3 Little-Known Ways to Save Money This October

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Want to grow your savings this month? Read on for some less obvious ways to do so. 

Lingering inflation has made it difficult for a lot of people to save money. But boosting your cash reserves right about now is important.

The holidays will soon be upon us, and that’s an expensive time of the year. Between gift-giving and travel, you may need a lot more leeway to spend money in December — so it pays to do what you can to boost your savings now. Here are a few tricks you can try this month to give your savings a lift.

1. Stay off of Amazon

You’ve probably heard that Amazon is holding a second Prime Day event this October. Dubbed Prime Big Deal Days, it’s scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11. And chances are, other retailers will be advertising sales in conjunction with Amazon’s mega-event, since that’s how things tend to roll.

It’s easy to feel tempted to spend money during sales events like Prime Day. But if you’re serious about helping your savings grow, stay off of Amazon this month, and don’t let yourself fall for the bargains that are about to drop. Instead, spend only on the things you need, like food, shelter, and medication, and bank the difference.

2. Steer clear of overpriced fall festivals

Now that we’re getting closer to Halloween, you may see a host of advertised pop-up events in or around your town — things like makeshift haunted houses, spooky hayrides, harvest festivals, and corn mazes. These might seem like fun things to do. But often, they’re overpriced, super crowded, and not that much fun.

If you’re looking to save money this month, stay away from those hyped-up fall events and find free stuff to do instead. Hiking and checking out the changing leaves shouldn’t cost you money, and you’re apt to have more room to spread out than at a people-packed festival.

3. Join Sam’s Club ASAP

Shopping at a warehouse club could save you lots of money on things like groceries and household essentials. If you were thinking of signing up for a warehouse club membership this month, consider doing so at Sam’s Club by Oct. 15.

Between now and then, you can score a one-year basic membership for just $15, which is $35 off the normal $50 fee. And if you’re interested in a Plus membership, which gives you cash back on your Sam’s Club purchases, through Oct. 15, the cost is just $55 instead of $110.

Now, anytime you join a warehouse club, you run the risk of not reaping enough savings to make your membership fee back. But at $15, you’ll be hard-pressed not to more than make up for that fee if you shop at Sam’s Club on a somewhat regular basis.

Sometimes, you need to get creative to make progress in boosting your savings. But if you follow these tips, you might manage to close out the month of October with a bit more money in the bank. That could set you up to better cover unplanned expenses as they arise or to tackle the holiday season without running the risk of massive debt.

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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. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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