For anyone trying to save more money in 2021, the 52-week money challenge is a simple and effective way to stay on track. And at the end of the year, you’ll have €1000 extra euros to bulk up your emergency savings or put toward a savings goal.

Take some time to determine what, exactly, you want to save for so you’ll be more motivated to stay the course throughout the year. Once your savings goals are set, jump in and start saving with the 52-week money challenge.

What is the 52-week money challenge?

Using the 52-week money challenge, you should deposit an amount of money each week for one year, the amount to save is revealed when you scratch off the panel.

One week it might be €25, the next it might only be €1, but stick with the process and at the end of the year, you will have saved €1000. This surprise element means that you will never know what amount of money you will need to put aside, making you more aware of your spending each week.

First thing’s first, you’ll need somewhere to store your savings.

A simple piggy bank may work for you, but not everyone has cash on hand to deposit each week. Plus, having your savings in such an accessible place may tempt you to dip into it before the end of the challenge.

Consider opening a high-yield savings account and transferring your challenge money into it each week instead. In addition to curbing any impulse spending, a savings account can help you accumulate a bit more over the course of the year through interest earnings.

If you really want to make things easy, set up your bank to automatically send money into your new savings account or use an automated savings app like Chip. If you never see it, you won’t have the chance to miss the cash before it goes into savings.

The 52-week money saving template

One way to improve your chances of sticking to the challenge for the full 52-week period is to use a template that makes you think about your spending from week to week. The details don’t matter as much as actually succeeding in accumulating your savings by the year’s end, however, understanding your spending is the best way to successful saving.

One of the most popular saving money challenges is done in increasing increments over a calendar year, this can be difficult though, mostly because your spending likely increases in December. That is why the Scratchify 1 year savings challenge printable board is perfect, as each week you scratch off an amount, totally at random.

Ultimately, our money saving challenge is designed to help you reach a money goal in a fun, but achievable way. The challenge has been made as easy as possible with the largest amount you need to save in 1 week capped at €60.

How to stay on track

Set reminders and benchmarks for yourself to make sure you don’t quit midway through your challenge.

Have an end goal in mind before you begin saving, whether that’s a down payment, your emergency fund, a vacation budget or some other goal. Having something to work toward will help you stay motivated throughout the year.

To help yourself stay on track, keep a regular reminder on the calendar. Weekly notifications can ensure the challenge stays top of mind.

If you need extra help staying motivated, set smaller benchmarks for yourself throughout the year. For instance, for every 13 weeks that you successfully save (four times throughout the year) reward yourself for keeping pace. Plus, like any New Year’s resolution, having someone keeping you accountable can be a great motivator for success. Ask your friends or family to take the challenge with you and check in with each other monthly to ensure you’re keeping up with your deposits.

And after you hit your savings goal in full at the end of the 52 weeks, don’t stop your momentum.

You’ve already accomplished the most difficult part — getting started. Start over with another 52-week money challenge or challenge yourself to a new goal for next year.

Our posters are made from rigid cardboard in A2 size. Meaning you can display it easily and when you’re done, it can be fully recycled. So you can do your bit for the environment too. 

We also have other challenges in the collection, including a 30-day work-out challenge and a 52-week money-saving challenge.