3 Little-Known Ways to Boost Your Savings This August

No matter your age or income level, you need a fully loaded emergency fund in case surprise bills pop up. You should aim for enough money in your savings account to cover three full months of essential bills. That way, if you were to lose your job, you'd have cash reserves to tap in the interim.

But unfortunately, data from SecureSave reveals that 67% of Americans don't have enough money in savings to cover an unplanned $400 expense. And that also means that most Americans don't have close to a complete emergency fund. 

If you're in that boat, don't panic. There may be ways to drum up more cash that just haven't hit your radar yet. Here are a few you can look at to boost your savings this month.

1. Set up an automatic transfer before your next paycheck arrives

Maybe you get paid twice a month -- at the midpoint and the very end. Or maybe you only get one monthly paycheck, and it's due to arrive at the end of August. 

Before you make plans to spend your earnings in full, force yourself to give your savings a bump by setting up an automatic transfer so that money exits your checking account before you have a chance to spend it. It can be a $20 transfer, a $50 one, or more if you can swing it. But putting those transfers on autopilot could help your savings grow consistently, and you may find that you don't even miss the money all that much.

2. Stay off of retail sites when you're bored

When you're trying to ease your way into sleep but aren't quite ready to shut your eyes for the night, you may be tempted to browse your favorite retail websites to see what's available. But if you want to save money this month, stop doing that. 

Even if you tell yourself you're only looking, simply being on those sites is apt to drive you to make unplanned purchases here and there. So if you're committed to saving money this month, stay off of those sites and find another way to unwind. You could find a new series to binge-watch or get lost in a great book. You can funnel the cash you save into your savings account to help build that emergency fund. 

3. Take surveys for cash

Picking up a side hustle is a great way to boost your cash reserves. But you may not be able to commit to a consistent one, and you might also have child care constraints that make taking a side job outside the house difficult.

A better bet may be to take surveys for cash in your spare time. It's a gig you can do when you have time (perhaps before bed instead of shopping online). And while it probably won't make you rich, it might do the trick of pumping more money into your savings. 

And if you're convinced that all of those survey sites you keep hearing about are nothing but a scam, think again. Some are actually quite reputable, but you'll need to do your research. YouGov, for example, is a well-known data company, and it's currently looking for people who are willing to sign up to take surveys.

If you're behind in the savings department, a few small changes could make a big difference. Consider taking these steps in August so your savings balance rises.