5 Frugal Buys That Feel Like Little Luxuries, According to Christina Mychas
Spending on brand names and luxury purchases might seem like a good idea until the money comes out of your bank account. Once you start questioning whether you truly need it, regret settles in. Sometimes the things that actually feel like luxury don't cost much at all. Instead, they're intentional purchases that align with what you truly value.
Christina Mychas, YouTube creator and the mind behind the Minimalist-ish brand, shared the frugal purchases that make her life feel more luxurious. Instead of high-priced brand name items or expensive appliances, Mychas opts to spend on what she calls "frugal chic." These are the items that make her life feel more polished without big price tags.
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1. Good Coffee Beans
One of the first purchases Mychas mentions is the coffee beans from her local coffee shop. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you think about how you start each day. If you've had bad coffee before, you know it can quickly derail your morning.
Find a brand of coffee, tea or matcha that you love, in your budget, to make every morning one you'll enjoy. It may also help you romanticize an otherwise mundane part of your life. Some of the best organic coffee beans cost about $20 a bag. For example, this award-winning Heirloom premium coffee costs $24.99, but you could easily find more affordable alternatives.
2. A Garment Steamer
If you're wearing wrinkled clothes, it won't matter how expensive your outfit is. Wrinkles and other signs of neglect instantly cheapen what you're wearing. However, wrinkle-free clothes add to a polished look. According to Mychas, good garment steamers are available for under $30. This Conair garment steamer from Target is a little more expensive but highly rated.
3. Quality Bedding
According to Mychas, you might not realize how much you're missing out on this frugal chic purchase until you get it. Nice bedding carries tangible benefits in the quality of your sleep and temperature regulation. Plus, it has the added benefit of feeling like you're staying at a hotel. That matters when you spend a third of your life sleeping. Her suggestion? Get some nice bedding with natural fibers and a high thread count. This organic cotton sheet set from Brooklinen is currently on sale for 15% off.
4. The Good Coat
If you live somewhere with cold winters, a reliable coat is worth its weight in gold. That's why Christina Mychas suggests investing in one good coat that goes with everything. Layer it over work clothes, a casual outfit, or sweats for a simple put-together look that makes you feel confident.
Ideally, it should be majority wool, alpaca, cashmere or camel hair to make sure it's a long-term staple. Although this might be an investment, the cost per wear could make it well worth the money. Plus, with springtime right around the corner, you may find deals on quality coats that would usually be out of budget. For example, the Madewell double-faced long coat is 75% wool and is currently on sale for 75% off.
5. Physical books
When you want to be more well-educated, have more interesting conversations or learn new concepts, books are a tried and true resource. Mychas shared that she used to be a heavy audiobook listener, but found multitasking made the experience of listening to a book feel less luxe than slowing down and opening a physical book. She suggests buying physical books for the luxury of a slow, intentional lifestyle. This may be one of the most affordable options she suggests since a library card lets you access most books for free.
Final Thoughts
Luxury doesn't have to be expensive. More often, it's the intentional items you incorporate into your daily routine that make you feel calmer, more confident, and aligned with the best version of yourself. When building out a frugal chic life for yourself, consider which habits and pain points you'd like to change in your life to find out which of these you should include on your next shopping trip.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are accurate as of April 9, 2026, and are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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