Champagne Dreams, Unga Budget
Let’s face it many of us have Dom Pérignon tastes but maize flour bank balances. In Nairobi, you want brunch at Kulture Street Kitchen every weekend, but your M-Pesa balance says “Madam, please go home and boil githeri.”In London, you dream of afternoon tea at The Ritz, but you’re currently choosing between rent and electricity.In Tokyo, you want sushi at Sukiyabashi Jiro, but you’re more on a 7-Eleven rice ball budget.
But here’s the tea: Being boujee isn’t about how much you spend, it’s about how you live, how you feel, and how creatively you fake it until you actually make it.
1. Think Rich, Spend Smart
Boujee starts in the mind. If you think luxury is only Louis Vuitton, you’ve already lost.In East Africa, your home can feel like Karen without actually being in Karen. Keep it spotless, add fresh flowers (Karura Forest sells cheap), and light a candle from the supermarket. Instant upgrade.
Example: My friend in Nairobi turned her one-bedroom in South B into a Pinterest board with thrifted curtains from Gikomba and a couch she reupholstered herself. Guests now ask which interior designer she used.
Action Tip: Start the day with a “rich person routine” no doom-scrolling. Instead, sip tea from a proper cup, do a 10-minute stretch, and walk around like you own the stock market.
2. The Art of Budget Luxe
You can live well without selling your soul, or your kidney.
Fashion:
Nairobi: Shop at Gikosh, then pair thrift blazers with one good handbag.
London: Hit charity shops in Kensington; you’ll find designer coats for a fiver.
Tokyo: Second-hand boutiques in Shimokitazawa will give you street cred and savings.
Food:
Master three “restaurant-level” meals you can cook at home.
Nairobi hack: Buy nyama from City Market, marinate overnight, serve with ugali and sautéed sukuma, boom, you’re a home chef.
Pro Hack: Apps like Jumia Deals, eBay, or Mercari in Japan help you score luxe goods for less. Just don’t buy it because “it’s on sale” , your wallet will report you.
3. Instagram Glam Without the Spending
Sometimes boujee is about perception.
Natural light is free. Open the curtains and your selfies will thank you.
Stage your home with plants 🌵 in Nairobi, cuttings from a friend’s garden are fair game.
Re-wear outfits creatively: Add a scarf, change your hairstyle, swap shoes.
Example: A London blogger I follow wears the same black blazer in 12 different posts, you just notice the coffee shop background changes.
4. Upgrade Your Skills, Not Just Your Wardrobe
If you want permanent boujee, invest in yourself.
Nairobi: Free Google Digital Skills courses.
London: Local library workshops.
Tokyo: Online platforms like Udemy (often cheaper during sales).
Side Hustle Alert: Nairobi photographers charge 5k–15k for a shoot. Learn the skill, get one good camera (even second-hand), and you’re in business.
5. Selective Splurging – The Boujee Balancing Act
Spend big on what improves your life daily.
A good mattress (your back will thank you).
Quality skincare, Nairobi sun is unforgiving.
One designer bag you’ll use for years, not a season.
Example: My friend in UK stopped buying random makeup palettes and instead invested in one luxury foundation. She looks flawless and saves more.
Boujee is a State of Mind
From Nairobi to London, Tokyo to your own couch, boujee is about living like you love yourself, not like you’re trying to impress strangers.Upgrade your lifestyle, keep your bank account healthy, and remember: real wealth is being able to enjoy life without your debt collector knowing your schedule.
Kay Collections 