Grow £667.95 in a year by saving pennies each day. A simple 1p challenge anyone can start in 2026, with free printables and alternatives.
Why the 1p savings challenge is still one of the easiest ways to save
Saving money feels tough when every bill seems to jump at once.
That is why the 1p challenge works so well. You start tiny, with pennies, so it never feels scary or impossible.
Earn a bit of extra money in your spare time with surveys, offers and other simple tasks you can do at home.
New users can currently get a bonus when they sign up.
Claim sign-up bonusSkint Dad first shared this challenge back in 2015 and it has taken off every year since.
Thousands of families now use it as a gentle way to build a pot of money in the background without messing up their weekly budget.
How the 1p savings challenge works
There are some of you saying, “Just a penny? There’s no chance you’d save anything saving a penny a day!”
But could I?
Well, one penny adds up quickly.
- You start on day one by saving 1p
- On day two, save 2p
- On day three, save 3p
- And so on
By the end of the year you’ll be saving £3.65 on the final day. If you follow the whole chart, your total for a normal 365 day year is £667.95.
For a leap year, the total is £671.61, but 2026 is not a leap year so you will be aiming for £667.95.
You can begin on any day of the year. You do not need to wait for January.
Skint Dad says:
Small steps build up far quicker than you think. Pennies turn into pounds, and pounds turn into choices.
Free 2026 printable charts
You can download the updated 2026 charts to help you tick off each day.
Choose the version that suits you best.
These fit neatly on one A4 page and are easy to stick to the fridge or save on your phone.
You can use apps instead of jar saving
Not everyone uses cash now.
If you prefer to save digitally, you can use:
- Monzo Pots – sign up here and make a card payment within 30 days to get £10 for free
- Starling Spaces
- Chase round-ups
- Plum
- Moneybox
- Any bank that lets you move money into separate goals
Some people find it easier to do the challenge using a bank app, as there’s generally less cash in circulation nowadays.
Monzo gets lots of good feedback from our community because it makes the 1p challenge simple. You can set up a Pot, name it “1p Challenge”, and move the daily amount over in seconds.
Plenty of people add up a week’s worth and transfer it in one go. With reminders, easy tracking and no jars of coins to fuss with, it’s a handy way to keep the challenge going all year.
What if you miss a day?
Do not panic.
Just add up the days you missed and move that amount over in one go.
Lots of people choose to save once a week instead of daily because it is quicker.
Why so many families stick with this challenge
The 1p Saving Challenge fits into real life.
You start tiny, you see progress fast, and it never asks you for a big lump of money all at once.
Many readers say they hit £100 far quicker than expected, which is a good confidence boost when saving normally feels impossible.
Try these alternative versions if daily saving feels tricky
Backwards 1p challenge
Instead of trying to over-save, why not try a similar saving challenge by saving just a penny at a time (still increasing each and every day)?
Weekly penny challenge
Save the full weekly amount instead of doing it day by day. The final month can be a bit tougher, but some people prefer the routine.
Save £650 with equal weekly payments
If you want steady amounts, this version keeps the payment the same every week. It is brilliant for anyone on a strict budget.
Bingo challenge
If you ever struggle to save set amounts each week, the bingo challenge is a fun way to mix things up. Instead of following the numbers in order, you get a sheet covered in different amounts, just like a bingo card.
When you have a spare tenner, or even a few pounds, you pick any square you fancy and tick it off. Some days you might cover a £1 box, other days you might feel brave and clear a bigger one. Because you choose the amount each time, it feels more flexible than the usual weekly targets.
This is a good challenge if your income changes, or if you want something that feels more like a game than a strict plan. Bit by bit, the board fills up and your savings pot grows without you worrying about what you “should” be saving that day.
Want to save differently? Try an alternative savings challenge
A few quick tips to stay on track
- Pair the challenge with a goal, like Christmas, a personal treat, or an emergency savings fund.
- Move the money on payday so you stay ahead.
- Let kids do their own mini chart to help teach them about saving.
- If cash is tight one week, pause and pick up again later. The chart does not mind.
We’ve got plenty of tips to keep you on track so you can still save £667.95 by the end of the year.
Saving for your first home? Read our guide to the proposed Your First Home scheme to see what a 2.5% deposit could mean and which costs are still unknown.
When saving is not the right step
If you are behind on rent, council tax, energy bills or any other urgent payment, focus on those first. These bills can snowball quickly, so it is better to steady things before starting a challenge.
Once the essentials are under control, it can still help to save a very small amount, even if you are paying off debt. A couple of pounds a week can give you a little safety net for things like a broken kettle or a school trip that pops up out of nowhere. This stops you slipping back into borrowing when life throws something at you.
You do not need a big pot. Just a tiny buffer can make everything feel less stressful, and you can grow it slowly while you work through your debts. The aim is to protect yourself, not to stretch your budget too far.
When you feel ready, you can start the full challenge at any point in the year. There is no rush.
Start whenever works for you
There is no perfect day to begin.
The chart has no dates by design, so you can start on a Monday, halfway through a month, on your birthday or even today.
If you stick with it, your pot will grow without you feeling the pinch.
