3 Ways to Save $100 in September

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Want to grow your savings this month? Read on to see how. 

Having money in your savings account is extremely important. Without it, you might instantly land in credit card debt any time an unplanned bill pops up, like a home or car repair.

A recent survey by SecureSave found that 63% of working Americans are unable to cover a $500 emergency expense. If you’re in a similar boat, then an extra $100 could do a lot of good things for your finances. And if you make these moves, you might manage to close out September $100 richer.

1. Be savvy with school supply purchases

School is now kicking into gear in many parts of the country. And if you’re a parent, in the coming weeks, you’ll no doubt be inundated with requests for various classroom supplies.

These requests are often reasonable. Teachers commonly make minimal salaries and already supply many items for their classrooms that they aren’t reimbursed for. So if a teacher asks for three boxes of tissues to contribute to the classroom, you should try to comply if you can afford to. But when you have multiple children and are dealing with multiple requests, that gets harder.

You can save some money on school supplies, however, by turning to your local dollar store and seeing what’s in stock. And if you have multiple teachers making the same request for things such as tissues and wipes, put your Costco or Sam’s Club membership to good use and seek out a bulk discount.

2. Don’t go overboard on fall decor

Many people are in love with the fall season. And you may be eager to decorate your home and exterior to celebrate it. But if you’re serious about boosting your savings, do so in moderation.

Rather than buying enough decor to cover half of your lawn, purchase a few potted mums and place them strategically on your porch. Those pops of color definitely say “Hello, fall!” at a fraction of what you might spend to go all out.

Similarly, resist the urge to spend a fortune for indoor fall decor. Swapping a neutral-toned tablecloth with a fall-themed one could go a long way even if that’s the only change you make. And that’s not such an expensive endeavor.

3. Keep your pumpkin spice latte purchases to a minimum

Pumpkin spice latte season is back, and fans of the famed Starbucks drink may be in full-fledged celebration mode. The cost of a PSL will hinge on your specific location. But a PSL will typically run you between $5 and $6, says the Krazy Coupon Lady. So if you buy one three times a week in September, you could end up spending about $60 to $70 on coffee alone. That’s money that could instead stay in your bank account and get you closer to your $100 savings target.

Of course, you may be loath to give up your beloved PSL, and understandably so. But treating yourself once a week is a reasonable compromise that could still result in nice savings. And if you’re feeling up to the task, you could always try to recreate the PSL at home for a fraction of what you might pay at Starbucks.

Saving $100 isn’t easy when you’re not a particularly high earner and have a lot of bills. But if you make these moves, you might wrap up September with an extra $100 to your name.

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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.Maurie Backman has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale, Starbucks, and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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