LUXURY

Luxury is a state of richness of properties in one’s life. According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2005), luxury can be defined as having a very great comfort and pleasure, where people can afford to buy what they desired. There are features of describing luxury, which are having a lot of money, expensive belongings and have big houses.
Having a lot of money represents a wealthy life. Doing investment and acquiring a high salary will contribute to this lifestyle. According to Kiyosaki (2001), “the only way of getting rich is by making investments, where profit can be gained and doubled”. Basically, people who are rich will continue to be rich because the investments they have made and this is how they maintain their assets. Besides that, high monthly income will also bring wealth to people. “Most Americans have a very low monthly income after deducted the taxes and fees, therefore they suffer a lot to survive in the urban lifestyle which is raging in this country” (Atkins, 1997). This statement proves that having a low salary will lead to poverty and vice versa. Thus, those who invest their properties and obtain a high salary can be considered as luxurious.
Another feature of luxury is having variety of expensive belongings, such as costly clothes, cars and furniture. By having these belongings, a person can be defined as living a luxurious life. According to Irvin Parvio, “rich people can be distinguished from the ordinary ones by judging from their appearance; wearing Prada shoes, driving a Bentley or Roll Royce, and somewhat spend a couple of grand just to buy a pair of socks” (2004, p.15). It is not easy for people from average status to have all these assets. Hayter & Kinney (2002) stated that “most rich people tend to have expensive belonging to show off their wealthy lifestyle, for them money is everything and can buy anything”. These belongings also represent a high standard of a rich people’s life, which will describe the true meaning of luxury. This proves that having expensive belongings is a part of luxury.
Living in big houses or mansions is also a sign of luxury. To afford the expenses and costs of having, and living in big houses nowadays is not an ordinary persons’ option in their lives. Ben Callaman, the founder of BBC International News wrote, “I wouldn’t think twice of having a wealthy life – living in mansions, riding on Mercedes Benz and married more than once – only if I were to enjoy all the riches my company produces” (1994, pp 23-24). This idea of living in spacious home interior and land will only arise in the mind of those who are rich. Besides that, big houses will emphasize the supremacy of these people toward their lordship on their properties. Thus, owning a mansion is an essence of luxury.
To conclude, luxury can simply be defined as having a lot of money, expensive belongings and have big houses. People can be judged according to these criteria, whether they live a luxurious life or not. A sign of luxury is certainly can be categorized as materialistic, because luxury is all about being rich, look rich and stay rich.

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