Shel Horowitz's Monthly Frugal Fun Tip

Play Millionaire: A Fabulous Day of Romantic Fun

Dress well for this one, and perhaps borrow a fancier car than usual (or at least park your beat up old car out of sight). Start the day with a real estate showing of the most expensive home you can find. Walk through with a critical eye, as if you're a potential buyer. Examine the Jacuzzi, the pool, the woodwork, stained glass, multi-car garage, test the built in sound system, central air conditioning. Look at every nook and cranny and imagine it was yours. Take notes, if you like.

Now go to the most upscale shopping area, and start furnishing the house. Test out some $2000 sofas, run your hand over the Danish home entertainment center, play a song on a $10,000 grand piano and feel the softness of a thick Oriental rug underfoot. Talk about where in the house you'd put each of these items, and whether the color schemes are right. Be sure to include a stop in at least one outrageously expensive art gallery.

Now go test drive the luxury car of your dreams: a Porsche, BMW, Lincoln, even a Rolls-Royce if there's a dealer near you. Follow that up with a trip to the local yacht dealer.

By this time, you're probably hungry. So go to the ritziest cafe in town, order up some coffee and dessert. It might set you back ten or fifteen dollars, but that's your only cost for an entire day of living like a king.