MAKE this the year you finally hit your savings target.
Pad out your bank account in 2026 by following these challenges which will help keep you on track.
ROUND IT UP: While many people save £1 per day to tuck away £365 every year, check with your bank to see if you can set up automated round-ups.
NatWest and Chase are among the banks that can round up every transaction to the next pound, with the difference moved into a separate savings account.
NatWest also gives customers the option to multiply the difference.
DON’T SPEND A PENNY: Fancy saving a little bit more? Monzo customers can sign up for the 1p Challenge, where you increase your daily save by a penny a day to bag nearly £668 by the end of the year.
Those who complete the challenge will also be in with a chance to win £10,000.
NO-SPEND SAVER: Decide on a specific day of the week where you don’t spend anything, to reap the savings rewards.
To help you stick to it, plan activities such as movie marathons or even batch cooking so you can avoid buying dinners and lunches for the following week.
LOW-SPEND SAVER: If not spending anything seems like an impossible feat, why not try a low-spend challenge?
Plan each month in advance to make allowances for things you can’t avoid, such as birthday nights out, and avoid all other treat spending.
The Plum app has introduced a No Spend Days feature, where users set a daily outlay limit. When you stay under it, the app automatically saves the difference to a separate account.
LAST DIGIT WIDGIT: According to Starling Bank, 43 per cent of people who check their balance daily save more and stick to their financial New Year’s resolutions for longer.
When you open a new saving space in the Starling app, you can download a Last Digit Widget to add to your phone’s home screen, which gives daily reminders to check your bank balance.
Customers are then encouraged to save the last digit, in pounds or pence.
For example, a balance of £123.45 would see you transfer 5p or £5.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the Day
BEAT the winter chill with the Fine Elements double-size electric blanket at robertdyas.co.uk.
Was £24.99, now £14.99.
SAVE: £10
Cheap treat
BOOST immunity with the Actimel yoghurt drink multipack (8x100g) – usually £3.42, now £2.50, at Asda.
SAVE: 92p
What’s new?
PICK up lunch at Costa Coffee and try the new January menu. A toastie-and-coffee combo is £6.49, and you can add a pack of selected crisps for just £1 more.
Top swap
FOR glowing skin, try the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence, £21 at look-fantastic.com.
Or head to Primark for the new Korean skincare range and the PS… Glass Skin Rice Toner for £4.50.
SAVE: £16.50
Little helper
CRAVING a classic winter warmer? Co-op members can get bangers and mash or chips for just £2 (£2.50 for non-members). Become a member for £1 at coop.co.uk.
Shop & save
NEW year, new brew. Get the Tower solitaire kettle featuring a 360-degree swivel base and cord storage.
Was £29, now £19, at very.co.uk.
SAVE: £10
Hot right now
AMAZON Prime members can get two Odeon cinema tickets for £10, Monday- Thursday, once a month (odeon.co.uk/amazon).
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
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