The Penny Challenge: A Step-by-Step Guide To Saving Over $600
Written by
Talon Abernathy
Edited by
Susan Kim
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
If you’re struggling to save money, consider jumping on the penny challenge. Successfully completing this TikTok trend can pad your pockets with an extra $667.95.
What Is the Penny Challenge?
To play the penny challenge, you must save a small amount of money each day for a year. On the first day, put aside one penny. On the second day, add two cents to your growing treasure trove. Each day, you should add an additional penny to your daily contribution. That means you’ll stash away three cents on the third day, four cents on the fourth, five cents on the fifth and so on.
Keep in mind that you’re not saving one penny each day for 365 days — that would only net you $3.65.
Daily Contributions
Having a hard time visualizing what this looks like? Use the following table to map out the first 10 days of the penny challenge.
| Day | Contribution | Total Amount Saved |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| 2 | $0.02 | $0.03 |
| 3 | $0.03 | $0.06 |
| 4 | $0.04 | $0.10 |
| 5 | $0.05 | $0.15 |
| 6 | $0.06 | $0.21 |
| 7 | $0.07 | $0.28 |
| 8 | $0.08 | $0.36 |
| 9 | $0.09 | $0.45 |
| 10 | $0.10 | $0.55 |
Monthly Contributions
The penny challenge works because of the small incremental changes involved. Just about anyone can afford to save a penny or two. After a while, the amount snowballs into a real chunk of change. By then, you’ve hopefully acclimated to the new habit.
But, what if you’re busy? Or forgetful? Skipping a day can prove a real psychological setback. That’s not to mention pennies just aren’t that common anymore. When was the last time you held one in your hand?
Making a monthly contribution can help you build a solid savings habit while taking away some of the stress that comes with making daily contributions. You can use the table below to figure out how much money you should put away each month to stay on track with the penny challenge.
| Month | Contribution | Total Amount Saved |
|---|---|---|
| January | $4.96 | $4.96 |
| February | $12.74 | $17.70 |
| March | $23.25 | $40.95 |
| April | $31.65 | $72.60 |
| May | $42.16 | $114.76 |
| June | $49.95 | $164.71 |
| July | $61.07 | $225.78 |
| August | $70.68 | $296.46 |
| September | $77.55 | $374.01 |
| October | $89.59 | $463.60 |
| November | $95.85 | $559.45 |
| December | $108.50 | $667.95 |
Where Does the Money Go?
Wherever you want it. The beauty of the penny challenge is that there’s no special setup. You don’t have to download an app or open a new bank account.
You can set aside the money in your piggy bank or under your mattress. You could also deposit it directly into your savings account or invest it in stocks, bonds, CDs or cryptocurrency. A considerable advantage to depositing it into an interest-yielding account is that it will grow beyond your contributions.
Takeaway
Building a savings habit doesn’t have to be hard. The penny challenge makes saving fun and simple. You can use the penny challenge to meet your own savings goals or teach your child or another younger family member the importance of saving early and consistently.
By the end of the year, you should have more than $600 that you can contribute to a college fund, a house or another worthy cause.
More From GOBankingRates
