52-week savings challenge with a dated table
Set a start date and a base amount and get a 52-row table with a date, a deposit and a running total for each week. Tick weeks as you save them, and print the checklist if you like.
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How it works
Standard: week w saves base × w. Reverse: week w saves base × (53 − w). The dates are seven days apart, starting on the day you choose. The running total adds each week’s deposit. With a $1 base the total is 1 + 2 + … + 52 = 52 × 53 ÷ 2 = $1,378.
Choosing a base that fits
The standard $1 version asks for $52 in the last week, but the total is $1,378, which is a lot to find over a year on a tight budget. A $0.50 base halves everything ($689 total). Or use a fixed weekly amount you know you can keep up: a missed challenge saves nothing. To see whether a deposit fits, check your surplus in the budget planner.
Where the money comes from
The challenge is a habit, not a source of money. Pair it with a cut such as a cancelled subscription (see the subscription calculator) and put the goal on a date in the dated savings plan. Prefer something physical? Try the 100-envelope challenge.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the 52-week challenge save?
With a $1 base in the standard order you save $1 in week 1, $2 in week 2, up to $52 in week 52. That adds to $1,378 (52 × 53 ÷ 2). Other base amounts scale the same way: a $5 base totals $6,890.
What is the reverse order?
It starts with the biggest deposit ($52 for a $1 base) and ends with the smallest. The total is the same, but the big weeks come while your motivation is highest, and the last weeks are easy.
What if the later weeks are too large for me?
Use a smaller base such as $0.50, switch to the reverse order, or enter a fixed weekly amount. A fixed amount saves the same each week, so the total is the amount × 52.
Are my ticked weeks saved?
Yes, in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere. Clearing site data, using a private window or another device will not show them. Printing the checklist gives you a paper copy.
Does this earn interest?
No. The table is just deposits. If the money sits in an account that pays interest, the savings calculator can show how it grows.