Why you should save money and spend $3 million on Caribbean Property*

$3 million dollars sounds like a lot of money. And let's be honest...it is, but when you think what it can buy you these days, it doesn’t seem as much as you first think.

Take the tea bag for example. We all love a good cup of tea but is it really wise to spend over $15,000 dollars on one tea bag? Well some people think so - an exclusive jeweller based in the UK, hand-crafted a tea bag using over 280 diamonds and it sells for over 15 grand.

Or maybe you’re an animal lover and want to pamper your pooch with the ‘I Love Dogs Dog Collar’. With over 1600 hand set diamonds on 18k white gold and crocodile leather, one of these posh pooch accessories will set you back $1.8million. So $3million wouldn't even buy you two of these.

Perhaps you've got a bit of a sweet tooth and would like to splash out $16,000 on a pineapple. If so, you’ll be interested to hear about a group of British gardeners who have grown the tropical fruit using Victorian growing techniques and materials; staggeringly, the pineapples sell at auction for over $16,000.

We all fancy a tipple from time-to-time so why not try a shot of Russo-Baltique Vodka, the world's most expensive vodka at $1.3M. But wait a minute, it’s not actually meant to be consumed, just displayed as 'Art'. So if you are wondering why anyone would purchase this drink-that's-not-meant-to-be-drunk, then perhaps it’s because the bottle is encased with 30cm think bulletproof glass. So instead of investing in a bulletproof vest - just carry around your case of Russo-Baltique vodka should you run into any trouble.

You could even splash out $15 million on a black diamond iPhone case, nearly $4million on a Lamborghini Veneno or a mere $2 million on a Chambord Liqueur Royale de France. But...

...if you want to make a smart investment compared to overpriced tea bags, pineapples and dog collars, one that won't make your friends think you've lost the plot or your kids panic that you're squandering their inheritance, then look no further. Invest in a luxury Caribbean property which at $3million is reasonable considering the above purchases. What's more, when it comes to luxury properties, you will be hard pushed to find anywhere better and more exclusive than Sugar Beach in St Lucia.

The world-famous UNESCO protected World Heritage site in St Lucia has been transformed into Sugar Beach Residences, creating a rare, and I mean rare, opportunity to own a property in the finest resort in the Caribbean. Anyone, well anyone with a bit of money, can own a luxury property but you really would be the envy of all your friends (and pretty much everyone else for that matter) in one of these swanky pads nestled between the iconic Pitons.

Owners of these luxury Caribbean Residences have full access to five-star butler service (that’s right your own butler) and the rest of the resort's luxurious facilities. You can enjoy some of the finest food and relax in the Rainforest spa. Plenty of luxury houses have an infinity pool but imagine a cascading infinity pool overlooking the famous St Lucian Pitons.

You can buy as many dog collars or pineapples as you like but as there are only a handful of exclusive properties in Sugar Beach and because they are located in a protected area, this really is one of the rarest opportunities you will find.

What's more, a luxury property in Sugar Beach is nearly half of the cost of a comparable luxury property on other islands, such as Barbados. With the average two-bedroom Manhattan property going for around $2.5 million compared to a spacious luxurious six bedroom private spot of oasis - I know which I'd rather invest in.

So as we've seen there are plenty of ways to spend $3 million but the smart investor should definitely take a look at Sugar Beach Residences. And when you think about it, they’re not really all that expensive considering their location, the resort, finish, and exclusivity and lifestyle that comes with it.