Posts

…Non-Fitness Challenge: 52 week Money saving challenge…

52weekSaveMoneyChallenge2014 for me was filled with trips to 9 different states, great memories with new friends, and a strict budget that allowed me to do all of those things.

When I decided I wanted to travel more extensively, I had to come up with a plan to ensure that I would be able to do all of the things that I wanted to do.  With a bulk of my trips being towards the end of the year it only made sense for me to start planning financially at the start of the years (this time of year to be exact).

I highly suggest something like this for those of you who always think or say “I just do not have enough money to go on a trip”. Or…”I would really love to go to…”.  I feel that saving up for a trip is always the hardest part.  We get so caught up in the things that we have to pay for (such as bills and living essentials) that we forget to plan fun things to do outside of our normal routine. We also get caught up in the things that we want to buy (like shoes…clothes…etc.).  Creating a budget and sticking with it can allow you to still enjoy the things that you need and want.  It also lets you plan for things such as vacations.  You can even create this type of savings jar to save up for something big that you want (like a down payment for a new car or new TV for your home).  You have to create a plan! That is the key.

What I did was I got a BIG jar.  I found this big mason jar at a 2nd hand store for $5.  I then printed this following image that I found on the internet:

199wdno0ybvobjpg

And once I had these two items, I just started saving.  I would actually try to follow the chart BUT I would also put MORE money in the jar if I had it.  I would find that each week I would clean out my purse with the extra change and loose dollars that I had collected. Each week I would add the suggested amount and then cross it off of the list. To ensure that I did not get tempted to use this money (and to keep it out of sight just in case I had guest over) I placed the jar in the BACK of my closet.  Each week I would just reach in, open the lid, and drop the money in.  I would not even look to see how much was collected.

I knew that the bulk of my trips were at the end of the year so I tried to add extra earlier in this process because as the year progresses you are supposed to add more money each week.  Some weeks I was not able to add the full $50 or $40.  But, since I knew I had added an extra $10…$15 earlier in the year it offset the weeks that I was not able to put the full amount in.

Here is the end result of my savings jar…

48weektotal

After only being able to save for 48 weeks, when I went to the bank to cash my jar in I was happily surprised to find $1,091 saved up.

I was able use this saved money to help pay for things while I was on my trips.  I was able to enjoy being in the new cities, eating good meals, visiting amazing monuments and just doing what I wanted without the worry of not being able to afford it.  I even had money left over after my trips that I was able to use some of the saved money for traveling home for Christmas and to use for Christmas gift.

Saving a little each week can yield a nice sum of money for you to use when you need it. It is never too late to start something like this! I have already started adding a new collection of coins and cash in my jar for big trips that I hope to have at the end of this year.

If you want to do something bad enough you will do what it takes to make it happen.  Even if it takes a little time, you can always accomplish and do ANYTHING that you want.  It just takes time, persistence, and patience!