PUTNAM MONEY MARKET FUND 
                        (the "Money Market Fund")
                                    
                  PUTNAM TAX EXEMPT MONEY MARKET FUND 
                  (the "Tax Exempt Money Market Fund")
                                    
            Prospectus Supplement dated December 11, 1996 to
                    Prospectus dated February 1, 1996

Each fund, along with three other Putnam money market funds, has
purchased insurance, which, among other things, will insure a
fund against a decrease in the value of a security held by it due
to default or bankruptcy.  Most securities and instruments in
which the funds invest, other than U.S. Government securities,
are covered by this insurance.  The insurance may provide a fund
with some protection in the event of a decrease in value of
certain of its portfolio securities due to default or bankruptcy,
but does not insure or guarantee that the fund will maintain a
stable net asset value of $1.00.

The maximum amount of total coverage under the policy is $30
million, subject to a deductible in respect of each loss equal to
the lesser of $1 million or 0.30% of a fund's net assets.  As of
the date of this supplement, the Money Market Fund's net assets
totaled $2,494,978,261 and the Tax Exempt Money Market Fund's net
assets totaled $92,952,018.  Each of the money market funds that
has purchased the insurance has access to the full amount of
insurance under the policy, subject to the deductible. 
Accordingly, depending upon the circumstances, a fund may not be
entitled to recover under the policy, even though it has
experienced a loss that would otherwise be insurable.  The annual
cost to each fund of purchasing the insurance is expected to
equal approximately 0.02% of the fund's average net assets.  This
amount is not reflected in the expense information shown in the
prospectus under the heading "Expenses summary."
                                             29849          12/96