The 52-Week Money Challenge and Other Ways to Save Money

1AND1
6 min readDec 22, 2021

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By Corey Lewis, CPT, CSCS

Money Can Buy You Happiness (Image Source: Shutterstock)

Money can buy you happiness, sometimes. You need it to survive and thrive, to afford your favorite clothes, and enjoy your favorite hobbies, besides the long list of bills. Once in a while, you probably get tired of the daily mundane tasks and wish you could go on a trip. The 52-week money challenge can help you finally travel the world. It’s a smart way to save up that will benefit you immensely in the long run. Here’s what you gotta do and why:

Why You Need to Save Money

Financial stress is easily avoidable if you make smart decisions. And choosing to save money for the future is one of them. In case of an emergency, you’ll have a backup. In case of a sudden old-school get-together, you’ll be ready to have fun without upsetting your budget. You don’t need to have a lot of money to enjoy financial independence. You can start saving today and see the positive impact it produces on your well-being. If you don’t know where to begin or how, try the 52-week money challenge. You don’t need a lot of money to begin, and you can adjust it to meet your own limits.

Financial Stress Is Easily Avoidable If You Make Smart Decisions (Image Source: Shutterstock)

The world is changing every day, and you have to be ready for anything. 83% of Americans say the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to take a second look at their financial plan. Now, most of them believe that saving money is the best way to cope with sudden setbacks. 71% of spenders believe the biggest hurdle in saving money is poor financial planning. So, in order for you to fully achieve financial freedom, you have to foresee and manage your expected and unexpected expenses. Otherwise, all those savings will be lost before you can count them. Keep a strict eye on your budget and needs.

Financial literacy in college students improves both academic performance and satisfaction. There’s a direct link between financial freedom and happiness. It improves your marital life as well. Having a substantial amount of savings also protects your family if an unfortunate event occurs. It secures your children’s education and your short-term goals. Only once you’re mentally at peace with these necessities can you think outside the box and plan something fun. When you begin the 52-week money challenge, you’ll automatically notice all of these advantages one after the other. You’ll feel better and stress less.

The 52-Week Money Challenge

Challenges are a fun way to establish and achieve goals. They serve as a good reference point for you to get a quick idea of how things work. Plus, you can invite your friends for extra accountability. Keeping track of your achievements throughout the challenge will highlight not just your strengths, but also your weaknesses. You’ll find out what you struggle with the most. For saving money, the 52-week money challenge is a good place to start, because it’s beginner-friendly and doesn’t have a lot of rules for you to remember and keep up with. Once you begin the challenge, you’ll eventually have financial freedom, and learn to stop waiting desperately for your paycheck at the end of the month.

The 52-Week Money Challenge Is a Good Place to Start (Image Source: Shutterstock)

All you need to begin the 52-week money challenge is a dollar. That’s right. Depending upon your budget, you can either start the challenge backward, by saving $52 per week for an entire year, or start small from $1. The important thing is to be consistent and increase the amount every week. This way, by the end of the year, you’ll have savings you’ll be proud of. You don’t even need to use money saving apps to start the challenge. You can use a simple printable chart to keep track of your progress so that you don’t get side-tracked by other features or ideas.

By activating your competitive instincts, your mind works actively to help you succeed in completing the task. Your attention span increases in competitions and challenges increase your self-discipline. So, in order for you to successfully complete the 52-week money challenge, you have to first figure out which direction to start from. If you know your budget will be tight in a few days, start with a small number. Don’t dive in without considering your current financial wellness.

Some Money Saving Tips

Besides the 52-week money challenge, there are other ways to save money. First, you should learn how to save money before trying anything else. Because saving money, as said earlier, is useless without proper financial planning. So first of all, make a plan. Figure out where your money goes and how often. Check your budget. Now, set financial goals. Align your plan to these goals. Keep track of your expenses, because if you don’t, anything can take you by surprise. Invest and save up. Use an app for guidance and records. Or simply keep a diary with you at all times. If you can’t stop yourself from online shopping, go the old road and get a money box. Financial freedom requires preparation and effort.

Saving Money is Useless Without Proper Financial Planning (Image Source: Shutterstock)

Your financial health can affect both your mental and physical health as well. You cannot live happily if you ignore either of these. Challenges are inevitable. So you might as well prepare for them. If you can’t seem to figure out what you’re doing wrong or are simply bored of the same old advice, try these creative ways to save up:

  • Put cash in envelopes and label them. Set aside a specific amount for each need, such as grocery shopping, rent, gym, etc. Label envelopes with their names and add the amount in them.
  • Thrift shop. Get your clothes and shoes from trusted thrift stores. Their second-hand items usually work just as well as brand new ones and at cheaper rates.
  • Go on a recycling spree. You might be surprised how many things can be reused and save you from extra shopping. Plus, it’s good for the environment too.
  • Turn off your electronics and unplug. These devices are often the reason behind unexpectedly high electricity bills.
  • Throw one-dish parties. Instead of making the entire family dinner yourself and worrying about the cost, invite your friends and family to show off their cooking by making a contribution. Potlucks will save you from a lot of stress.

If you are looking for more ideas to save a few bucks, here is a twelve-minute YouTube video with eighteen ways you can save money.

How To Save Money Fast — 18 Money Saving Tips │ Brainy Dose

Conclusion

In order to not let financial issues control you and turn you mad, you have to learn how to control them. You can achieve this financial freedom by saving money. An easy way to save is through the 52-week money challenge in which you gradually increase the amount you save per week. There are no strict rules, and you don’t need a lot of money to begin. This way, you can have enough money at the end of the year for a trip or a startup. So what are you waiting for? Try the challenge today!

*This post may contain affiliate links to the products and services that we talk about.

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Written by 1AND1

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