‘I’m a savings expert – this simple money challenge can help you save £1,456 in 2025′

Britons can save more than £1,400 in 12 months if they stick to a simple money challenge, a savings expert has said.

challenges can provide a structured and manageable way for people to put away some cash – and theres many to get involved in, depending on the goal.

Aileen Robertson, head of savings at , said: “For people looking to get their finances in check but struggle to save regularly, a savings challenge can be a great place to start.

“Our recent research found that 16.2 million UK adults dip into their savings every month, so taking on a savings challenge can be a great way to establish a routine and kickstart a more positive, lasting savings habit.”

365 Day Challenge

For someone looking to build confidence when it comes to saving, Ms Robertson suggested trying out the the 365 day challenge, which could earn you £1,456 in a year.

She explained: “You put aside £1 on Sunday, £2 on Monday, £3 on Tuesday and so on, all the way up to saving £7 on Saturday. This gives you a weekly total of £28 saved.

“Dealing with small amounts each day means it’s not a huge sum you need to worry about setting aside, helping you to build positive savings habits.”

1p Challenge

Ms Robertson said: “Another favourite is the 1p challenge – a simple and low-effort way to kickstart your savings.”

According to the savings expert, the method is “easy to track” and won’t strain finances.

Begin by saving just 1p on day one, 2p on day two, 3p on day three, and continue adding an extra penny each day.

Mr Robertson said: “Over time, it’s an effortless way to grow a solid savings pot. By the final day of the year, you’ll have pocketed £667.95.”

52 Week Challenge

For a weekly savings challenge, the 52 week challenge is another good method to try.

Ms Robertson said: “You save an amount that matches the week number in the year, for example in week one you save £1 and by week 52, you save £52. By the end of the challenge you’ll have built up a savings pot of £1,378.”

For those who may have spent a bit too much over the festive period, other ways to get back on track may be doing a ‘No Spend Month’.

Ms Robertson explained: “You only purchase essential items, which can help you to get a grip on your outgoings and cut down on spending on unnecessary items.

“Another way to cut down unnecessary spending is through the ‘30-day rule’, where you wait 30 days before purchasing anything non-essential and after that if you still want it then you can consider buying it. This helps you to differentiate between wants and needs and avoids impulse spending.”

People can also introduce round-ups into day-to-day spending to help set aside money and requires minimal effort.

For example, Ms Robertson said: “If you purchase something that costs £19.30, then you’ll spend £20 and put aside 70p in savings. It may not sound like much but if you’re doing this for every transaction it’ll really start to add up.”

For people that want to test themselves and see how long they can keep their savings streak going, Atom’s new product is ideal.

Ms Robertson said: “The account has a higher reward rate if you don’t make withdrawals and you can check in-app how many months you’ve managed to have the higher rate for.”

However, she noted: “If you do need to withdraw money and break the streak, you’ll be paid the Withdrawal rate for the month but will reset the next month so you can start your streak again. The account offers you the flexibility to access your money at any time, but encourages you to stick to your savings habit as you’ll get a better return on your hard-earned cash.”