Recession got you down? Follow our guide to luxury on a budget. By HK Staff.

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 on p.14 for tech steals, p.16 for spa deals, p.18 and 21 for fine dining on a discount and finally, p.25 for the best happy hours.

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.

4. Get Behind the Wheel
Don’t give in to these ridiculous taxi-fare increases—save cash and splash the flash with your own tricked-out vehicle. Now that every banker in town is out of a job, secondhand car and bike shops are flooded with high-quality, low-mileage afterburners for a fraction of the price. You can get a nice BMW for $50,000, and Ducatis are as low as $30,000.
www.icar.hk
www.bikehk.com

5. Bring Your Workout Home
If you’re paying hundreds of dollars each month just to use a bike at the gym, why not buy one for home and cancel your gym membership? While some bikes are as expensive as $30,000, there are many secondhand models available on Asiaxpat priced roughly the same as your membership fee.
hongkong.asiaxpat.com

6. Say Goodbye to Marked-Up Magazines
Why give in to the overpriced demands of popular bookstores when the Navy gets it all for cover price? The Fleet Arcade is open to the general public when the sailors aren’t in town, and its bookstore sells imported DVDs, books and magazines for the same price as in the States. And if you can’t find what you want, you can always order it online at local bookseller Paddyfield, who only charge cover price with free shipping in Hong Kong.
Fleet Arcade, 1 Lung King St., Wan Chai
www.paddyfield.com.hk

7. Get Carded
Wallet feeling a little light? Jack it up with saving cards that’ll surely get you back into the most exclusive hotspots. Our personal favorite is the Good Times Card, which, for just $500 a year, gets you 50 percent off or buy-one-get-one-free at hundreds of fine establishments around town. There’s also the SilverBlack Card, which provides similar benefits for $650 a year.
www.goodtimes.com.hk
www.silverblackcard.com

8. Make Your Bid
Sure, we all know about property auctions and the like, but ever wondered what happens to goods seized by the police? Drop in on one of their bimonthly auctions in Chai Wan, and you too could be the owner of a formerly triad-owned Mercedes, or hell, even a nice big pleasure boat.
www.gld.gov.hk/eng/auction.htm

9. Never Pay for Booze Again!
The savvy and sparing spender knows how to get their booze without paying. Ladies, flip on over to page 25 to get your fix, while men can take advantage of happy hours all around town. But there’s one oft-forgotten place of complimentary bevs: art galleries. Yes, turn to page 23 and any gallery with an opening reception is guaranteed to have something to drink for you aspiring art connoisseurs.

10. Hit the Links with the Ladies
We don’t need to tell you how expensive it could be to spend a day golfing, but ladies, you’re in luck. The brand-new Skycity Nine Eagles Golf Course right next to the airport has made every Monday Ladies Day—$300 for all-day golf and a four-course Thai lunch.
Skycity Nine Eagles Golf Course, 20 Sky City Rd. East,     Chek Lap Kok, Lantau, 3760-6688, www.nine-eagles.com.

11. Make Old Clothes Look New
Despite how much we love shopping, now is a perfect time to get a new look from our old clothes. Visit some of the celebs’ favorite alteration places: Alteration Station (3/F, United Building., 447 Hennessy Rd., Causeway Bay, 2893-2891) is popular for quick, professional services, while the owner of T & F (Basement Shop 9, Tin Hau Apple Mall, 15 Hysan Rd., Causeway Bay, 2882-4284) likes to come up with ideas on how to alter your clothes. Mitty Fashion Alteration (5/F, 74 Wellington St., Central, 2523-8786) is another favorite of the big fashion stores.

12. Drink Wine and Be Happy
Hollywood Road’s Classified may look like a nice little sidewalk café. But this popular cheese room is hiding a bargain-loving wine drinker’s dream. Head inside and up the stairs to find a wide selection of New and Old World varietals, all offered at a take-home discount of $100 off any bottle priced less than $1,000 and 10 percent off any bottle over $1,000. If you’re going to invest in anything these days, why not make it wine?
Classified, 108 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2525-3454.

Travel Cheap
There’s no reason to let go of your travel plans just because we’re in a recession. In fact, airfares and hotel rates are going lower than ever. We’ve searched out the best deals so you don’t have to.

Free Rooms in Bangkok
We know Thailand’s political situation isn’t exactly stable, but nothing could stop us from visiting its capital for the great food and shopping. And now there’s one more reason to go—many luxury hotels in Bangkok are offering free-night deals.

Buy Two Get One Free
Metropolitan Bangkok: Extremely popular among Hongkongers, this chic boutique hotel is offering a free night for every two-night stay in a Metropolitan room until March 31. Rates start at $1,434. 27 South Sathorn Rd., Tungmahamek, Sathorn, Bangkok, 66-2625-3333, metropolitan.como.bz/bangkok/.

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok: Get a free night for every two-night stay until April 1. Rates start at $1,897. 155 Rajadamri Rd., Bangkok, 66-2250-1000, www.fourseasons.com/bangkok.

Two Nights for One
Centara Grand@Central World: This brand-new five-star hotel conveniently located atop the giant mall Central World is offering a free night for every night you book until January 20. Rates start at $1,228. 999/99 Rama 1 Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok, 66-2100-1234, www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cgcw.

Cheap Packages
Seoul: With the Korean won hitting a new low, Seoul makes for a great long-weekend destination. A four-day package with return flights by Korean Air and a three-night stay at the three-star Rainbow Lodge is just $1,600 per person (minimum two people). Book at Natori Travel at 2771-0233.

Los Angeles and Tokyo: A four-day package with return flights by Northwestern Airlines and two nights at the three-star Historical Mayfair Hotel is $4,399 per person (minimum two people). Add $650 for a stopover in Tokyo on your way back. Book at Wing On Travel at 2921-6288 before January 28.

Perth, Australia: A four-day package with return flights by Qantas and four-day rental and gas for a Toyota Camry is $4,390 per person (minimum two people). Offer good until March 27. Book at Sincerity Travel at 2730-2800.

London: A return flight by New Zealand Air and two nights at the three-star Americana Hotel is $4,739 per person (minimum two people). Offer good until January 31. Book at EGL Tours at 3692-0888.

Outlet Shopping
The best spots for serious discounts

Space
2/F, East Commercial Block, Marina Square,        South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau, 2814-9576
Offers a 50-80 percent discount on high-fashion brands Prada and Miu Miu.

IT Sale Shop
Shop 72, 3/F, Silvercord, 30 Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2377-9466
This outlet store for the I.T. fashion group stocks a range of hip brands, including Cacharel, Arnold Palmer and more, all at hugely reduced prices.

Citygate
20 Tat Tung Rd., Tung Chung, Lantau, 2109-2933
Citygate has an array of big-name outlet stores, including Vivienne Tam, On Pedder, Laura Ashley, Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, and I.T. Get up to 70 percent off.

Horizon Plaza
2 Wing Lee St., Ap Lei Chau
A paradise to bargain hunters with outlets selling all the major fashion brands: Replay (7/F); Bluebell Fashion Warehouse (10/F) has Paul Smith, Jimmy Choo; Joyce Warehouse (21/F) sells Anna Sui, Vivienne Westwood, Maison Martin Margiela, Hugo Boss, Giorgio Armani; Lane Crawford Warehouse (25/F) and Max Mara Fashion Group Warehouse (27/F).