It’s March once again! Do you know what it means to you, woman? Now is one of the best times to celebrate who you are. While you definitely need the applause for everything you do anytime, this month is especially dedicated to you.
What better way to make it truly memorable this year than to do something for yourself? Here are the best ideas:
1. Buy the Most Luxurious Item Your Budget Can Afford
Women are spenders, all right. In fact, your consumer power is stronger than men’s. You make purchasing decisions over 80% of the time, and your total spending is worth not less than $5 trillion whopping dollars.
But you can enjoy the fruits of your hard work without leaving your pockets dry. One of the best financial tips for you is to get the most luxurious, desirable item your budget can afford.
May it be a rotating hair styler, the newest-generation iPhone, a Coach bag, or a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes—your choice. Reward yourself smartly, so you won’t feel deprived.
2. Educate Yourself
Let’s face it, even in this day and age, the gender pay gap exists. According to the World Economic Forum, for every dollar a man earns, women get a little over half of that or around $0.54.
Even the take-home pay of highly educated women, particularly those with master’s degrees, is considerably less compared to males who achieve the same level of education.
Meanwhile, a report by the Center on Education and the Workforce by Georgetown University revealed that the ladies need more than a high school diploma to provide their family with life-sustaining wages.
The consolation is you can close the gap on pay by education as well. You can go back to school and focus on getting a master’s degree in a high-paying field such as engineering, economics, and geography.
Education can also create a different path—one that you can call yours and have full command of, including how much you can earn. It may help you design a lucrative business, for example, and be part of the growing group of women entrepreneurs.
3. Build Your Nest Egg
At least 15% of women won’t have savings upon retirement, a CNBC report said. While building a nest egg is challenging considering the pay gap, it is doable.
For starters, you can opt for mutual funds that pool money from different people. Fund managers then invest them in various portfolios, such as index funds, stocks, and bonds.
You may also put your money on a real estate investment trust (REIT). It works similarly to mutual funds, except that you can now invest in different real estate properties without spending a dime on maintenance and mortgage.
If your company has a 401(k) plan, strive to contribute to the maximum amount. For 2021, the limit is the same as in 2020, which is $19,500. You can also earn passive income and take advantage of tax benefits with investment retirement accounts (IRAs).
Worried about your age? The 401(k) plans and IRAs allow you to make catch-up contributions. With the help of a financial planner too, you can best decide where to place your hard-earned cash so it can grow fast.
4. Hire a Babysitter
That motherhood is a full-time job is an understatement. In a survey commissioned by Welch’s, moms “work” an average of almost 100 hours a week—that’s nearly three times more hours than those in 9-5 jobs. Only 10 hours go toward sleeping and leisure.
Couple that with other responsibilities you have to juggle like a business, a job, and even school. No wonder women are so stressed and burned out.
For this month, give yourself the gift of time. For one, hire a babysitter, even if you have no other special plans for the day. Just allow yourself to breathe, reset, and rediscover the things that also matter to you.
Can’t get a babysitter ASAP? Platforms like VeeBee connect you to virtual babysitters, who can keep your child busy, at your desired time.
5. See Your Gynecologist
When was the last time you talked to your gynecologist or underwent a mammogram or a pap smear? This March, schedule a visit to your doctor.
Many women still get diagnosed with serious health issues, such as breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers. However, they are already plenty of tests to catch them early. The sooner they are detected, the more treatable the condition becomes.
The best way to celebrate your month is to practice more self-love. It is not selfish but necessary to make you a more productive, better individual. Hopefully, these ideas will inspire you to take that essential step today.