Money Saving Challenges for 2021

If one of your 2021 New Year’s resolutions was to save more money, you might be wondering how to meet that goal. While there are many practical ways to save money, such as setting aside the same amount every week, one of the best-kept secrets of saving money is that you may be more likely to meet your goals if you turn saving into a game! Here are some money-saving ideas that could get you motivated this year. 

Switch to Automated Savings for Every Pay Cheque 

One of the easiest ways you can meet your savings goal this year is by switching to automated rather than manual savings. With this setup, you'll set a certain amount of money to be automatically deducted from your pay cheque and deposited straight into your savings account. This out-of-sight, out-of-mind method can be effective because you won’t be tempted to overspend, and your savings account will practically fill up on its own! 

Eliminate Unnecessary Household Expenses and Live Frugally 

If you’re up for a real challenge, consider aiming to live frugally this year by cutting out unnecessary expenses and sticking to the bare minimum. When you live on the cheap, you’ll have more disposable income to save. To accomplish this, you could: 

• Try cooking at home for the entire year 

• Switch to a cheaper option instead of going for pricey name brands at the store 

• Temporarily pause little luxuries 

Set Year-End Goals and Track Your Progress 

Having clear-cut financial goals is important because it can help you visualize your end goal and work toward it in a realistic way. Some ways to set solid goals and make progress include: 

• Checking in each month to make sure you’re on track 

• Making sure your goal is realistic for your current income 

• Beating your goal by putting a little extra into savings when possible 

Save One Additional Dollar Each Week of the Year and End Up With $1,378! 

If no other savings method has worked for you or you simply want to make saving a little more fun, you can try the one-dollar-a-week savings game. In this savings plan, you put away one additional dollar per week for a whole year. In week one of the year, you put away one dollar; in week two, you put away two dollars, and so on. If you follow this game strictly, you'll end up with $1,378 in your savings account by the end of the year! 

It’s easy to add “save more money” to your list of New Year’s resolutions, but actually putting the money away can feel tougher. If you need some motivation, these money-saving ideas can help you achieve your goal.