Brits are being urged to begin stashing away their pennies for a challenge that would help them save more than £600 before next Christmas.
The money-saving habit, which has been backed by money-saving expert Martin Lewis, could see you pocket an extra £667.95 by December 21, 2023 - if you start now.
Martin previously told viewers on the ITV Martin Lewis Money Show in 2021: "There’s a big savings community out there who do this, it’s called the 1p Challenge. Basically, you save a penny on the first day of the year in a jar or piggy bank, 2p on the second, 3p on the third and keep going throughout the year.
"By the last day of December you’re saving £3.65, so that would give you £667. 95 in total.”
The challenge is also outlined on the Money Saving Expert website.
In order to take part in the challenge, you have to put a penny away each single day, over time it will grow into pounds which will eventually accumulate into hundreds that you can take with you into 2024.
How the penny challenge helps you save money
From January 1, save as much money as you did the day before, adding an extra penny on each time. For example, if you start by saving 1p, then 2p, then 3p a day – right the way up to £3.65 by the end of December, 2023.
If you start on New Year's Day, then by December 31, 2023 you will have saved a grand total of £667.95, Manchester Evening News reports.
12-month daily savings plan
Follow this penny savings plan:
Day 1: Put in £0.01
Day 2: Put in £0.02
Day 3: Put in £0.03
Day 4: Put in £0.04
Day 5: Put in £0.05
Day 6: Put in £0.06
Day 7: Put in £0.07
Day 8: Put in £0.08
Day 9: Put in £0.09
Day 10: Put in £0.10
Day 11: Put in £0.11
Total: £0.66
From Day 100 add:
Day 100: Put in £1.00
Day 101: Put in £1.01
Day 102: Put in £1.02
Double the amount on day 200:
Day 200: Put in £2.00
Day 201: Put in £2.01
Day 202: Put in £2.02
Continue until day 300, then add:
Day 300: Put in £3.00
Day 301: Put in £3.01
Day 302: Put in £3.02
On the final 365th day, drop in £3.56 and it's time to cash in your jar. If you have followed the plan throughout the 12 months, you should have saved £667.95 to start off the New Year.
