3 Little-Known Ways to Boost Your Savings This July

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Want to give your savings a lift? Read on for ways to do so at a time when you may also be grappling with having kids home for the summer. 

July can be an extremely challenging month for parents. The reason? There’s no school. And that means it’s up to you to keep your kids busy and entertained for hours on end each day.

As such, you might assume there’s no way you’ll be able to grow your savings in July. But if you make these moves, your balance might end up higher than it was at the start of the month.

1. Skip summer camp — even the cheaper programs

Last year, the average cost of summer camp was $178.49 a day. But your town might offer a much cheaper version of summer camp, especially if you don’t need full-day coverage.

That said, before you spend any money on summer camp, think about other ways to keep your kids busy. If your family is one of several in your neighborhood with children who are home for the summer, gather some neighbors and create your own rotating play group of sorts, where you each take a turn hosting a bunch of kids. This way, you get a break some days, but your children also get to socialize with their peers and have fun.

2. Load up on dollar store activities for your kids

There may be days when your kids are stuck at home — say, if the weather isn’t cooperative. Rather than turn to Target or Amazon for arts and craft kits, backyard toys, and more, see what your local dollar store has in stock. You may be able to stock up on supplies at a fraction of the cost.

Another option? Scour the neighborhood for yard sales. You might be able to scoop up some new toys for your kids on the cheap, and the novelty of that might keep them engaged for a good amount of time. And if there aren’t any yard sales happening, a simple toy swap with other families in the neighborhood might do the trick.

3. Start shopping at warehouse club stores

You might spend extra money on food in July by virtue of your kids being out of school and constantly wanting snacks (because that’s basically how kids tend to roll). You can save money not just over the summer, but in general, by doing more shopping at warehouse club stores, which allow you to purchase groceries and other household essentials in bulk.

As an example, Costco’s price online for a 64-count of Kirkland granola bars is $11.99. That’s around $0.19 per bar. And you might find an even cheaper price at your local Costco store. At Stop and Shop, you can buy an eight-count of similar granola bars for $3.99, which is $0.50 a bar.

This is just one example. But if you do your research, you may find that shopping at warehouse club stores like Costco and Sam’s Club results in a consistently lower credit card tab.

This holds true even when you account for the cost of an annual membership. A basic Costco membership costs $60, and it’ll run you $120 for an Executive membership that gives you cash back on your purchases. At Sam’s Club, a basic membership is $50 while a plus membership offering cash back is $110.

July can be a tough month on your personal finances, particularly if you’re a parent. But if you make these moves, you may be pleasantly surprised at how robust your savings balance looks at the end of the month.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Maurie Backman has positions in Amazon.com and Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com, Costco Wholesale, and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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