Only $100 Extra a Month? Here's What Suze Orman Says to Do With It

Most people can’t save $600/month. But $100? That’s doable for many of us.

The question is: where should that $100 actually go?

Financial expert Suze Orman breaks it down into three priorities:

1. Emergency Savings First

Forget debt payoff for now. Orman’s take: put it in a high-yield savings account.

Why? If you skip this and aggressively pay down credit card debt instead, you’ll eventually hit a financial emergency with zero cash on hand. Then you’re right back to the credit card anyway.

“Having $100 in your savings changes your psyche,” she says. That mental shift matters.

2. Attack High-Interest Debt

Once your emergency fund feels comfortable, flip the switch. Start chipping away at credit card balances.

The logic: a recession or layoff could hit anytime. You don’t want massive credit card debt crushing you when income drops.

3. Boost Retirement (If You’re Debt-Free)

No high-interest debt? No credit card stress? Then invest it.

Priority one: any workplace 401(k) with employer matching. Free money. Take it.

The Real Play:

Small moves compound. $100/month for 10 years at 6% return ≈ $13,000+. That’s not nothing. The goal isn’t to get rich quick—it’s to build habits and shift your money mindset before your income grows.