Right, I’m going to be honest with you from the start.

I’m rubbish at saving money.

I always have been. I’d get paid, pay my bills, and then spend whatever was left. By the end of the month, I’d have about £12 in my account and no savings whatsoever.

Then I had my son and realised I needed to sort myself out. I needed an emergency fund. I needed to save for his future. I needed to be a proper grown-up.

But traditional budgeting was boring and I kept failing at it.

Then I discovered money saving challenges. And they actually worked.

There’s something about gamifying savings that makes it fun instead of a chore. Ticking off days or seeing a chart fill up gives you that little dopamine hit that keeps you going.

Over the past year, I’ve tried loads of different money saving challenges. Some were brilliant. Some were impossible. And some were just annoying.

I’m going to share all of them with you, tell you exactly how much I saved with each one, and which ones are actually worth doing.

Updated April 2026

Why Money Saving Challenges Actually Work

Before we get into the challenges, let me explain WHY these work when normal budgeting doesn’t.

They’re visual – You can see your progress. Whether it’s colouring in a chart or watching a jar fill up, it’s satisfying.

They’re structured – You know exactly what you need to do. Save £1 today. Done. No complicated spreadsheets.

They’re time-limited – Most challenges are 30 days or a year. That’s manageable. “Save forever” is overwhelming.

Money Saving Challenges: Quick Comparison

Challenge	Saved	Difficulty	Best For
1p Challenge	£667.95	Easy→Hard	Beginners
52-Week	£1,378	Med→Hard	Big savers
No-Spend Month	£280	Very Hard	Quick wins
Round-Up (Auto)	£147	Very Easy	Busy people

They’re achievable – Starting with 1p or £1 feels doable. Unlike “save £500 this month” which feels impossible.

They’re fun – Honestly, it becomes a game. Can I complete this challenge? Hell yes I can.

Right, let’s get into the actual challenges.

Challenge 1: The 1p Savings Challenge (I Saved £667.95)

This is the most famous savings challenge and for good reason. It actually works.

How it works:

Day 1: Save 1p Day 2: Save 2p Day 3: Save 3p …and so on until… Day 365: Save £3.65

By the end of the year, you’ve saved £667.95.

My experience:

I started this in January 2024 and I’m still doing it. I use a jar and physically put the coins in each day.

The first few months are easy. Saving 50p or 80p a day is nothing. But by November and December, you’re saving £3+ per day and it starts to feel like actual money.

I nearly gave up in December when I was saving over £3 per day just before Christmas. But I pushed through and I’m so glad I did.

Tips for success:

• Use a clear jar so you can see the money building up
• Print out a tracker and tick off each day
• If you miss a day, just do two the next day
• Keep a bag of change at home to make it easier

Is it worth it?

YES. £667.95 for putting some change in a jar? Absolutely worth it. This challenge alone was a massive chunk of my yearly savings.

Difficulty: Easy at first, gets harder towards the end

Challenge 2: The Reverse 1p Challenge (I Saved £667.95)

This is the same as the regular 1p challenge but backwards.

How it works:

Day 1: Save £3.65 Day 2: Save £3.64 Day 3: Save £3.63 …and so on until… Day 365: Save 1p

Total saved: £667.95 (same as the regular challenge)

My experience:

I haven’t done this one personally, but I know loads of people who swear by it.

The advantage? You save the most money at the start of the year when you’ve just been paid and are feeling motivated. By December when money’s tight because of Christmas, you’re only saving pennies.

Who it’s good for:

People who get paid annual bonuses in January, or who find it easier to save big amounts when they’re motivated at the start of the year.

Difficulty: Hard at first, gets easier

Challenge 3: The 52-Week Money Challenge (I Saved £1,378)

This is similar to the 1p challenge but with pounds instead of pennies.

How it works:

Week 1: Save £1 Week 2: Save £2 Week 3: Save £3 …and so on until… Week 52: Save £52

Total saved: £1,378

My experience:

I did this alongside the 1p challenge and it KILLED my bank account by the end of the year.

Saving £50+ per week in November and December while also doing the 1p challenge was too much. I managed it, but I wouldn’t recommend doing both.

If you’re only doing one challenge, this one saves you more money overall.

Tips for success:

• Set up a standing order to a separate savings account each week
• Use a tracker spreadsheet or printable
• If you can’t manage a week, double up the next week

Is it worth it?

Yes, if you can afford the bigger amounts towards the end. But be realistic about whether you can save £50+ per week in November and December. You could also try this one backwards!

Difficulty: Medium to hard

Challenge 4: The £1 a Day Challenge (I Saved £365)

This is probably the simplest challenge. Just save £1 every single day.

How it works:

Save £1 per day for 365 days.

Total saved: £365

My experience:

I did this for the first 6 months of 2024 (so £180 total) before I switched to the 1p challenge because I wanted to save more.

It’s easy because it’s the same amount every day. No working out what you need to save. Just a quid in the jar.

Tips for success:

• Get a £1 coin every time you get change
• Or set up a £7 weekly standing order to a savings account
• Use a clear jar and watch it fill up

Is it worth it?

Yes, especially if you find the escalating challenges too complicated. This is dead simple.

Difficulty: Easy

Challenge 5: The 5p Challenge (I Saved £334.75)

This is like the 1p challenge but you increase by 5p each day instead of 1p.

How it works:

Day 1: Save 5p Day 2: Save 10p Day 3: Save 15p …and so on until… Day 365: Save £18.25

Total saved: £334.75

My experience:

I started this one but gave up after about 3 months. It felt too similar to the 1p challenge and I couldn’t be bothered tracking both.

But for someone who wants to save less than the 1p challenge (maybe because you’re on a tighter budget), this is a good middle ground.

Difficulty: Medium

Challenge 6: The No-Spend Challenge (I Saved £280 in One Month)

This is where you pick a time period (usually a week or month) and don’t spend any money except on essentials.

How it works:

Pick your time period. For that time, you can ONLY spend money on:

• Rent/mortgage
• Bills
• Food (groceries, not takeaways)
• Essential transport
• Essential childcare

Everything else is banned. No coffee, no takeaways, no clothes, no random Amazon purchases.

My experience:

I did a no-spend month in February 2024. I normally spend about £400 per month on non-essentials (eating out, coffees, random stuff I don’t need). During my no-spend month, I spent about £120 on those things (I cracked a few times).

So I saved about £280 compared to my normal spending.

It was HARD. Really hard. Especially when friends wanted to go out and I had to say no.

Tips for success:

• Tell people what you’re doing so they understand why you’re not going out
• Plan free activities instead (walks, parks, movie nights at home)
• Meal plan so you’re not tempted to order takeaway
• Delete food delivery apps from your phone
• Unsubscribe from marketing emails

Is it worth it?

Yes, but I wouldn’t do it more than once or twice a year. It’s too restrictive to do regularly.

Difficulty: Very hard

Challenge 7: The Round-Up Challenge (I Saved £147 in a Year)

This is where you round up every purchase to the nearest pound and save the difference.

How it works:

Buy something for £3.47? Round up to £4 and save 53p. Buy something for £12.80? Round up to £13 and save 20p.

Do this for every purchase and you’ll save without really noticing.

My experience:

Most banking apps now have this feature built in (Monzo, Starling, etc.). They round up automatically and move the money to a savings pot.

I saved £147 over the course of a year without thinking about it. It’s not loads, but it’s money I wouldn’t have saved otherwise.

Tips for success:

• Use a banking app that does this automatically
• Or track it manually in a spreadsheet and transfer the money weekly

Is it worth it?

Yes, because it’s completely automatic. Zero effort savings.

Difficulty: Very easy

Challenge 8: The Weather Wednesday Challenge (I Saved £156)

This is a fun one. Every Wednesday, you save the amount of pounds that matches the temperature in Celsius.

How it works:

If it’s 15°C on Wednesday, save £15. If it’s 8°C, save £8. If it’s 23°C (haha, in the UK?), save £23.

My experience:

I did this for about 6 months and saved £156. It was quite fun because you never know how much you’re going to need to save.

In winter, you’re saving £5-10. In summer, you might save £20+.

Tips for success:

• Check the weather first thing Wednesday morning
• Have money ready in case it’s a warm week
• If you’re broke one week, skip it and do double the next week

Is it worth it?

It’s fun but not the most effective way to save. Good if you want variety.

Difficulty: Easy to medium

Challenge 9: The £5 Note Challenge (I Saved £385)

Every time you get a £5 note, you save it instead of spending it.

How it works:

Whenever you get change and it includes a £5 note, immediately put it in a savings jar. Don’t spend it.

My experience:

This was brilliant. I saved £385 over the year just from this.

The problem is I rarely use cash anymore. Everything’s contactless. So I had to make a conscious effort to pay with cash sometimes just to get £5 notes.

Tips for success:

• Pay with cash more often
• Ask for change in £5 notes at shops
• Put the note straight in a jar at home before you’re tempted to spend it

Is it worth it?

Yes, if you use cash regularly. If you’re 100% contactless, this won’t work for you.

Difficulty: Easy if you use cash

Challenge 10: The 100 Envelope Challenge (This Would Be £5,050)

This has gone viral on TikTok. You take 100 envelopes, number them 1-100, and fill each envelope with the amount of pounds that matches the number.

How it works:

Envelope 1 gets £1 Envelope 2 gets £2 Envelope 3 gets £3 …and so on until… Envelope 100 gets £100

Pick two random envelopes per week and fill them. When all 100 are filled, you’ve saved £5,050.

My experience:

I didn’t do this one because I can’t afford to save £5,050 in 50 weeks. That’s £101 per week on average.

But if you CAN afford it, people rave about this challenge. The randomness makes it exciting.

Tips for success:

• Use a box and shuffle the envelopes so you don’t know which number you’re getting
• If you can’t afford a high number one week, put it back and pick a different one
• Or do a smaller version with 50 envelopes (saves £1,275 total)

Is it worth it?

If you can afford it, absolutely. But it’s not realistic for most people on average incomes.

Difficulty: Very hard

Challenge 11: The Spare Change Challenge (I Saved £89)

Put all your spare change in a jar at the end of every day.

How it works:

Empty your pockets/purse of all coins every evening and put them in a jar.

My experience:

Like I said, I barely use cash anymore. But when I do, I save all the change.

Over the year, I saved £89. Not loads, but better than nothing.

If you use cash regularly, you’d save way more.

Tips for success:

• Have a dedicated jar by your front door
• Empty your pockets/purse every single day
• Don’t raid the jar when you need change for parking

Is it worth it?

Yes, because it’s effortless.

Difficulty: Very easy

Challenge 12: The Salary Round-Down Challenge (I Saved £288)

When you get paid, round your salary down to the nearest £100 and save the difference.

How it works:

If you get paid £1,847, round down to £1,800 and save £47. If you get paid £2,134, round down to £2,100 and save £34.

My experience:

I did this for 12 months (well, 11 months because I forgot one month).

I get paid monthly and I saved between £15-45 each month. Total: £288.

It’s a nice amount that I didn’t really notice disappearing from my account.

Tips for success:

• Set up a standing order on payday so you can’t spend it
• If your salary varies, do it based on your lowest expected salary
• Don’t round down to the nearest £10 or you’ll barely save anything

Is it worth it?

Yes. £288 per year for basically doing nothing. I’ll take it.

Difficulty: Easy

Challenge 13: The Coffee Shop Challenge (I Saved £156)

Instead of buying a coffee out, make it at home and save the difference.

How it works:

Every time you WOULD HAVE bought a coffee, make one at home instead and save £3-4.

My experience:

I wasn’t a regular coffee shop buyer anyway, but when I did fancy a coffee, I made myself make it at home instead.

I “saved” £3 each time (put £3 in a jar) and did this 52 times over the year. Total: £156.

Tips for success:

• Buy decent coffee for home so you’re not tempted by Costa
• Get a travel mug for taking coffee with you
• Remember that coffee at home costs about 20p vs £3.50 out

Is it worth it?

If you’re a regular coffee shop buyer, absolutely. You could save £500-1000 per year.

Difficulty: Medium (depends on your coffee habit)

Challenge 14: The January Challenge (I Saved £341)

January is naturally a tight month after Christmas. Use this to your advantage.

How it works:

For the entire month of January:

• No eating out
• No takeaways
• No alcohol
• No non-essential shopping
• No subscriptions (cancel or pause them)

Save everything you would have spent on these things.

My experience:

I did this in January 2024 and saved £341.

I normally spend about £150 on takeaways and eating out, £80 on alcohol, and about £100 on random shopping. So I saved pretty much all of that.

It’s easier in January because everyone’s broke and doing Dry January anyway.

Tips for success:

• Do it with friends so you’re not alone
• Plan cheap activities (walks, movie nights at home)
• Meal prep so you’re not tempted by takeaways
• Unfollow shops on social media

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. It’s a great reset after Christmas excess.

Difficulty: Hard but manageable because everyone’s doing it

Challenge 15: The Meal Prep Challenge (I Saved £280)

Make all your lunches for work instead of buying them.

How it works:

Spend one hour on Sunday making 5 lunches for the week. Take them to work instead of buying meal deals or going to cafes.

My experience:

I did this inconsistently over the year. Some months I was great. Some months I was rubbish. I just made a pack lunch the same day though as I didn’t like the idea of eating something I made 5 days ago. Sandwich/salad was my go to! I do this every time I need some extra cash becuase it makes a big difference, but it requires effort and planning.

When I did do it, I saved about £25 per week (£5 per day for lunch). I managed about 11 weeks total over the year, so saved about £280.

If you did it EVERY week, you’d save £1,300 per year. That’s massive.

Tips for success:

• Make simple stuff (pasta, rice dishes, sandwiches)
• Invest in good food containers
• Prep on Sunday evening
• Make enough for dinner too and save even more

Is it worth it?

100% yes if you currently buy lunch every day.

Difficulty: Medium (requires organisation)

My Total Savings: £2,847

Right, so adding up all the challenges I actually completed:

• 1p Challenge: £667.95
• £1 a Day Challenge (6 months): £180
• No-Spend Month: £280
• Round-Up Challenge: £147
• Weather Wednesday (6 months): £156
• £5 Note Challenge: £385
• Spare Change: £89
• Salary Round-Down: £288
• Coffee Shop Challenge: £156
• January Challenge: £341
• Meal Prep Challenge: £280

Total: £2,969

Actually, I lied. It was £2,969, not £2,847. I mathed wrong in the title but I’m not changing it now.

That’s nearly £3,000 I wouldn’t have saved without these challenges.

Before I started doing this, I had about £200 in savings total. Now I’ve got over £3,000. That’s a proper emergency fund. Last time I saved that much, I spent on on a holiday to Disney World. It was fun, but not smart!

Which Challenges Should You Do?

You probably can’t do all of these. I definitely couldn’t do them all at once (and I didn’t try).

Here’s what I recommend:

If you’re a complete beginner: Start with the £1 a Day Challenge. It’s simple and achievable.

If you want to save a decent amount: Do the 1p Challenge or 52-Week Challenge.

If you barely use cash: Do the Round-Up Challenge (automatic) and Salary Round-Down Challenge.

If you’re skint: Do the Spare Change Challenge and Coffee Shop Challenge (assuming you currently buy coffee out).

If you want quick results: Do a No-Spend Month or January Challenge.

If you want to save A LOT: Do the 100 Envelope Challenge (if you can afford it) or combine multiple smaller challenges.

Money Saving Challenge Tracker Printables

Most of these challenges work better if you have a visual tracker.

You can find free printables on Pinterest for basically every challenge. Just search “1p challenge tracker” or “52 week challenge printable” and loads come up.

Or make your own in Excel or on paper. Doesn’t need to be fancy.

The important thing is ticking off each day/week and seeing your progress.

Common Mistakes People Make With Saving Challenges

Mistake 1: Starting too many at once

I tried to do about 8 challenges at once at the start of the year. It was too much. I couldn’t keep track and I gave up on half of them.

Pick 1-3 maximum. Do them properly.

Mistake 2: Giving up after missing a day

If you miss a day on the 1p challenge, just do two days the next day. Don’t throw in the towel completely.

Mistake 3: Not having a separate account/jar

If the money stays in your current account, you WILL spend it. Put it somewhere separate.

Mistake 4: Being too ambitious

The 100 Envelope Challenge sounds amazing but if you can’t afford to save £100+ per week, don’t do it. Pick something realistic.

Mistake 5: Not celebrating wins

When you complete a challenge, CELEBRATE. You did something brilliant. Don’t just start the next one immediately without acknowledging your achievement.

Where to Keep Your Challenge Money

For cash challenges (1p, £5 note, spare change): Use a jar at home. Clear jars work best so you can see the money building up.

When it gets full (or at the end of each month), count it and move it to a savings account.

For non-cash challenges: Open a separate savings account. Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Chase, or Chip are all good options.

Set up standing orders on the days you need to save so it’s automatic.

Don’t get a debit card for this account. Make it slightly difficult to access so you’re not tempted to dip into it.

What to Do With Your Savings After the Challenge

Right, so you’ve saved £667 from the 1p challenge. Now what?

Option 1: Emergency fund

If you don’t have 3-6 months of expenses saved, put it towards that. This should be your priority.

Option 2: Pay off debt

If you’ve got high-interest debt (credit cards, overdrafts), pay it off. You’re losing money on interest charges.

Option 3: Save for something specific

Holiday, house deposit, car, whatever. Having a goal makes saving easier.

Option 4: Invest it

If you’ve already got an emergency fund and no debt, consider investing. Stocks and shares ISAs historically give better returns than savings accounts over the long term.

I’m not a financial adviser though, so do your own research on that one.

Money Saving Challenges for Couples

Some of these challenges work better with a partner.

Best challenges for couples:

• 1p Challenge (you can both contribute)
• 52-Week Challenge (split the weeks between you)
• No-Spend Challenge (do it together for moral support)
• Round-Up Challenge (both use apps and see who saves more)
• 100 Envelope Challenge (split the cost)

Doing challenges together makes them more fun and gives you accountability.

Money Saving Challenges for Kids

If you want to teach your kids about saving, these challenges are brilliant.

Best challenges for kids:

• 1p Challenge (with pocket money)
• £1 a Day Challenge (if they get weekly pocket money)
• Spare Change Challenge (they keep all their change)
• Simple jar savings (save £1 every time they do a chore)

Make it visual with colouring trackers and clear jars. Kids love seeing the money build up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the easiest money saving challenge?

The Round-Up Challenge because it’s automatic. Or the Spare Change Challenge because it requires zero thought.

Which challenge saves the most money?

The 100 Envelope Challenge (£5,050) but it’s not realistic for most people. The 52-Week Challenge (£1,378) is more achievable.

Can I do multiple challenges at once?

Yes, but don’t do too many. I’d recommend maximum 3 at once or you’ll get overwhelmed.

What if I miss a day/week?

Just catch up the next day/week. Or skip it if you need to. It’s better to save something than give up completely.

Where should I keep the money I’m saving?

In a separate savings account or jar at home. Not in your current account where you’ll be tempted to spend it.

What if I can’t afford these challenges?

Do smaller versions. Can’t do the 1p challenge? Do a 0.5p challenge. Can’t save £1 a day? Save 50p. Something is better than nothing.

Should I do challenges every year?

If they work for you, yes! I’m doing the 1p challenge again this year because I know I can complete it.

What’s the point if I need to spend the savings anyway?

Even if you spend it, you’ve proved you CAN save. And hopefully some of it stays saved for emergencies.

My Honest Opinion: Are Money Saving Challenges Worth It?

Yes. Absolutely yes.

I saved nearly £3,000 doing these challenges. Money I would have spent on random rubbish I don’t even remember.

Are they life-changing? No. I’m not suddenly rich.

But I’ve got an emergency fund for the first time in my life. When my washing machine broke last month, I could afford to get it fixed without panicking or getting into debt.

That peace of mind is worth more than the money itself.

The challenges work because they’re fun. They’re achievable. And you can see progress.

If normal budgeting doesn’t work for you, try a savings challenge. Pick one. Just one. And do it for 30 days or 3 months or whatever.

I promise you’ll surprise yourself with how much you can save.

Final Thoughts

I’m not naturally good with money. I’m impulsive and I like buying stuff.

But these challenges worked for me because they made saving into a game instead of a chore.

You don’t need to do all of them. You don’t even need to do them perfectly.

Just pick one that sounds achievable and start.

Start today. Not Monday. Not next month. Today.

Put £1 in a jar right now. There. You’ve started.

Keep going. One day at a time. One pound at a time.

You’ve got this.

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Helpful Resources:

• Free printable challenge trackers on Pinterest
• MoneyHelper – Free money advice from the government
• Money Saving Expert – Brilliant free resource for all things money

Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal experience. I’m not a financial adviser. The amounts I saved are specific to my situation and yours will vary. Always consider your own financial situation before starting any savings challenge.

Last updated: October 2025

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