Champagne flutes
Photo: Champagne flutes / iStock / Sergey Tumanov

7. Art Auctions

Attend an art auction and you may get a free glass of Champagne. But you also may get caught up in the frenzy and buy a painting that could cost less on land. Don’t purchase an expensive piece without first doing some research. And keep in mind that auctioneers and salespeople add a buyer’s premium and extra charges for framing, shipping, and handling — so your bid is not the final price. Plus, all sales are final.