Saving money has never been easy.
If it was, we’d all be living in our dream homes on the water and travelling first class to Rome each year.
When I started working at Mamamia, I was filled with dreams of saving hundreds each month and putting down my home deposit at the crisp age of 21.
Needless to say, I am currently sitting with $157 to my name. (I decided I’d just take the round-ups from each pay…)
WATCH: Simple budgeting with a banana. Post continues below.
But, with 2024 right around the corner, there’s no better time than the present to get started on those *within reach* money goals.
It’s going to take sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance, but I can promise you, as I am promising myself, walking out of the year with $10,000 to your name: Will. Be. Glorious.
And, thanks to our friends over at Tried and True Mom Jobs there’ll be no hard mathematics involved, as they’ve created a handy, week-by-week plan which will have you entering 2025 $10,000 richer.
Now, whilst $10,000 may appear an aggressive goal, the saving amount builds on a four-week cycle.
In week one, you will be saving $125, in week two, $150, three, $175, and week four, $300.
The cycle will then start again, with the final four weeks of the year upping the ante, ever-so-slightly.
So, if you're keen to take on the challenge you can download the printable version of the 52-Week Money Challenge pdf here, or if $10,000 is just a bit too ambitious (or not ambitious enough), download a blank 52-Week Money Challenge template to fill in as desired here.
But wait, where is the money coming from?
Okay, you've downloaded the template which is a very important first step, but we're just getting started.
I'm sure $10,000 doesn't feel like a faraway figure to all, but to me, it is pretty daunting.
Remember what I said earlier? A five-figure savings account will take sacrifice, so it's time to start eliminating unnecessary expenses. I hate to say it, but taking an Uber instead of walking just won't cut it in 2024.
If you're not sure what you're spending too much on, I suggest you take a look at your recent transactions. This is where I discovered that I don't know how to pack a lunch.
What are young women spending crazy money on? Post continues below.
The next step is hard work.
You might be lucky enough to be on break during the Christmas period, so why not sell your things online?
It's never been easier to list items on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay or Depop.
Plus, you can enter the new year free from clutter!
Finally, perseverance.
It won't be easy, but hang in there and keep focusing on why you got into this in the first place.
Maybe it's a holiday, a home or a car. Whatever it is, keep that at the front of your mind and the money will be pouring in before you know it.
I'll be right there struggling along with you.
What are your best savings tips? Let us know in the comments!
Top Comments
Love this article, what about if you get paid once a fortnight, how would one work that out?
To consistently save we need to hack our brain with the latest behavioural science to reduce our reliance on willpower. Four keys strategies include:
- Compartmentalise your accounts into at least the following three savings, commitments and impulses.
- Automate saving toward goals and commitments with automatic transfers every pay.
- Remove temptation rather than resisting it by unsubscribing from marketing newsletters, put a 'no junk mail' sticker on your letterbox and only go to the shops when necessary and always with a list.
- Restrict access. Make it hard to impulsively overspend by compartmentalising your accounts (as above) and only carry a debit card for your impulses account. Cancel credit cards or at least don’t carry them with you.