2016-03-05

We often scoff at celebrities' frivolous purchases, but at least they find ways to enjoy their money.

A 2014 Gallup poll found that the average American spent about $94 a day doing ordinary things like stopping by the gas station or shopping online. Spending money that way certainly doesn't sound very fun, which is something a lot of people can use in larger doses.

So maybe you should take cues from the top-earners and get a little crazier with your money? If that sound like fun to you, click through for 40 exciting — and unusual — ways to spend your money.

1. Cruise the World

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If you have a lot of time on your hands, take a world cruise. According to CruiseCritic.com, expect to pay anywhere from around $15,000 to about $200,000 — and possibly more, depending on the itinerary, length of the cruise, your cabin and the cruise line. Even if the price is in six figures, it's a relative value when you think about how much you would spend in airfare and hotels to visit all of those destinations otherwise.

2. Shower a Loved One With Roses

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Take a cue from Kanye West. If you have a special someone, shower them with roses — lots of them. According to Elle magazine, West paid about $7,500 for a couple thousand roses for wife Kim Kardashian. But feel free to outdo him.

3. Take a Trip to Space

kw: Virgin Galactic

Did you have dreams of one day becoming an astronaut? Well, that dream can become a reality — but only if you have a least a couple hundred grand to spare.

Virgin Galactic is accepting applications from people who want to board one of its vehicles to take a trip into space. An upfront deposit of $250,000 is required, however, as is the completion of the application form and a three-day pre-flight preparation program.

4. Have Your Own 'Magic Mike' Experience

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If you loved the movie so much, why not see the real thing in person? "Chippendales" and "Thunder From Down Under" in Las Vegas are popular shows featuring male "performers," but do a quick search in your city to see what's available. Just remember to bring enough bills so you can, as they say, "make it rain."

5. Eat at Mugaritz

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Eating at Mugaritz in Spain, which GQ called "The Most Adventurous Restaurant in the World," allows you to defy the norms of dining out. The tasting menu, which might include items like fresh scorpion fish or coral, is likely to bite at least $200 out of your fun money, according to PBS. But, Mugaritz has made an appearance more than once on a list of the world's best restaurants. So if you have the money, why not indulge in a truly unique — and expensive — culinary experience?

6. Build an Adult Tree House

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Channel your inner child, and join the growing number of adults who are hanging out in trees. And they aren't just throwing up boards in the backyard, either.

ABC News revealed that some trees houses include kitchens, bedrooms, fireplaces and skylights. Having a tree house professionally built can range from a few thousand dollars into the six-figure range. Tree house architect Pete Nelson reportedly told the Daily Mail the most expensive tree house he built was in Yelm, Wash., and cost over $365,000.

7. Deliver a Message in the Sky

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If you've got something to say, say it on a blimp. Floating a message through the sky is a fun way to propose, express your love or say just about anything else. Rate might vary based location, the size of the blimp and how long you hire it. According to FlySigns.com, skywriting might not be affordable for you if your budget is less than $2,500 to $4,000, however.

8. Move Your House

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If you're facing a dilemma where you hate your location but love your house, move it. After the recession in 2008, a growing number of people starting moving houses. Depending on a home’s size, condition and how far it has to be moved, the cost ranged from $15,000 to $60,000, reported the Seattle Times in 2011. That can average out to about 40 percent to 60 percent of what it would cost to build the structure from scratch.

9. Make a Splash in Kansas

kw: Schlitterbahn Waterpark

Visit the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark where you'll find the world's tallest water slide, Verrückt. The 17-story, 168-foot tall attraction is so popular that rides are now scheduled by day-of reservations. Reservations are made on a first-come-first-served basis, so get there early. Buy your ticket online, and one-day general admission to the park is $41.99.

10. Try Fury 325

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If you prefer to stay dry, save some of your amusement park fun money for Carowinds in North Carolina. Fury 325, by many accounts, is one of the scariest roller coasters in the world. The ride reaches 325 feet in the air and travels up to 95 miles per hour. It's a must for die-hard thrill-seekers. Regular general admission tickets are available online for $39.99 plus taxes and fees.

11. Go on a Safari

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Instead of going to your local zoo, see your favorite animals in their natural habitats by going on a safari. If you plan a trip through Go2Africa.com, you'll find that an eight-night, "luxury fly-in safari" in East Africa will likely cost you between $8,000 and $11,000.

12. Take a Volcanic Mud Bath in Colombia

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Legend has it that the gray mud in Colombia's El Tutumo volcano has healing powers, reports The Huffington Post. Whether you believe it, you can still enjoy a volcanic mud bath with a massage from the locals for only a few bucks. Through a quick search on travel site Viator.com, you'll likely find that the cost of a day trip in March starts at around $94.

13. Experience Burning Man

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Go to the Burning Man festival in Nevada and experience a fusion of art, music and fellowship. It all occurs in a temporary community in the desert called Black Rock City. You must bring everything you need to survive, including food, water and shelter. According to the Burning Man website, tickets, fees and parking passes at recent events have cost around $500.

14. Get a Japanese Body Tattoo

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Want to conquer your fear of needles? Get a full-body Japanese tattoo, which is commonly referred to as horimono. These tattoos include traditional Japanese images and symbols, such as dragons, cherry blossoms and more. They're reportedly painful, can take months or years to complete and will likely set you back up to $30,000, according to Tatring.com. But once it's complete, you'll be a living work of art.

15. Get a Fish Pedicure

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You haven't had a memorable pedicure until you've had flesh-eating fish gnawing the dead skin off your feet. According to the Daily Mail, this type of pedicure tends to make people giggle. But not everyone finds it appealing. OK Magazine reported that Kim Kardashian “had a major freak out" when she put her feet in the water tank.

16. Race Pigeons

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Laugh all you want, by racing pigeons is more than just a hobby for some — it's also a bonafide sport. And if you have a winning pigeon, you can earn a lot of money.

NPR reported that one pigeon owner in China bought a bird for about $1,000 in 2001, but its descendants have since earned him at least $150,000 in prize money.

17. Go to the North Pole

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Going to the North Pole isn't as far-fetched as some might think. For just under $30,000, you can embark on a 14-day adventure with Quark Expeditions, which will take you through the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole. Once you arrive, you can enjoy the terrain by hiking, snowshoeing, or — for about $300 extra —you can soar above your Arctic surroundings in a hot air balloon.

18. Bungee Jumping in Switzerland

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Bungee jumping at the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland is a memorable way to spend your fun money and earn stripes for courage. With jumps ranging from about 200 to 700 feet, this isn't for the faint of heart.

19. Go Casino-Hopping

kw: best casinos

Spend to win. Go casino-hopping, perhaps in one of the lesser recognized gambling destinations like Maryland, which is set to open its sixth casino later this year. Just remember to keep your gambling in moderation.

20. Hire a Graffiti Artist to Paint Your House

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Set yourself apart from your neighbors, and hire a graffiti artist to spray paint your house. You might not be able to see the exact design beforehand, but the artist you hire can at least provide a rough concept. Rates for graffiti vary based on factors, including the size of the area you're covering, the complexity of the design and how soon you want it done.

21. Spread Love at the Bar

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If you're at a bar and have extra spending money as well as a cause to toast, why not pick up the tab for your fellow bar mates? Without a doubt, you'll be the most popular person in the bar.

22. Rent a Castle

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Forget spending money to stay in a hotel. Take vacationing to another level by renting a castle.

Castles are available in a variety of sizes and price ranges. According to Airbnb's castle "wish list," prices per night can range from about $100 to nearly $1,700.

23. Drive a Race Car

kw: NASCAR

Fulfill your need for speed with a NASCAR experience. You can drive real race cars that have been driven by professional race car drivers on real race tracks across the country. Prices range from about $130 to nearly $900, depending on how many laps you want to take around the track and whether you drive the car yourself.

24. Splurge on Front-Row Seats

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Want to see your favorite singer or musician up close at their next concert? Treat yourself by buying front-row tickets or a VIP package. Even better — see if your favorite artist is holding a meet and greet before or after the show. Depending on the package you buy for the Britney Spears show in Las Vegas, for example, you can expect to pay between a few hundred bucks or a few thousand.

25. Hire Your Favorite Performer

kw: celebrity appearance fees

Forget about front-row seats at a concert. Stack your coins, and hire your favorite performer for a private event, which can range from several thousand dollars to over $1 million. According to data gathered by Priceonomics.com in 2014, performers such as Calvin Harris, Demi Lovato and Fall Out Boy could be booked for $100,000 to $200,000. However, the rates for Justin Bieber, Madonna and Justin Timberlake were around $1 million or more.

26. Get an Exotic Pet

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Spice up your pet life with an exotic animal. The animals you can legally own often depends on federal, state and local regulations, but you probably have more options than you think. And according to National Geographic, some jurisdictions might allow exotic pets without a license.

27. Shop 'Til You Drop

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Go on a shopping spree. For a lot of people, shopping is work. There's budgeting, comparison pricing and couponing involved. But shopping takes on a whole new meaning and offers completely different thrills when you spend without a care.

28. Go Night Diving in a Submarine

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Go to Barbados, and make your way to Atlantis Submarines. You'll see a side of the country that many visitors don't get to experience — an up-close view of the coral reef at night. And you'll get it on a real submarine. After the night dive, enjoy a cocktail reception where you can meet the submarine's pilot and crew.

29. Try Sandboarding

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Sandboarding is a sport that's comparable to snowboarding but without the snow and cold weather. There are sandboarding sites around the world, including in Mexico, New Zealand and more, so you can create a bucket list and use it as a reason to travel the world.

30. Buy a Sports Car

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If a race car experience doesn't fulfill your need for speed, consider buying a sports car, like the Bugatti Chiron, which has an estimated top speed of 288 miles per hour and is expected to cost about $2.6 million when it's released this spring, according to Car and Driver.

Related: Bieber to DiCaprio: What It Costs to Drive Like These 19 Celebrities

31. Get a Private Jet

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Why not add a private jet to your fleet while you're at it? It's more fun to fly on your own terms than to fly commercial. But expect to pay more for your jet than your sports car.

In 2013, CNBC reported jets cost between $3 million and $90 million, though you can get them cheaper if you buy second-hand. However, don't forget about budgeting at least another $700,000 to $4 million a year to operate your jet.

32. Learn How to Be a Stuntman (or Woman)

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Become a certified stuntman. You can learn to fall, fly and fight for on-screen performances while having a lot of fun and getting into shape. Although it might involve spending money in the beginning, you might end up making money. According to Stunt University's website, beginning stunt performers can earn $800 to $1,000 a day.

33. Take Ice Sculpting Classes

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Learn to turn a block of ice into a work of art. Day classes are available in some places, so you don't have to commit to a long-term course. Once you have the skills, you can make ice sculpting a hobby or turn it into a money-making venture.

34. Buy an Island

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Buying an island might sound outlandish, but according to CNN Money, there are islands for sale around the world that are cheaper than houses in the average major city. For example, you could get an island for less than $100,000. But, don't expect it to come complete with a luxurious mansion; you might only get a small hut and an anchorage for access to the mainland, reports CNN.

35. Open a Nightclub

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Open your own nightclub because when you own the club, you own the party. Just be sure to make good hiring choices so you can play a very limited, if not passive, role in the daily operations. Startup costs vary greatly depending on the location, local regulations, venue size and more.

36. Create Your Own Theme Park

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Why not open your own unique amusement park? Last year, British graffiti artist Banksy did it in England.

Dismaland was a large art exhibition that was designed to invoke a satirical image of Disneyland. According to BBC, it sold at least 4,000 tickets a day online, plus 500 people could be found waiting in line. Maybe your amusement park will be even more popular.

37. Become a Bull Rider

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Forget riding a mechanical bull; go for the real thing. At some rodeo skills, you can learn how to bull ride for a few hundred dollars, depending on the location. And once you gain experience, you can get groomed to compete and perhaps win some additional fun money.

38. Go Truffle Hunting in Italy

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Mushroom hunting in Italy might not be on your bucket list, but perhaps you should add it. White truffles are rare and can only be found in select areas during select months. If you find one, you could get a handsome return on your spending money for the trip.

39. Go Skydiving

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Skydiving is one way to get an adrenaline rush. One of the best places in world to jump, according to the Travel Channel, is Snohomish, Wash. For about $225, you can get a tandem class and experience a dive that will give you a 360-degree panoramic view of mountain and sea.

40. Try BASE Jumping

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If, on a scale of one to 10, your thrill-seeking level is off the charts, you might find pleasure in BASE jumping. BASE stands for "building, antenna, span and earth." It's an extreme sport, often considered one of the most dangerous in the world, that involves free-falling from fixed structures, such as Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall.

Keep Reading: 5 Ways to Splurge on a Budget

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 40 Crazy Ways to Have Fun With Money

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