By Rachel Mitchell Text Copyright 2018 by Rachel Mitchell

Living standards [Noun] (the amount of money and level of comfort that people have in a particular society).
Living standards have improved over the last century.
Cheaper housing would vastly improve the living standards of ordinary people.
The hectic pace of life [Noun] (a life that is almost always very busy or chaotic).
The hectic pace of life suddenly slows down.
Today's hectic pace of life encourages fast food and hasty meals.
The increasingly hectic pace of life has also increased interest in silence and tranquility.
Downtown [Adverb] (the centre of main business or shopping area of a town or city).
The skyscraper is in the downtown.
I have walked downtown many times before.
We used to go to the bars downtown, but more recently we’ve been hanging out in the suburbs.
Block of flats [Noun] (a large building that consists of many apartments).
It took us ages to get used to living in a block of flats. They lived in a block of flats.
Upmarket [Adjective] (services or goods are designed for people who are rich).
Japanese firms have moved steadily upmarket.
I felt truly welcome for such an upmarket restaurant.
Posh [Adjective] (luxurious, fashionable, expensive and attractive).
Her posh bag was very expensive.
His posh yacht was a very lavish boat used for traveling to vacation destinations.
Luxurious [Adjective] (very expensive, elegant and comfortable).
This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning.
They spent their honeymoon in a luxurious motel at Long Beach. Sumptuous [Adjective] (splendid, expensive, and of high quality). The jewellery which were robbed were very sumptuous.
Her boyfriend treated her to a sumptuous meal for her birthday. We had a very sumptuous dinner in the jungle.
Opulent [Adjective] (expensive and luxurious; very impressive).
Most of the cash went on supporting his opulent lifestyle.
He lived in an opulent mansion with many antiques and relics. Stressful [Adjective] (making someone worried and nervous). Her job's getting more and more stressful.
Being a manager can be stressful.
The business environment can be stressful.
Bustling [Adjective] (to be full of noise and activity).
It is a bustling shopping mall.
She is bustling about in the kitchen. The street was bustling with shoppers.