On Nantucket, stilettos and valet parking have become the norm, along with other signifiers of the immense wealth now summering on the New England island. As Marianne Stanton, the native-born editor of the Inquirer and Mirror (est. 1821), recently opined, the place “has become way too fancy.”

M y husband and I bought our rather plain house two decades ago, and while we may not live quite as austerely as the Quakers who built up this island, I’ve developed workarounds to enjoy the island’s built-in bounties at minimal cost. Here are a few:

Ditch the car

Ferrying a car over from Hyannis (about $450-$500 round-trip, in the high season) is not only unnecessary but annoying: The island already has enough cars to ensure summer-long gridlock. Instead, rent a bike from Young’s (est. 1931) right by the Steamship dock or bring your own for a $14 surcharge on the ferry. Round-trip passenger rates in summer are $69 for the hourlong fast ferry, $37 for the two-hour-and-15-minute “traditional” (a.k.a. slow) ferry, which is preferable in any case for its sunbathing opportunities and slow-unfolding views.

Bike paths fan out across the island, to the southern coast (popular Surfside is an easy jaunt, only 3.5 miles) and to the east and western tips (adorable Sconset, with its rose-choked cottages, and sunset-friendly Madaket, 8 and 6 miles, respectively).

If you’re not up for long-distance cycling, catch The Wave, a network of low-cost (under $3) public buses — with bike racks — fanning out from the Greenhound transportation hub in downtown Nantucket. Those traveling heavy or with youngsters in tow can hop a taxi at the dock (rates are set by zone, $11 to $30; you can add passengers at $2 each), and most bike rental shops will deliver right to your door.