7 money saving challenges to try in 2026

If 2026 is the year you want to turn your finances around, we’ve got seven brilliant money saving challenges to get you started. They’re designed to make it easier to stick to your money goals and build a new habit too.

Our resident consumer finance expert Vix Leyton says: “The reason savings challenges are having a moment is because people are bored of being told to “just spend less” in an economy that refuses to cooperate.

“Challenges work because they make saving visible and rewarding. Watching progress happen in real time builds confidence, and confidence is what actually keeps habits going.”

These challenges aren’t magic and won’t make you rich overnight. But they can help you build a habit. And that’s half the battle.

Before you start: a quick word

The idea behind these challenges is to make sticking to your goals easier. If they stress you out or make you feel guilty, bin them. Saving should feel like a win, not a punishment.

And don’t worry about being perfect; if you stick to them most of the time, you’ll still have more at the end of the year than if you didn’t bother and you’ll learn more about what works for you when it comes to saving. That’s a win in anyone’s book.

7 money challenges to help you build a savings habit in 2026

Here are seven money challenges to pick from this year. We’ve included links to more detailed explainers of each challenge if one speaks to you in particular.

The 52-Week challenge

Start small and build up. Week 1: save £1. Week 2: £2. Keep going until week 52. You can also reverse it and save £52 in week 1, down to £1 in week 52. This works well as people tend to be most motivated in the first few weeks after starting a new challenge. See how you can save nearly £1,400 just by doing this for a year.

Match the spend challenge

Every time you buy a little treat – coffee, takeaway, that cheeky meal deal – save the same amount. Coffee costs £3? Pop £3 in your savings as well. It means you can indulge while saving, win-win. Check out Vix’s article to see why the match the spend challenge works and how to stick to it.

Round up challenge

Spent £25.39 on the food shop? Round it up to £26 and save the 61p. Do it every time you spend. It might sound silly, but those pennies add up faster than you think. If you pay in cash, you can save the change in a mason jar and watch it grow. But, there are plenty of savings apps that let you round up your change as well. Here are some more tips to help you round up and save without noticing.

Found Money challenge

This one’s a Vix original. Before you buy anything, check for cashback, discounts or vouchers. Whatever you save, stick it in a separate account. Saved £10 on trainers? That £10 goes straight into your pot. Vix talks more about how to make the most of the Found Money challenge in her article.

Weather Wednesday

This one’s a little on the quirky side. It’s essentially a weather challenge. Every Wednesday, check the temperature and save that amount. If it’s 8°C, save £8. If it’s 22°C , save £22. It’s random, but that’s half the fun. If you want to check out other variations, see our article on Weather Wednesday.

365-day challenge

This one’s probably the easiest challenge on the list. Save £1 a day for a year. Simple, no faff. At the end, you’ve got £365 – perfect for Christmas, or just to stop January feeling like a financial hangover. Check out our 365 day money saving challenge for tips and extra variations to consider like the viral 1p version.

No-spend challenge

This one is a little different in that you’re not “saving” a specific amount. Instead, you’re giving up spending to save. Pick a day, a week, or even a month. Only spend on essentials – food and bills. No little treats, no impulse buys. It’s tough, but it shows you how much you can save when you cut the extras. Find out how to stick to the no spend challenge in our article.

How to stick to a savings challenge

Whatever challenge you decide to try, half the battle is actually sticking to it. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

• Make it visible. Stick a note on the fridge, set a reminder on your phone – out of sight is out of mind.
• Find your why. Saving for a holiday? Clearing a bill? Knowing what you’re aiming for makes it easier to say no to impulse buys.
• Plan for slip-ups. Life happens. Miss a day? Crack on tomorrow. Perfection isn’t the point.
• Celebrate wins. When you hit a milestone, give yourself a pat on the back. Tell a mate, tick it off your list, or just take a minute to feel smug.
• Make it fun. Turn it into a game by roping in a friend or tweaking the challenge to suit your goals. A bit of friendly competition can keep you going when motivation dips.

Vix adds: “The best money habits aren’t about restriction, they’re about intention. If a challenge helps you feel more in control, keep it. If it relies on willpower alone, bin it. Your finances don’t need punishment. They need a system that works on a tired Tuesday in February.”

These challenges are a great way to stick to your money resolutions this year. Pick one one, mix and match, or make up your own. Whatever works.