2023 Budget Goals: 52-Week Money Challenge To $10,000 (Free Printables)
Are you excited to start a 52-week money challenge to $10,000 to put towards your financial dreams?
The 52-week money challenge to $10,000 can seem daunting at first; there’s no denying it.
But remember that each completed week is one step closer to finishing the 10,000 savings challenge.
So try to enjoy the 10K savings challenge for precisely what it represents, a fantastic opportunity to save towards your financial goals or dreams.
Will these savings become your emergency fund, a down payment on a home, a dream honeymoon, or a step closer to early retirement?
Deciding what your savings will go towards is just part of the fun!
Now unless $10,000 suddenly falls into your lap (unlikely, right), then you’ll need to stick to a plan.
This plan may include trimming the fat from your expenses and earning a few extra bucks.
And if you need some easy savings ideas, here is a helpful article on some frugal living tips.
Over time, even the best savers can sometimes overlook some easy savings strategies.
Why not maximize every opportunity to reach your goal faster?
Another great way to start is by reviewing your budget and finding those easy savings that have been slipping through the cracks.
If you need a nice detailed monthly budget template, sign up for our newsletter below and grab your free copy!
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STARTING THE 52-WEEK MONEY CHALLENGE TO $10,000
Let’s face it, each January, thousands of people make New Year resolutions to either eat healthily, save money, or both.
But January is also a month when many families pay off bills from the expensive holiday season.
The beauty of the 52-week challenge to $10,000 is that you can start it at any moment.
It does not necessarily have to be from January to December, just 52-weeks from your starting point.
Like most things, the key is to start, and what better way than by setting up your Savings Builder account here with CIT bank!
I genuinely believe in the saying by John Heywood, “Out of sight, out of mind.”
Each week, take your contribution, put it away in a dedicated savings account, and forget about it.
The 10,000 dollar challenge can be done in many ways; I prefer to start strong and end on a lighter note with smaller payments.
52-Week Money Challenge Printable
Grab your free copy of the 52-Week Money Challenge pdf; it’s a great way to visualize your goals and weekly savings.
I keep my copy easily accessible on the fridge!
Now, if you prefer to customize the weekly contributions to your family’s preferences, I also have a semi-blank copy of the 52 Week Money Challenge 2023 template available here.
Also, if you are a person who prefers handling their money and doing the envelope challenge, that’s fine as well.
We prefer keeping smaller amounts of cash at home, but others thrive on using the cash envelopes wallet system.
The key is finding the money saving challenges that work best for you.
MONEY-MAKING IDEAS TO HELP YOU SAVE MORE
If you anticipate needing additional funds to make this money saving challenge attainable for you, get a jump start by reviewing some side hustle ideas.
This 12 Realistic Side Hustles article is a great way to get inspired.
I’ve used several of these side hustles to cover some extra costs over the years and even put some towards my 10,000 savings challenge.
SELLING CHEAP EBAY FINDS LOCALLY
One of my all-time favorite easier side jobs is selling affordable goods year-round on Facebook Marketplace, Varagesale, and Kijiji.
These items can be anything from convenient kitchen gadgets and phone accessories to my personal favorite; wedding accessories.
The key is finding something extremely affordable to order overseas from places like eBay, Aliexpress, and DHgate, which have a nice profit margin when sold locally.
This way, you will be able to sell the items at a good profit while providing a service to your local community looking for a more affordable option.
You can always order a few to test the market in your area.
I started with a $5 investment, which seems ridiculous, but it got me five different wedding veils at the time.
So take a few hours and search through these sites looking for products. Always sort by Price + Shipping: Lowest first.
Once you find an item of interest, try different keywords looking for better pricing deals keyworded differently.
CASHBACK CREDITS CARDS
Credit cards can be helpful, provided you pay off the entire balance each month (do not carry anything over) and only spend what you can afford.
We only use credit cards for purchases we already planned to make, such as groceries and gas, or when a credit card is required, like an online order.
Tip: We immediately pay off the balance when we get home or after placing our order to avoid surprises at the end of the month.
You can, of course, pay off the credit card balance once your bill arrives by the due date.
However, by paying off each item as you make the purchase, you still earn points but avoid an overwhelming bill at the end of the month.
If you know you can make all your payments on time, then you can capitalize on some great bonuses and enjoy cashback perks.
Capital One has some interesting credit cards available; neither card has annual fees.
Currently, you can get a $150 bonus when you spend $500 within three months of opening the account.
And depending on if you select the Quicksilver from Capital One or the SavorOne Rewards from Capital One, the cashback can range from 1.5% (everyday purchases) to 3% (dining and entertainment).
INSTACART SHOPPER
If Instacart wasn’t already a popular service, 2020 saw its growth skyrocket to unforeseen levels.
The flexibility is great; having a couple of free hours over the weekend, hop on board and fill a time slot.
Sometimes we can’t take on another regular part-time job.
Being able to merge multiple schedules with different employers isn’t always possible.
That’s one of the reasons why jobs like Instacart, Post Mates, and Uber Eats have taken off in recent years.
They all provide a flexible way of earning some extra money without committing to a work schedule days in advance.
POTENTIAL MONEY-SAVING SETBACKS
We all know life happens.
You can have the best laid-out plan, and boom, faith steps in with some interesting curveballs.
If this happens, remember why you started this money savings challenge; to better your financial situation.
What does that mean?
Well, if you end the year with $9800 instead of $10,000 because of an emergency, you are still a success.
Too many people drop and run at the first obstacle in their path, but you can be flexible with the plan and make it work.
If you need to skip this week’s payment, here are some easy ways to catch up;
- If you were temporarily short, double up the following week (not always possible)
- Divide the missed week’s dollar value equally among the remaining weeks left in the challenge (this reduces the burden when you have a lot of weeks left to split it between)
- If you are close to the end of the challenge and can’t double up, add a 53rd week, it’s fine (Give Yourself Grace).
STAYING MOTIVATED
When participating in a long-term 52-week money challenge to $10,000, staying motivated is key.
It’s tough to stay on track when trimming out all of our favorite vices.
It’s still important to reward ourselves occasionally, whether with a specialty drink from Starbucks or a slice of cake from the Cheesecake factory (can you tell I love food ;).
Just remember to keep it occasional and reasonable.
Heck, some friends of mine like ringing a bell every time they transfer money to their savings account.
It may sound silly, but it’s a simple symbolic gesture of their ongoing success that keeps them going.
Whatever works for you!
52-WEEK MONEY CHALLENGE RECAP CHECKLIST
Whenever you need a reminder during the next 52 weeks, remember the following key points to your success;
- Use your Monthly Budget Template to track your expenses
- Stay on top of your weekly monetary contributions by referring to your printed guide
- Tuck your savings away into your CIT Savings Builder account or cash envelopes
- Pick a side hustle if you need an extra source of income
- Evaluate ways to handle potential setbacks
- Keep yourself motivated
Other Money Articles:
If you want to participate in a money challenge but still find that $10,000 won’t fit your budget.
Then check out my other money-saving challenges where there is a fit for everyone linked right below;
- Money-Saving Challenges – Save $1378 to $5000 or Try the Freestyle Version
- 12 Tips to Building Your Personal Wealth
- How to earn cash flipping pallets?
- Highest paying plasma center
Don’t forget to pin this post and share it with a friend with whom you’d like to do the 52-week money challenge to $10,000!
About the author
Clara is the founder of Blue World Dreams, an entrepreneur & budget-savvy personal finance expert. She’s invested in helping others attain financial freedom using her knowledge from running a successful seven-figure corporation and building an extensive and diverse investment portfolio. Find out more.