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365 Day 1p Challenge for 2026

enthusiasticsaver
enthusiasticsaver Posts: 16,205 Ambassador
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
edited 20 December at 12:15PM in Debt-free wannabe challenges
This challenge has been running for a number of years and is so popular I have agreed to run it again in 2026. If you wish to join please post on this thread and I will allocate you a number which should be quoted when you update on your progress. You can do this either using cash in a jar or virtually by transferring to a savings space or account. 

Here is a link to the 2025 blog explaining how the challenge works. 

How to save £667.95 in 2025 with the 1p Savings Challenge

It is up to you when you update but most people do it monthly or weekly. I will be giving preference to savers who have posted regularly during 2025 and allocating the lower numbers to them.  There was a fairly high drop out rate this year and whilst sometimes this is unavoidable please do consider whether you intend to stay the course before signing up.  Anyone who does not post for 3 months or longer will be removed. I will be putting a link up for the spreadsheet which will monitor our progress at the beginning of 2026 so please keep an eye out for this. 

Over the four or five years I have been doing it I have used the lump sum conveniently available in January to fund either Christmas by paying off the credit card bill (IN FULL of course), pay for a deposit for a holiday or splurge in the sales or simply save towards a new car or kitchen.  It is a relatively painless way of saving and rewarding to see the money there at the end of the year. 

The aim is to save £667.95 by the end of 2026 by saving 1p on 1st January, 2p on 2nd January and so on all the way up to £3.65 on 31 December.   You do not have to do it in a set order. Please see the blog to find out how the Challenge works.  The link is further up this post. 

I look forward to seeing some of the regulars from the last few years and maybe some new recruits. 
I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£667.95
Save £12k in 2025 #1 £12000/£15000

Comments

  • enthusiasticsaver
    enthusiasticsaver Posts: 16,205 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Dear Challengers

    Having finished the 2025 challenge like many others I am kicking off the Challenge for 2026.  My savings this year have gone towards Christmas.  

    I am therefore signing up with #1.  Please quote your number when you update to help me find you on the spreadsheet. 

    I have saved many different ways over the four or five years I have been doing this challenge from doing it erratically to sticking to the conventional method of  the 1p on 1st January etc etc. 2026 I need to be budgeting carefully as I have two large trips to pay for so I will be signing up to do it at £55 per month and top up near the end of 2026.  I will be using a regular saver to save and hopefully the interest in December 2026 will cover the last payment. I will open it in the first week of January. I do not use cash much these days so a jar does not really work for me. 

    Feel free to elaborate on how you will save. 
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

    The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£667.95
    Save £12k in 2025 #1 £12000/£15000
  • Dizzycap
    Dizzycap Posts: 1,374 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Debt-free and Proud!
    Whoo-hoo another 1p a day savings challenge for 2026! AWESEOME! I'd love to join in as #2 and will add to my sig now xxxxxxx
    ~ NSD 2026 - NSD January 0/20 (1)
    # Spectos/Royal Mail Monitoring and Posting Panel 2026 - On Rest
    # No.36 Make £2026 in 2026 £0 / £2026 (1)
    # No.12 Save £2 a Day 2026 £0 / £730 (1)
    # No.2 Save 1p A Day 2026 £0 / £667.95 (1)
    # No.19 52 Week Env Challenge 2026 £0 / £1378 (1)
    # No.4 Save £12k in 2026 £0 / £12,000 (1)
    # No.16 Sealed (Christmas) Pot Challenge 19 - 2026 - 24/12/25 - 24/10 2026 £40+ / £400 (1)
  • Can I join please? I joined late this year so put what would have been Decembers in a coin tin and ready for 2026 💪🏻
    Debts off by Xmas 2026 0/4000
    NSD Dec 16/20 
    365 challenge 

    #cc1 /4100 high interest
    #cc2  /3400
    #cc3  /2143 
    #cc4. /6570
    #loan1 /14000 
    #loan2 /11000
  • Yes! I am coming back for my second year. May do a slower course for 2026, so not the £50 I was usually doing but may also hop around not sure yet. I was in different challenge which I do in cash but this one is strictly digital only. Looking at a different savings account for 2026. I'll be number 3 this time if that's okay @enthusiasticsaver:)
  • Can I be # no 13 please? 
    Debts off by Xmas 2026 0/4000
    NSD Dec 16/20 
    365 challenge 

    #cc1 /4100 high interest
    #cc2  /3400
    #cc3  /2143 
    #cc4. /6570
    #loan1 /14000 
    #loan2 /11000
  • claremylove
    claremylove Posts: 752 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Can I join again please enthusiasticsaver.  Love this challenge  :)
    £2 coin savings club 2026 #1 £0 (2025 £696; 2024 £692; 2023 £754; 2022 £472; 2021 £256; 2020 £358; 2019 £512; 2018 £404; 2017 640) Saving for Xmas £1 a day # £0 / £365 3-6 month emergency fund challenge #48 £20.050 Save a penny a day 2024 #32 £ . / £667.95 £1000 emergency fund challenge #232 £1,007/ £1,000 (achieved Nov 2020)
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