For most of us, these weekends take budgeting, PTO requests, and a prayer—for the wealthy, they’re just Tuesday plans.
I was talking with a colleague about weekend plans when she mentioned flying to Charleston for a friend's birthday. "When are you going?" I asked. She looked at me like I'd asked what year it was. "This Saturday."
It hit me then—this was last-minute for her. The kind of thing I'd budget for months in advance, watch flight alerts for, coordinate time off around. For her, it was just what you do when a friend has a birthday in another city.
1. Weekend trips to other cities
Most of us treat a weekend getaway like a military operation. Watch airfare for weeks. Book months ahead. Maybe burn through credit card points you've been hoarding. The planning starts when you spot a decent flight price, not when you actually want to go.
Wealthy people just go. Someone mentions a restaurant in Portland or a gallery opening in Miami, and it's "let's fly up Saturday morning." The spontaneity gap isn't about impulsiveness—it's about not needing to make the math work first. When a same-week flight doesn't require budget reshuffling, geography becomes irrelevant.
2. Nice dinners at restaurants with no prices on the menu
I save for special restaurant experiences. Birthdays, anniversaries, major celebrations. They require advance planning, reservation stalking, mental preparation for the bill.
For the wealthy, these places are Tuesday. A friend texts "dinner tonight?" and suggests somewhere with a months-long waitlist they somehow access. The difference isn't just affording the meal—it's that dining flexibility means any week can hold that kind of experience. No occasion required when the cost doesn't disrupt anything else.
3. Last-minute concert or show tickets
When my favorite band announces a tour, I'm checking presale codes immediately, setting calendar alerts, budgeting for nosebleed seats. Miss the initial sale and you're hunting resale prices or accepting you'll skip it.
Wealthy people decide they want to see something the day of and buy whatever's available. Pricing becomes irrelevant when you want the experience. I've watched someone casually purchase $400 tickets an hour before showtime like they were buying movie passes. Spontaneity about entertainment fundamentally changes how you move through culture.
4. Spa days and wellness treatments
A massage is something I plan as self-care after a brutal month. Maybe a facial for a major birthday. These are budgeted treats, scheduled well in advance, usually involving a Groupon.
For the wealthy, these are maintenance. Random Tuesday afternoon free? Spa appointment. Feeling stressed? Massage that evening. The shift from special occasion to routine care changes the entire relationship with wellness. When a $200 treatment doesn't require justification or planning, your body becomes something you invest in casually rather than occasionally indulge.
5. Attending sporting events or major games
Going to a professional game means checking the schedule when single-game tickets drop, comparing prices across sections, maybe splitting a parking pass. It's an event you plan around, especially for popular teams or playoffs.
Wealthy people get invited to games in company boxes or decide game day that it sounds fun. Season tickets aren't a massive financial commitment requiring justification—they're just convenient. Sports become fundamentally different when attendance isn't tied to elaborate planning and budget allocation. Background entertainment rather than a carefully orchestrated outing.
6. Hiring help for home projects
I've spent hours watching YouTube tutorials trying to fix things myself because hiring someone means saving up or putting it off. Home repairs get prioritized by urgency, not convenience. The deck needs refinishing? That's next summer's project.
Wealthy people call someone the moment something seems off. Loose railing, room needing paint, tired landscaping—it all gets handled immediately. The freedom isn't just affording help, it's not carrying a mental list of deferred maintenance because you can't justify the cost yet. Time becomes more valuable than money in that equation.
7. Taking an extra day off work for a long weekend
Using PTO is strategic for most people. You save days for actual vacation, maybe use one for a family emergency or genuine illness. An extra day to extend a weekend? That's a luxury you debate, weighing whether you might need that day later.
For the wealthy, particularly those with flexible work arrangements, taking a random Friday or Monday doesn't feel like spending limited currency. They're not mentally calculating remaining days or worried about judgment. The security from either substantial savings or work autonomy means time off is actually restful, not anxious math about whether you can afford the absence.
Final thoughts
The gap isn't really about these specific activities—it's about spontaneity itself. When money is tight, every decision requires calculation. Will this throw off other plans? What am I sacrificing? Can I afford the full experience or just a cheaper version?
Wealth buys the ability to want something and simply do it. Not every time, not recklessly, but enough that life doesn't feel like deferred experiences strung together. The emotional difference between "I'll plan for that" and "let's do that" is bigger than any price tag.
What strikes me most is how this shapes your relationship with time. When experiences require extensive planning, you're always living slightly in the future, calculating and preparing. Spontaneity—responding to what sounds good right now—becomes its own form of wealth.
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