Are you interested in a free holiday?

Relax, this isn’t a giveaway.

Here’s how you can pay for a holiday YOURSELF with a few simple budget tricks you’ll barely notice.

10. Automate a “No-Touch” 1% Skim

How: Set a recurring transfer for 1 % of every paycheck to a high-yield savings or brokerage account.

Why it works: You never miss money you never see.

Annual win: $55 k salary × 1 % ≈ $550 stashed pain-free.

9. Cancel “Zombie” Subscriptions & Freeze One

How: Run a quick audit (through Rocket Money or your bank’s filter). Cut the forgotten ones and pause one you still like but won’t miss for 3 months.

Annual win: Two $12.99 subs + paused $14.99 for 3 months ≈ $350.

8. B.Y.O. Coffee on Work-From-Office Days

Original? No. Effective? Yes. Become a barista of yourself!

How: Brew at home; invest in a $20 thermos.

Annual win: $4 coffee × 3 days/week × 48 weeks = $576.

7. Binge-Cut Car Insurance

How: Re-quote every 12 months, raise deductibles, bundle home/renters.

Annual win: Typical switch saves 8-15 %; on $1,800 premium that’s $144–$270.

6. Slash “Convenience” Grocery Markups

How: Buy store brands for 5 staple items (oat milk, pasta, rice, spices, cleaning spray).

Annual win: Save ~ $1.50 per item × 10 units/month × 12 = $180.

5. Negotiate Your Phone Plan—Then Lock It

How: Call, ask for “retention offers,” or switch to an MVNO.

Annual win: Dropping from $85 to $45/month nets $480.

4. Curb the Delivery Habit

This one may be tougher than others. There are few greater joys then looking outside, it’s pouring rain, and thinking “ah, feels like a good night for a guy on a bike to deliver me a pizza”.

How: Cap yourself at one order per week and always pick up in person (no $4.99 fee + 12 % tip + inflated prices).

Annual win: Cut two $30 deliveries/week → one pickup = $1,560 saved (yes, really).

3. Turn Card Points Into Cash, Not Flights You’ll Never Book

This may APPEAR to contradict the whole “free flight” title, but a) sue me and 2) do you really ever use ALL of your points to book a flight?

How: Redeem on statement credit or direct-to-bank at 1 ¢/point instead of letting them expire.

Annual win: 5 k dormant points/month = $600 cashed out.

Plz don’t sue me.

2. Opt Out of “Extended Warranties”

How: Skip the $129 Best Buy warranty; add a $30/year rider that covers multiple gadgets.

Annual win: $99 per big purchase, plus broader coverage.

1. Audit “Gotcha” Bank Fees

How: Switch to a no-fee checking account; set low-balance text alerts to avoid overdrafts.

Annual win: Average Canadian/American pays $84–$108 in maintenance + $33/overdraft × 3; total $180-$207 reclaimed.

Quick Math: How Fast Does It Add Up?

Even the three easiest (subscriptions + coffee + phone plan) = roughly $1,476/year.

Funnel that into a global stock ETF, and in 10 years you’ve grown it to ~$20k—all from tweaks you stop noticing after week two.