How $100 Can Improve Your Life and Finances
ING are offering $100 cash as a bonus to new customers who sign up before 30 Nov, 2026. There are a few steps to complete, and then it is paid the following month.
Since The Thrifty Issue is all about ways to make and save money, we wanted to share ways you could use $100 to improve and save money in different areas of your life.
Aside from the traditional put it on debt/into an emergency fund/invest it, here are some other ideas.
Groceries
Spending $100 on groceries won’t get you much food today.
However, you might be able to use that money to buy something in bulk to get you ahead.
- Try a meal kit service with these discounts. Each one will cost less than $100 for 4 to 6 meals for 4 people and they will save you time.
- Purchase an appliance to save your household money and make meal times easier. I have 7 must-have kitchen items here.
- Sort out a sourdough starter and things you need to make your own bread or preserving jars to preserve more.
- Get a second-hand chest freezer and buy meat in bulk or freeze what you find reduced to clear to save more.
- Switch to reusable items so you aren’t buying them regularly, such as menstrual underwear, a cup or menstrual disc, metal straws, cleaning cloths instead of paper and wipes.
- Join Everyday Extra for $70 and save 10% off every shop, get a free product each month and accrue points faster. Compare Everyday Extra and Coles Plus here.
Look at how you eat, shop and cook then use the $100 accordingly.
Health
There are a few ways you can improve your health for under $100 and save money.
Dental care such as getting an electric toothbrush, a tooth whitening kit if you are worried about colour or use it to put towards a dental check.
Getting your dental sorted can save you thousands.
Improve your sleep with quality sheets, a good pillow, a diffuser with essential oils or anything along those lines. Read how to improve your sleep and deal with sleep deprivation on my other site. Better quality sleep leads to a better quality of life.
Buy a second-hand bike or one on sale to use instead of driving where possible. This saves money and improves your health.
Purchase some weights, a yoga mat and resistance bands.
Metal drink bottles were a game-changer for me with my water consumption. I like water to be fridge cold and hate the taste of water that has been in plastic.
Read how to get fit and lose weight for free or super cheap for more ideas.
Bills
There are lots of ways to reduce your energy bills but some cost money upfront. Using $100, you could get the foam tape to seal any gaps around your doors, draught stoppers to prevent air escaping and clothes racks to dry clothes.
Purchase fleece blankets or heated blankets so you are warming only yourself and not the whole room or house.
Check out these 17 ideas to reduce your electricity bill and these 19 ways to keep cool to see what you can use $100 for to save thousands.
Business
You can set up an online business such as dropshipping or your own social channel or website for under $100.
Decide what you want to do or sell, sort out the registrations, use the first month free to start generating income and start making money.
Read how to start a business for under $100 for step by step details.
If you already have a business, get access to loads of business courses such as how to market without social media and other help with Leonie Dawson for only $99USD.
Career
Invest in a course to help you progress in your career. Skool, Skillshare and Udemy are three places you can.
Have your resume redone or a cover letter created to apply for a higher paying job.
Revamp your wardrobe, especially if you haven’t for years. While it should impact your work, people do perceive things based on image so in some occupations, a refresh can lead to a promotion or more clients.
Use the $100 for a consult or coaching session to see where you could improve.
Read how to double your income for tips along these lines.
Garden
Invest in your garden to save money such as growing herbs or anything you consume regularly.
Even if you only have indoors, a small courtyard or balcony, you can start growing something.
Decide what plants would be best for you and go from there.
I shared what we have done to save money in the garden.
Check local nurseries and Facebook Marketplace for cheaper plants.
Ask friends and family for cuttings, look for free pots and learn how to grow plants in water to stretch the $100 further.
Growing from seed is cheaper than seedlings or established plants but it does take longer.
Get a compost bin so you can regularly improve your soil.
Learn how to do raised garden beds or how to make the most of your gardening space.
You get to decide how you want your garden, what you grow and how you will manage it.
Beauty
My teenagers were in awe of how far I could stretch the beauty budget and still get exactly what we all wanted.
Using sales, loyalty programs, cash-back programs and freebies, I often get $1,000+ worth of products from luxury brands for less than $200.
Everyone’s beauty needs will differ. I am at a stage in my life where I am over 40 after having 3 babies in 5 years (my youngest is under 1).
Anti-ageing and longevity are my focus when it comes to health and beauty.
I do most things myself so would recommend:
Manicure and pedicure kit
Gua sha and serums as they have been effective for improving my skin
Silk hair bonnet
Rosemary oil to improve scalp and hair health
Epilator or electric razor
Wax pot as it is much cheaper than a salon especially for facial waxing which is easy to do.
Scissors, comb, cape, clips and water spray if you want to try cutting hair and wahl clippers for those short cuts
Family
Invest in quality time with the family and use the $100 for activities to create memories.
Try these 37 frugal family activities.
Create fort kits for the family and set them up to watch a movie, pop some popcorn and make it a weekly ritual.
Use it for fuel to go to the beach, explore waterfalls or other places near you.
Go to an exhibit or buy a family membership to somewhere you want to go.
If you are in a relationship, consider these 25 date ideas too.
Hobbies
Get what you need for one of these 10 hobbies that can make or save you money such as fishing gear, gardening as mentioned above, better walking shoes, a brew your own kit, trial some classes etc.
Knowledge
Take a class to learn a new skill such as sewing, cooking, changing the oil in your car or something else you would normally pay for.
Purchase books to teach yourself financial literacy or any other topic and apply what you learn.
Finance books I recommend include The Barefoot Investor, Money With Jess, The Psychology of Money, Quit Like A Millionaire and We Should All Be Millionaires.
Read 10 books that improved my finances to learn more.
Reselling
You could use the $100 to buy some items to resell or pick up some things to refurbish and flip.
When I focus on reselling, I have easily made thousands each month. I have an ebook available with all my tips.
With $100, I could buy a selection of second-hand clothes for $2 to $5 (look for small church op shops and whatver sales the bigger op shops are having) and resell them for $50 to $150.
Specific brands and styles are easy to flip this way but you do have to search harder as larger second hand stores have “boutique” sections in store now. This is where they are selling those brands at those prices instead of cheap now.
You can also find things for free and resell them or refurbish furniture.
Get Organised
Some people offer their time to help you get organised. They charge an hourly rate usually $25 to $50, from what I have seen in Facebook groups.
What they offer varies but it can be helping you reorganise the garage, do the deep clean areas you have put off, strip and remake beds etc.
Spending $100 on this can help some people get on top of things, free up their headspace and find things to sell they no longer need.
Start a Side Hustle
Different from starting a business, $100 is plenty to start various side hustles. I shared 80+ side hustles you could do this year to help you.
How to Get $100
Remember, ING are offering $100 cash as a bonus to new customers who sign up before 30 Nov, 2026.
There are a few steps to complete, and then it is paid the following month.
