Money Management

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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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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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Move over, Prime Day — Amazon’s Big Prime Deal Days is here. Prime members can shop big sales Oct. 10 and Oct. 11. See tips on getting the best deals. 

If you shop online, you’re probably aware of Prime Day, Amazon’s annual two-day shopping event, which is usually held in July. But there’s good news if you missed out this summer. The online retailer is hosting another sales event this October — Prime Big Deal Deals. If you plan to shop the upcoming sale, there are a few things you can do to ensure you score the best deals.

Introducing Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days

Prime Day may have wrapped up three months ago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue finding deals while shopping online. If you’re a Prime member, you may want to get a jump start on your holiday shopping this fall. The retailer has another sales event happening soon.

Amazon will hold its Prime Big Deal Days later this month. Prime members can save big from Oct. 10 at 3 a.m. EDT through Oct. 11. The retailer plans to drop new deals every five minutes during select periods throughout the event.

You must have a Prime membership to shop for the best discounts during this sales event. In addition to access to exclusive shopping events and shopping discounts, there are many perks of an Amazon Prime membership.

This sale could allow you to complete your holiday shopping while keeping more money in your checking account. If you want to make sure you don’t miss out on the best deals, the following tips can help you prepare for the upcoming shopping event:

1. Sign up for invite-only deals

Prime members can request access to invite-only deals. These exclusive doorbuster deals are for products that are expected to sell out. Members can view these exclusive sales on the Amazon Deals webpage ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. If you see a deal that interests you, click the “Request Invite” button. You’ll get an email confirming your request. If you’re invited to shop an invite-only deal, you’ll get an email alert or push notification during the event.

2. Set personalized deal alerts

Prime members can also set up deal alert notifications related to recent Amazon searches or recently viewed items. To do this, visit the Prime Big Deal Days event page to create deal alerts. During the event, you’ll receive push notifications for any deal alerts you’ve set up.

3. Enable Alexa deal notifications

You can also enable Alexa deal notifications so you don’t miss out on the best discounts for eligible items saved to your Wish List, Cart, or Save for Later list. If a deal is available for any items you’ve saved, you’ll get deal notifications from Alexa up to 24 hours in advance.

To enable alerts, take the following steps:

Open the Amazon Alexa mobile app.Select “More” in the bottom navigation bar.Tap “Settings.”Tap “Notifications.”Tap “Amazon Shopping.”Under “Shopping Recommendations,” select “Deal Recommendations.”

4. Get an event reminder so you don’t forget to shop

When life gets busy, it’s easy to be forgetful. But Alexa is here to help. Members with an Alexa-enabled device can get an event reminder to avoid missing out. To get a reminder, say, “Alexa, set a reminder for Prime Big Deal Days.”

Shopping sales can be a win for your wallet

Shopping sales like the Prime Big Deal Days event can be a win for your wallet. Getting a significant discount on an item you’ve been meaning to buy can allow you to stay on budget so you can continue working toward your personal finance goals.

But consider whether a deal is worthwhile before adding an item to your virtual shopping cart. Not every deal will be the right fit for you. You don’t want to end up with a big credit card bill just because you got a good deal. As you shop during Prime Big Deal Days, only spend what you can afford to avoid expensive credit card debt.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Costco is at it again. Read on to see which items are discounted this month. 

Costco is pretty much synonymous with low prices. It’s for that reason that so many people are willing to shell out a membership fee for access to a warehouse club store.

Even better, Costco tends to offer deeper discounts on a rotating basis on select items. Here are some of the best deals you’ll find at Costco this month.

1. $5 off 32 Degrees Ladies’ Down Jacket

You’ll find the 32 Degrees brand at Costco in a variety of products. And this women’s jacket is a great buy. It’s warm and packs down easily to fit into a backpack for trips. And it comes with zippered pockets so you can store your cellphone or travel credit card without having to worry about it slipping out. Snag a new jacket for $5 off just in time for the cooling weather.

2. $30 off of the Samsung 27″ Class CF39 Series FHD FreeSync™ Curved Monitor

If you work from home, you’re well aware that the right setup could help boost your productivity. So if it’s time for a monitor upgrade, consider this Samsung model, which is discounted at Costco right now. It features 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate. Plus, as is the case with all Costco electronics, you’ll be eligible for free tech support.

If you’re self-employed or own a small business and you’re buying this monitor for work purposes, make sure to hang onto your receipt. That’s because you can potentially write off your monitor purchase on your taxes as a business expense.

3. $5 off the Duracell 1000LM 4AAA LED Flashlight 3-pack

Winter will be here soon enough. And in some parts of the country, that means heavy snowstorms with the potential to cause power outages.

A good way to prepare your home for an outage is to have plenty of flashlights at the ready. So why not pick up this three-pack of flashlights from Costco while it’s on sale? You’ll get up to 90 minutes out of each flashlight on its brightest setting and up to five hours on its lowest.

4. $80 off the Ring Alarm 8-piece Home Security Kit

Even if you feel safe in your neighborhood, it never hurts to add some built-in security to your home. And a Ring alarm system is a good way to do that. This home security kit, which is now available at Costco at a major discount, includes a motion detector, three contact sensors, and a panic button so you can keep tabs on your home and have a way to sound an alarm if necessary.

If you decide to purchase this system, contact your homeowners insurance company to see if it renders you eligible for a discount on your premiums. Some insurers offer discounts to homeowners who put security measures in place.

5. $10 off Pokémon Halloween Trick or Trade BOOster Packs, 120-count

For children with allergies, Halloween can be a real bummer. You can be a hero to those kids by loading up on this set of Pokemon mini packs. You’ll get 120 packs with three cards each. And even though the cards are Halloween-themed, you can also keep some around to use as stocking stuffers for your kids later on in the year.

These are only a sampling of the great deals Costco has available this month. If you’re starting to make a holiday shopping list or have a wishlist of your own you’ve been saving up to fulfill, then it pays to head over to your nearest Costco or browse online and see what discounts you can snag.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Amazon’s next big sale is about to arrive. Read on for tips to manage the event without regretting your purchases afterward. 

On the heels of its successful July Prime Day, Amazon is running a second Prime Day event in October. Called Prime Big Deal Days, the online shopping extravaganza is scheduled to take place on Oct. 10 and 11. During that time, Prime members will have the opportunity to reap savings on a wide range of products, from home goods to electronics to apparel.

You may be eager to take advantage of October’s Prime Day event. But it’s important to do your best to avoid these mistakes along the way.

1. Using up your money on impulse buys instead of the things you really need

During an event like Prime Day, you’re likely to see hundreds of deals drop in short order. That could easily open the door to temptation.

One thing you don’t want to do, however, is jump on those bargains impulsively. If you do, you might spend so much that you don’t have enough money left over for the things you really want or need.

Before Prime Day begins, spend a little time making a wishlist of your needs and wants. And try to only buy things from that list during Prime Big Deal Days, so you can make sure your money is being put to good use.

2. Racking up debt to capitalize on bargains

It makes sense to buy the things you want and need when they’re discounted rather than pay full price. But it doesn’t make sense to rack up a massive amount of credit card debt when snagging those deals. The amount you end up paying in interest could eat into the amount you save, or even surpass it.

Let’s say you end up with a $1,000 credit card balance after Prime Day on a card with a 24% APY. If it takes you two years to pay that balance off, you’ll end up losing about $269 to interest. So even if you managed to save about that much by shopping on Prime Day, you’re not gaining anything — and you’re taking on the stress of being in debt.

A better idea? Set a budget for your Prime Day shopping so you don’t go overboard. That sum can be based on funds you have in savings or from an upcoming paycheck.

3. Buying things simply because they’re on sale

The idea of snagging a bargain is appealing in its own right. But don’t make the mistake of buying things during Prime Day for the express purpose of getting a deal.

You might enjoy the temporary high that comes with knowing you’ve snagged a good price. But if the item in question isn’t so desirable to you, you might eventually regret your purchase.

As an example, let’s say you can snag a TV for $100 off its usual price. You might feel good about having saved $100 initially — until you take a step back and realize you didn’t particularly want or need that TV in the first place. So again, make a list and pledge to stick to it. Straying could have negative consequences.

You may be excited to see what deals are coming down the pike during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. But to enjoy the experience to the fullest, make every effort to steer clear of these major blunders.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
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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