14 Dec Ways to save and treat yourself this holiday season
by Susan Vernicek, founder of Identity Magazine
It’s your time to save this holiday season and treat yourself because you deserve it. You work hard by getting up and showing up every single day. You step out of bed, brush your teeth and get on with your glorious day.
Susan Vernicek
Whether you’re a wife, mother, student, business professional, teacher, entrepreneur, or artist, I’m speaking to you. You’re strong and intelligent, funny and curious, ambitious and outgoing, and open to new ideas that will make a worthwhile difference in your life and the lives of others.
You’re caring and nurturing, often more focused on home and work obligations than you are on yourself. You go all day, yet can’t resist the urge to curl up on the couch with a good movie or book. Additionally, you’re a woman, like us all, with moments of discontent, who, at times feels less than confident, alone in your apprehensions, perhaps often when it comes financial concerns.
Perhaps what you need is a jolt, a shake up in your day-to-day routine –a vacation, a spa day, and a day to simply do nothing, a day to have fun with your family or your friends… You need a day (or days) FOR YOU and you deserve it.
Now, you’re considering just that and in sneaks some doubt: What’s that I hear? You’re thinking, “But I need more money?”
Consider this: Perhaps you don’t necessarily need to make more money per se’, but instead you could use a little willpower and a few handy savings tips.
I’m connected with over 50 women who are saving and winning big this holiday season for a special, women-only empowerment, cruise to Bermuda in 2016. If we can save up to sail and more, so can you!
Following are some creative methods that many of us are employing to save money in order to ensure our needs and self-care are being met (which, in turn, ultimately affects our overall success within our life and our careers:)
1. Round Up: If you still manage a checkbook, round your numbers…up. If you spend $5.35, don’t subtract that number from your checkbook. Instead, subtract $10.00. Let’s face it, even numbers are easier to work with and if you are consistent, that’s a nice cushion of cash you can build up before you know it, you’ll have some extra dollars to use for anything you want!
2. Brew Your Own: Put a pause on your coffee stops. Eliminating that $2 a day java can save you over $60 a month! If you buy several times a day, or if you tend to go for more expensive blends, you’ll save even more.
3. Brown Bag It: Similarly, you can save a significant amount of money by prepping your weekly meals. Plan ahead and make big batches of all things yummy so it’s not a daily chore.
4. Drink Water: Yes, think about every time you go out to eat or to the store and buy juices or sodas. Choose to have water instead whenever you are out to eat and cut back on purchasing those sugary beverages. You’ll save money by drinking more water and you’ll soak up all of the additional benefits water has to offer. A HUGE WIN for your wallet and your health!
5. Eat More Soup: Homemade soup provides you the best option for cost per portion! You can whip up some amazing healthy, homemade soups in a crockpot and be set slurping for days!
6. Share Netflix: Um yea, how many of your family members pay for Netflix? You get five users, so split that up and SAVE!
These are just a few unique ways to save and win big this holiday season. Try to think outside the box when it comes to saving because, really, anything is possible.
You deserve FUN, INSPIRATION, AND, PERHAPS A VACATION, whether it’s on the Identity Live cruise or in any other guise!
Susan Vernicek is the founder of Identity Magazine. She’s also an author and a speaker. She may be reached at or (973)945-5958.
This story was first posted in December 2015.
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