✦Money · 12 records52-week savings challenge

Savings challenges work because each week's amount is small enough to do and the total at the end is surprisingly large. This picks a version you can afford, including the reverse one that starts with the largest weeks, sets up a separate place for the money, and schedules each deposit so the challenge does not depend on remembering.

Install this templateSee the others

Free on any plan. You will see this list again in the app, and nothing is created until you press install.

✦ Everything it creates

The whole plan, before you install it

Goal

A year of savings, week by week Month 12

Small amounts, scheduled, and a real total at the end.

Set it up Day 10

The version, the account, and the schedule.

  • Choose the version: forwards, reverse, or a fixed amountDo firstDay 2
  • Open or choose a separate savings accountDo firstDay 5
  • Schedule the weekly transfers or remindersDo firstDay 8

Keep it going Month 12

Checked at the points where challenges usually stop.

  • Week 8 check: still on track?Do firstWeek 8
  • Halfway check at week 26Do firstMonth 6
  • Plan for the largest weeks before they arriveMonth 9
  • Decide what the money is forMonth 12

Routines

  • This week's savings depositweekly
✦ It comes with a note

The amounts

Forwards: week 1 saves 1, week 52 saves 52. Total 1,378. Reverse: week 1 saves 52, week 52 saves 1. The same total, and an easier finish. Fixed: the same amount every week, if the rising version does not fit the budget.

Started in January, the largest weeks of the forwards version land in December, which is why the reverse order is popular.

✦ Questions

52-week savings challenge, answered.

You save an amount equal to the week number: 1 in week one, 2 in week two, up to 52 in the last week, which totals 1,378 over the year. Many people use the reverse order, starting with 52, so the largest amounts come while motivation is highest.
You number 100 envelopes and fill one at random each day or week with its number in cash, which totals 5,050 once they are all done. It is the same idea at a larger scale, and this plan works for it by changing the weekly task.
Somewhere separate from your everyday account, ideally an easy-access savings account that pays interest. Money saved into the same account you spend from tends to be spent by the end of the month.
✦ More templates

Other systems you can install

Money

Get on top of money

Know what comes in and out, clear what is expensive, and save one specific thing.

Money

Build an emergency fund

One month's costs first, then three — with the transfer automated so it is not a decision.

Money

Start investing

Learn enough to not need advice, open the account, and automate the boring part.

Money

Plan for retirement

Find every pension you have, work out what it adds up to, and change one contribution.

Install it and start this evening

It takes one press. Everything it creates is tagged, so if it turns out not to suit you, it is easy to find and remove together.

Install this template