buy new ones when you already have the ones in your cupboard.

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I would try and make sure that I use up everything before I buy

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of project plan which I think is a little bit gimmicky

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but basically it's where you really try to get to the pan of your makeup that's the overall premise

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but it's obviously been applied to skincare and

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so you've seen people cut out tubes to try

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and get the last bit out in some people's eyes may seem extreme

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but for the frugal chic woman this is very sensible not only are you being a bit more environmentally friendly

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because you're actually considering not wanting to waste that product

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and number two you're actually saving money because you're using up the products you to keep my skincare quite simple.

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For moisturisers and face washes I tend to use brands like The Ordinary, CeraVe or Simple Skin.

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With active ingredients I only really trust a certain amount of things like vitamin C, retinol and SPF.

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A couple of other things maybe but overall I don't need 10 different serums.

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And to me having less feels more luxurious because you have to make less choices, feels more curated.

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You don't always need the La Mer cream or the Tatcha cream.

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I'm sure both of always equates to the most expensive thing.

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There are so many great drugstore options that really work.

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Again, not making a dermatologist recommendation

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because I have genetically had quite clear skin throughout my life

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so even though I have dry sensitive skin I am not

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prone to breakouts whereas you know some people might have been recommended expensive skincare by their dermatologist

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and I'm not here to put you off doing that

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but I do think that something that I like to incorporate into my life is having very simple

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using up what I have.

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Number 10 is one that's transformed the way that I sleep and prepare for bed, is doing a 5 minute reset.

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So I like to just stack my dishwasher, finish any cleaning, tidy away cables and stuff, basically prepare my space to feel calming.

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Now this isn't necessary, I could just roll in bed, turn off the light and fall asleep, but having this ritual to me feels luxurious because there's no better feeling than a clean space.

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It's a little bit like when you are on holiday and you come back into your hotel room, feel that sense washing over you as you feel your space being tidy.

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That is a feeling I crave and so doing

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that five minute reset before bed makes me feel like I'm kind of staying in my own hotel.

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It's just nice.

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If I wake up to a clustered space I'll just feel a bit irritable whereas

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if I wake up to a nice clean space I feel productive, I just feel grateful for my life and it's something that I can do for myself.

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I might make myself a nice herbal tea before I go to bed

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but obviously not too close to bedtime

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because I don't want to be waking up to pee but overall just having a bedtime has this whole massive step routine, but I do think having

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that 5 minute room reset before you go to bed can make a huge difference and it does feel luxurious.

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So this is your reminder, if you thought that luxury was always about chasing more, more money, more possessions, that really isn't the case.

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You can live a luxurious life by appreciating what you already have.

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Of course, I'm always for ambition, striving to have more, I'm not advocating for mediocrity.

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However, I do feel that As a society we forget the privileges we have.

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There's so many things to be grateful for and there's

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so many little rituals that you can incorporate into a day -to -day life.

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I think I live a very luxurious life even though my expenses haven't changed

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and I think that goes to show

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that I can find the joy in the everyday and I don't need to give in to lifestyle creep.

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Hopefully after watching this you feel a little bit inspired to do a declutter or to appreciate what you already have.

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If you enjoyed this video subscribe so you don't miss out on further videos from me.

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book form too.

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We'll see you guys in the next one.

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Bye.

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Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.

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