Broke but bougie: How crafty Gen Z and Millennials are making $10 look like $1,000 bucks

“Have you ever been broke, but no one believes you because you don’t look like a broke person? But the thing is, you like broke. But like a bougie broke. Like, you broké.”

I wish I could take credit for that killer line, but it’s actually a viral gem from TikTok.

Still, it inspired me to do a deep dive into the whole “Bougie But Broké” universe—and let me just say, mind = blown. I’m officially a card-carrying member, and trust me, once you see what I’ve uncovered, you’ll be too.

Let’s face it, gone are the days when being broke meant looking it. Today’s Millennials and Gen Zers have mastered the art of making $10 dollars look like $1,000 bucks—and let’s be real, they do it with a style only they could muster. From thrifted vintage finds to chic DIY hacks, these generations know how to stretch a dollar without ever letting the world see the seams.

It’s not about having less—this “bougie but broké” movement is about doing more with what you have—and making it look effortlessly luxe while you’re at it. Boom, boom, and boom!

Need a trendy jean jacket? Skip the mall. Turn your old one into a statement piece that’ll have everyone asking where you got it.

So how do they pull off this “broke but bougie” magic? Well, it’s a combination of creativity, resourcefulness, and the power of social media. 

You probably had no idea how much a single button could totally change your life, but I’m here to fasten you into the truth.

@caitlin_jaymes

Remember you do not need a ton of money to have great style! As long as the pieces in your wardrobe fit and flatter your body and fit your style preferences you’re on your way to developing a capsule wardrobe. capsulewardrobe stylinghacks timelessfashion designerfashion

♬ original sound – CaitlinJaymes

Millennials and Gen Zers are redefining what it means to look expensive, and the best part is that it has nothing to do with how much they’re actually spending.

How about a custom closet for just 80 bucks and a quick Target run? Yeah, you heard me right—your bougie dreams are just an aisle away.

@prettyprovidence

Give yourself a budget-friendly closet makeover with this Target bookshelf closet hack. We have a full tutorial and list of materials for you on the blog! #closet #closethack #targetbookshelfcloset #closettransformation #diycloset

♬ love song (hesitations) (sped up) – Lofuu & Shiloh Dynasty & dprk

But let’s take a closer look at this crafty adventure, shall we?

The first stop on the “bougie-on-a-budget” express is thrifting. Yep, that once-dreaded Goodwill trip is now the ultimate treasure hunt for today’s bougie pirates.

And trust me, there’s a method to the madness. With a little strategy, you can create an entire designer wardrobe without breaking the bank.

@hannahganshaw

if you feel overwhelmed when #thrifting lets these #thrifttips guide you to some of your favorite finds ever! 🛒 as someone who has been shopping used & #vintagclothing for many years now i have really trained my eye! I can spot a #qualityclothing item from across the store! Haha and that does not only mean a popular brand or higher end one! You can quite literally find clothing of #naturalfibers that will last you many years from fast fashion companies! But you also will see overloads of #polyester for hundrers of dollars and thats what we 99/100 times want to avoid! Theres a time a place of course but you get it ! #thriftedoutfits #howtodress #outfitinspiration #oldmoneyaesthetic #thrift #90saesthetic

♬ La vie en rose (Cover Edith Piaf) – 田东昱

Need a cheat sheet for your thrifting adventure? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.

Forget splurging on designer labels; that’s so passé. Thrift stores are where it’s at for finding one-of-a-kind pieces that scream, “I paid way more for this than I actually did.” Vintage jackets, accessories that make a statement, and even unique home decor can all be found for pennies on the dollar.

@pretty_distressed

Decorating on a dime? Challenge accepted! 💸✨ With my incredible Wagner Flexio 3500 paint sprayer, I’m giving my home a budget-friendly makeover by finding hidden gems at the thrift store and transforming them into stunning pieces for my home. Proving that style doesn’t have to break the bank and can be sustainable, too! 💪🏠 You can find all the products on my YouTube Channel. #BudgetFriendlyDecorating #ThriftStoreMakeover #WagnerFlexio3500 #DIYDecor

♬ Skin Deep – Dusky

And here’s the real kicker: these bougie pirates are not just wearing these finds—they’re flipping them, too. Enter the world of #ThriftFlip, where Millennials are taking these second-hand gems and turning them into something that looks runway-ready. 

In this new world, a $5 jacket suddenly becomes a high-fashion statement piece with a few clever tweaks. It’s like Project Runway, but with way less cash and a lot more ingenuity. 

But listen, you don’t need to be some sewing whiz or design guru to cash in. All you really need is a killer eye for spotting thrifted treasures, and boom—you’re basically rolling in vintage gold. Trust me, the resale game is where it’s at.

This is peak DIY-or-die-trying energy. But let’s be real—thrifting is just the tip of the second-hand iceberg. When they’re not snagging vintage gems, Millennials and Gen Z are busy DIYing their way to luxury status. Pinterest and TikTok are overflowing with budget hacks to turn basic into bougie.

Need an example? How about getting those marble countertop vibes at laminate prices—and it’s genius.

From turning old furniture into “restoration hardware” knockoffs to creating high-end decor from dollar-store finds, the DIY game is strong with these generations.

But the real flex here is making it all look so effortless. It’s not just about what they’re creating; it’s about the vibe they bring along with it. It’s wild what a stencil and some paint can do. One minute, you’ve got cinderblock blah, and the next, you’re rocking boutique bougie vibes like it’s nothing.

After all, there’s an art to making a $20 IKEA coffee table look like it came straight out of an influencer’s penthouse, right? 

Honestly, those creations have “Renaissance” vibes written all over them.

It’s not just fashion and home decor, though. Millennials have figured out how to make even the smallest budget stretch into a luxe lifestyle. How does travel fit into the bougie but broke lifestyle? Well, as you’d expect, they’re doing it on the cheap, but you’d never know from their Instagram feeds.

Sure, you might have to endure a 12-hour layover in Cleveland (yikes), but you’re snagging a $400 ticket to Paris. Totally worth it, right?


And if you’re not using Google Flights to book, you’re seriously missing the plane. Time to catch up, because those deals won’t wait on the tarmac forever! Ba dum TSS!

They’ve got the art of travel hacking down to a science, racking up miles and points like seasoned jet-setters. Whether it’s budget airlines, Airbnb deals, or sneaky destination swaps, they’re getting the five-star experience without that insanely expensive price tag.

Honestly, these hacks are pure genius—the kind of stuff you’d never dream up while frantically trying to piece a trip together.

Dining out is no different. Bougie brunches on a budget? Yes, please.

If you find a cheap flight to Vegas, go ahead and roll the dice on these bougie budget brunches.

Whether they’re hitting up happy hour for half-priced charcuterie boards or creating gourmet meals at home that look straight off the cover of Bon Appétit, Millennials are proving you don’t need a big bank account to have a taste for the finer things.

Scope out the bougiest spots in town for happy hour, then get that camera ready—because those Insta-worthy moments won’t snap themselves, girl.

Or keep it bougie at home and blow everyone’s minds with your Michelin-level cooking skills on a budget. Who says you need a reservation to dish out five-star vibes at one-star prices?

@sophiarblake

The definition of boujie on a budget!! This garden party was so much fun to organize I can’t wait to have another fancy party soon! #gardenparty #diy #birthdayparty #budgetparty #budgetpartyplanning #birthdayparty #diyparty #dinnerparty #brunchparty #boujieonabudget

♬ original sound – Sophia Blake


Ready to get French-level bougie? Imagine pulling off the ultimate flex with a sauce so good, your guests will swear you just flew back from a Parisian cooking class. All it takes is butter, water, and a whisk. Seriously. It’s called beurre monté, and even if boiling water isn’t your thing, you can totally make this.

Life Hacker:

Beurre monté is glossy and creamy and makes an excellent finishing sauce, but you can also use it as a poaching liquid for delicate vegetables or shellfish. Just make the sauce, add your food, and let it gently come to temperature in the silky, rich sauce.

Beurre Monté recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1-2 sticks butter, cut into tablespoons

Bring the water to a boil in small sauce pan, then reduce the heat to low. Whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a smooth, uniform sauce forms. Add the remaining butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until all the butter has been whisked in. Keep the sauce warm, but not hot, until ready to use. Heating the sauce above 180℉ will cause it to break.

Toss with roasted vegetables, drizzle on fish, chicken, or steak, or use beurre monté as a poaching liquid for delicate produce or seafood.

Bon appétit, cool cats.

Of course, none of this ‘broke but bougie’ brilliance would be complete without the ultimate stage: social media. TikTok and Instagram have become the playground where Millennials flex their thrifty, DIY, and budget-friendly finds for the world to see. It’s not enough to just look bougie—you’ve got to post about it.

The secret? It’s all in the presentation. A $10 thrift store outfit, styled right, with the perfect lighting and filter, suddenly looks like it walked off a high-end runway. That second-hand dining table, shot at the right angle with a well-placed coffee mug and a couple of books? Insta gold. Millennials have mastered the art of the visual illusion—because, at the end of the day, perception is reality, right?

At the heart of all this is one simple truth: luxury isn’t about the price tag; it’s about how you carry it. The real luxury is confidence. Millennials and Gen Zers aren’t just making $10 look like $1,000—they’re redefining what luxury means. It’s not about owning designer labels or taking first-class flights. It’s about creating a lifestyle that feels rich, even if the bank account doesn’t exactly reflect it.

Because here’s the thing: being ‘bougie’ is less about what you buy and more about how you own it. Whether they’re flipping thrifted finds or DIYing a designer look for less, Millennials are proving that the real luxury isn’t in what you have, but how confidently you show it off.

So, next time you see a Millennial or Gen Zer stepping out looking like a million bucks, don’t be fooled—they probably spent less than $50. But that’s the beauty of it. In a world where wealth is flaunted, this generation’s real flex is how good they look while staying financially smart. And if there’s one thing we can all learn from the ‘broke but bougie’ crowd, it’s that luxury is less about the price tag and more about the confidence behind it.

Till next time, be wickedly wonderful.

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Marcus Aurelius Tarkus
Marcus Aurelius Tarkus
1 day ago

Something I had absolutely no reason to read.

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