The 30-Day $100 Savings Challenge (Rutgers NJAES) (2024)

November 2016

Barbara O’Neill, Ph.D., CFP®
Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management
Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Do you want to save some money for holiday gifts or other short-term goals? Consider doing the 30-Day $100 Savings Challenge. The goal of the Challenge is simple: save $100 in a 30-day time period through a series of gradually increasing deposits. November has 30 days so every day is a savings day.

As shown in the picture below, daily savings deposits start at $1 a day for five days followed by $2, $3, and $4 each for five days. Note that required deposits do not increase beyond $5 a day for the last ten days of the Challenge.

Some people, however, prefer to do the Challenge in reverse and scale down from $5 to $1 if they have more money at the beginning of the month than the end. Another way to do the Challenge is to “skip around” and select daily deposit amounts in any order that add up to $100 by month’s end.

Once the monthly savings goal is reached, the Challenge can be repeated on a month-to-month basis for total annual savings of $1,200. When the Challenge starts to feel “easy,” it can be scaled up by doubling or tripling the daily savings amounts (e.g., a $200 a month or $300 a month challenge). When it feels too challenging, it can be scaled back to a $50 a month Challenge and monthly deposits are cut in half.

Day # Deposit Total Completion
Check-Off
Day # Deposit Total Completion
Check-Off
1$1$116$4$34
2$1$217$4$38
3$1$318$4$42
4$1$419$4$46
5$1$520$4$50
6$2$721$5$55
7$2$922$5$60
8$2$1123$5$65
9$2$1324$5$70
10$2$1525$5$75
11$3$1826$5$80
12$3$2127$5$85
13$3$2428$5$90
14$3$2729$5$95
15$3$3030$5$100

For a print copy of a 30-Day $100 Savings Challenge worksheet, see http://www.slideshare.net/BarbaraONeill/30-day-100-savings-challenge-0416.

For information about six different savings challenges, with different time frames and target savings goals, see http://articles.extension.org/pages/73884/monthly-investment-message:-july-2016.

The 30-Day $100 Savings Challenge (Rutgers NJAES) (2024)

FAQs

What is the $100 in 30 days challenge? ›

The goal of the Challenge is simple: save $100 in a 30-day time period through a series of gradually increasing deposits. November has 30 days so every day is a savings day. As shown in the picture below, daily savings deposits start at $1 a day for five days followed by $2, $3, and $4 each for five days.

Is the 100 envelope challenge worth it? ›

The benefit of the 100 Envelopes Challenge is that it starts small and encourages constant, conscious saving that builds quickly. But the trend—and the internet's obsession with buying “aesthetic” envelopes for it—may not be the most effective way to put away money, according to financial experts.

How to do the 100 envelope challenge monthly? ›

It works like this: Gather 100 envelopes and number them from 1 to 100. Each day, fill up one envelope with the amount of cash corresponding to the number on the envelope. You can fill up the envelopes in order or pick them at random. After you've filled up all the envelopes, you'll have a total savings of $5,050.

How much money do you save if you do the 100 day challenge? ›

The 100-envelope challenge has taken TikTok by storm, offering a hands-on cash savings method that many find engaging. Participants can save up to $5050 by placing cash into numbered envelopes over the course of 100 days.

How to save $5000 in 3 months with 100 envelopes? ›

The 100-envelope challenge is pretty straightforward: You take 100 envelopes, number each of them and then save the corresponding dollar amount in each envelope. For instance, you put $1 in “Envelope 1,” $2 in “Envelope 2,” and so on. By the end of 100 days, you'll have saved $5,050.

How to save $10,000 in 100 days? ›

On each envelope, write the day number and the amount you need to save for that day. For instance, on the first envelope, you would write "Day 1: $1" and on the second envelope "Day 2: $2", and so on all the way to Day 100: $100. Each day, you take the envelope for that day and put the designated amount of cash inside.

How can I save $5000 in 3 months? ›

If you are looking to save $5,000 in just 3 months, here are some tips to help you achieve your goal.
  1. Track Your Expenses. The first step to saving money is understanding where your money is going. ...
  2. Create a Budget. ...
  3. Reduce Unnecessary Spending. ...
  4. Increase Your Income. ...
  5. Automate Your Savings. ...
  6. Save on Utilities and Subscriptions.
Jan 22, 2024

How to save $4000 quickly? ›

How to Save an Extra $4,000 a Year
  1. Step #1: Look at Your Budget. “The first step in being able to save is to do a deep dive into your budget. ...
  2. Step #2: Figure Out Where to Cut Spending. ...
  3. Step #3: Determine Where Most of Your Money Is Going. ...
  4. Step #4: Sexy Math. ...
  5. Step #5: Set Up Automatic Transfers. ...
  6. Extra Tips.
Jan 7, 2019

How to save 10k in 3 months? ›

03. Seven steps to save $10,000 in 3 months
  1. Evaluate your current financial situation. ...
  2. Get your debt under control. ...
  3. Set a realistic goal. ...
  4. Try fasting from unnecessary spending for 30 days. ...
  5. Get creative with your living situation. ...
  6. Make extra money with a side hustle or freelance gig. ...
  7. Invest in yourself.
Jun 20, 2023

How to save $5000 with the 52 week money challenge? ›

Here are a few more ways to save $5,000 by the end of 2023:
  1. Save $96.16 every week.
  2. Save $192.31 every two weeks.
  3. Save $416.67 every month.
  4. Save $1,250 every quarter.
  5. Save $2,500 every six months.
Jan 5, 2023

How to save $2000 in a month? ›

How to Save 2000 in a Month: 13 Methods
  1. Create a Budget to Start Saving Money. ...
  2. Set Savings Goals & Track Your Progress. ...
  3. Open a Separate Savings Account. ...
  4. Automate Your Savings. ...
  5. Cut Back on Utility Bills. ...
  6. Have a No-Spend Day to Save Money. ...
  7. Consider a Side Hustle. ...
  8. Avoid Lifestyle Creep to Save $2,000.
Jun 4, 2024

What is the math behind the 100 envelope challenge? ›

Take stock of your savings At the end of 100 days, you'll have 100 envelopes containing $5,050. That's right—1 + 2 + 3 + 4 and every other number through 100 equals just over $5,000.

What are the rules for the 100 day challenge? ›

The challenge uses social accountability, transparency, and deep reflection to form healthy developer habits. The challenge follows one simple rule: Code for a minimum of one hour each day for the next 100 days.

What is the 100 envelopes in 52 weeks? ›

This challenge, which has gone viral on TikTok, is supposed to help you save $5,000 in just one year. Label 100 envelopes with the numbers 1 to 100. Then, every week pick two random envelopes and put the amount of money written on the envelopes inside.

What is the 100 envelope challenge biweekly? ›

Biweekly 100 envelope challenge

The 100 envelope challenge adds an element of surprise to your saving journey. Number envelopes from $1 to $100. Randomly pick two envelopes every two weeks and save the combined amount they represent.

What is the 30 day cash challenge? ›

One way to make saving money easier is to try the 30-day savings challenge. Here's how it works: When you have the urge to make an impulse purchase, wait for 30 days and give yourself time to think about it. While considering the purchase, deposit the money you need for it into a savings account.

How much does the 100 day challenge cost? ›

100 days for only $177. A two-payment option is also available.

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