Biweekly Money-Saving Challenges To Start This August
For those who find it challenging to put money away into savings regularly, stepping up to a savings challenge can often make it happen. A challenge can also help develop a money-saving habit that can turn a non-saver into a super saver.
Savings challenges are often designed around pay cycles, so a biweekly money-saving challenge requires challengers to put money away every two weeks or for 26 paychecks. Here are two biweekly challenges for savers who can’t seem to save or successful savers who want to boost their savings.
Pick a Biweekly Money-Saving Challenge To Try
Completing a savings challenge won’t be accessible if the challenge goal is unrealistic for the saver’s income and budget. Savers can adapt each challenge to fit any budget and saving style.
26-Week Biweekly Money Challenge
Goal: $1,404 in 12 months
How It Works
With this challenge, savers increase the amount of biweekly savings by a set increment over 26 biweekly pay periods. The most popular increment is $4.
For the first pay period, challengers save $4. They add $4 each pay period, keeping $8 from the second pay period, $12 from the third pay period and so forth. Challengers work up to $104 from the 26th paycheck for $1,404 saved over one year.
A saver can adapt this challenge to any amount. Starting at $3 and increasing the savings amount by $3 each paycheck would net $1,053 at the end of one year. For a more significant challenge, use $5 increments for a total of $1,755 after one year.
Who This Challenge Is Best For
This challenge is best for those who want to ease themselves into saving by beginning gradually and then building up to a greater amount. It is also ideal for those who might find motivation in manually moving each pay period’s goal amount from checking to savings every two weeks.
$20 Money-Saving Challenge
Goal: $1,040 in 12 months
How It Works
The $20 money-saving challenge is typically a weekly challenge, but both the saving interval and the biweekly amount are flexible. Savers can schedule an automatic transfer for a set amount from checking into savings each pay period and complete the challenge without further effort.
This chart shows how much can be saved based on five biweekly amounts over 26 weeks:
| Amount Saved Biweekly | Total Amount Saved Over 26 Biweekly Pay Periods |
|---|---|
| $10 | $260 |
| $20 | $520 |
| $30 | $780 |
| $40 | $1,040 |
| $50 | $1,300 |
Who This Challenge Is Best For
This challenge is best for those who prefer a slow but steady approach to saving. It is also ideal for challengers who will best succeed by putting their saving efforts on autopilot. This challenge might seem boring compared to the 26-week money-saving challenge, but it is more achievable for some.
Open a Challenge Savings Account
If necessary, savers can open an account specifically for this savings challenge to put that money to work, earning a bit of interest.
Challengers who open savings accounts at an institution separate from their regular bank lessen the temptation of dipping into savings whenever they access their regular banking app.
Takeaway
Making a game out of intentionally saving money challenges non-savers to build money-saving habits that can last a lifetime. A savings challenge should be difficult but not so demanding that challengers can’t do it. Challengers can pick a biweekly money-saving challenge that works for their budget and saving style, whether automatic or manual.
Also, what is a savings goal without a purpose? Designating the savings for an emergency fund, vacation or some other goal can also be good motivation for completing the challenge.
FAQ
Here are quick answers to popular questions about savings challenges.- How can I save money every two weeks?
- The simplest way to ensure money is saved every two weeks is to set a biweekly automatic transfer from checking into savings. Pick an amount that won't cause any overdrafts. Gradually increase the transfer amount, especially after pay increases or as debts are paid off.
- How much do you save doing the 52-week challenge?
- By the end, challengers who complete the popular 52-week challenge will have $1,378. In this challenge, savers begin by saving $1 the first week and then increase the weekly amount put into savings by $1 over 52 weeks. So week one, $1 is reserved. Week 25, $25 is saved — on up to $52 for week 52.
- What is the $20 savings challenge?
- The $20 savings challenge is a 52-week challenge during which a challenger saves $20 per week for 52 weeks. At the challenge's completion, challengers have $1,040 saved.
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