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11 Smart Money Moves When You Only Have $100 Left From Your Paycheck

Being smart with your money is more about sense than dollars.

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Updated Sept. 24, 2024
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Payday is finally here, but after you sit down and pay bills, you’re left with only $100 till your next paycheck. You spend your days wishing and hoping that your money will last till the next check — not anymore. 

Here are some smart money moves to stretch your paycheck a bit further.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Cancel a monthly subscription you’re not using much

Ngampol/Adobe woman using car for online shopping

More than 85% of subscriptions go unused each month. With the average monthly subscription costing subscribers $32.84, canceling could save you cash each month. 

Even if you genuinely use your subscription, consider swapping it for a lower-cost option or going without it for a few months.

Sell unwanted items for extra cash

Pixel-Shot/Adobe Woman packing things for garage sale

Every month, the average person spends almost $300 on impulse purchases. Even if you don’t shop that much, you have probably spent money on stuff you don’t need.

The good news is there are plenty of places to sell those items for extra cash. Online marketplaces, local Facebook pages, and garage sales are just a few options where you can flip your unwanted stuff for a buck.

Start a side hustle

Sundry Photography/Adobe Lyft UBER on car rear window

The average millionaire has seven income streams, but you don’t need to be a millionaire to have a side hustle. Side hustles can be as structured as a second job or as casual as babysitting for neighbors occasionally.

Side gigs can help improve your cash flow and increase your income. Diversifying your income with a side job can also help protect you against financial instability, such as job loss, unexpected expenses, or health issues.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Avoid dining out

Viacheslav Yakobchuk/Adobe african american housewife cutting vegetables

While dining out is convenient, meals from the drive-thru can add up fast. Eating at home costs significantly less. You can save around $15 per meal by cooking for yourself. 

Even if you opt for frozen or prepackaged meals from the grocery store, you can still enjoy convenience without the restaurant price tag.

Visit a local food pantry

Dragana Gordic/Adobe volunteers packing food in boxes

Most food pantries don’t require proof of income or financial need, but you may need to provide ID and proof of residence to be eligible. 

Each food pantry organization may have a limit on how often you may visit and what quantities are allowed. You may be able to get provisions for anywhere between a few days and a few weeks.

Shop at the Dollar Store

dennizn/Adobe Dollar Tree shop online signage

Not everything at the dollar store is worth buying, but there are many items that can help you through lean times. You can shop for pantry essentials, cleaning products, and paper goods all in one place. 

The quantities are often smaller than what you buy at big-box stores, but you can still get quality items from name brands.

Skip the meat

The Toidi/Adobe Fresh meat display at grocery store

Research shows that people eating a plant-based diet spend less on food when cooking at home and eating out. For example, Lentils are often used as a vegetarian substitute for ground beef. A pound of ground beef costs $5.94 vs. $1.92 for a pound of lentils. 

Incorporating more vegetarian meals into your diet can help alleviate the stress on your pocketbook.

Sign up for loyalty programs

MelissaMN/Adobe man using Kohls shopping app

Many brands have rewards programs that give you deep discounts — or even free items — to encourage you to sign up for email and/or text marketing. You can use these to save money or get free products when you’re low on cash. 

Most brands also send you a free gift on your birthday. Just make sure you don’t use a good deal as an excuse to spend money.

Walk or bike to get around

Halfpoint/Adobe business man walking on street

If you filled up your gas tank on payday, you’ll want to make that last as long as possible. While walking or biking will take you longer, it can reduce your gas bill — along with wear and tear on your car. 

It also has an added health benefit, which is great, especially if you cancelled your gym membership.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Stop buying gifts

juliasudnitskaya/Adobe golden present boxes on wooden table

Between all the holidays and birthdays throughout the year, gift-giving can feel more like an obligation than a thoughtful token of love and friendship. 

Rather than buying gifts, consider writing a thoughtful card or making someone a homemade treat to show them how much they mean to you.

Shop around for insurance

glebcallfives/Adobe man shopping online using laptop concept

You may assume that all insurance carriers are about the same, but shopping around for new insurance could save you hundreds of dollars throughout the year.

Don’t just shop around for car insurance — evaluate your policies for renters, homeowners, life, health, and any other type of insurance you need. You may be able to save more by bundling policies with the same company.

Bottom line

Nana_studio/Adobe woman saving pennies in piggy bank

If you’ve only got $100 left from your paycheck, you can still be smart with your money. Taking proactive steps to increase your income and decrease your expenses can improve your financial situation. 

These tips can help you stretch your dollar to get you through until the next pay period and put more cash in your wallet.

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