How the 52-week challenge works
- Open a separate savings account so the money is not mixed with your spending money.
- Each week, move that week’s amount from the chart. Tick the week off when it is done.
- Set up an automatic transfer if your bank allows it. Automatic savings are the ones that actually happen.
- Missed a week? Do two small weeks together. The total still adds up.
Popular variations
| Version | Total after 52 weeks |
|---|---|
| Classic: $1, $2, $3 … $52 | $1,378 |
| Reverse: $52, $51 … $1 | $1,378 |
| Double: $2, $4, $6 … $104 | $2,756 |
| $5 steps: $5, $10, $15 … $260 | $6,890 |
| Fixed $25 every week | $1,300 |
| Fixed $50 every week | $2,600 |
Tip: the reverse version starts with the biggest deposits in January, when motivation is high, and ends with $1 weeks in December, when holiday costs hit.
Weekly, biweekly and monthly amounts for a savings goal
| Goal | Per week (52) | Per paycheck (26, biweekly) | Per month (12) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $19.23 | $38.46 | $83.33 |
| $2,000 | $38.46 | $76.92 | $166.67 |
| $3,000 | $57.69 | $115.38 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $96.15 | $192.31 | $416.67 |
| $10,000 | $192.31 | $384.62 | $833.33 |
The full 2027 chart
| Week | Week of | Classic deposit | Reverse deposit | Running total (classic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 1 | $1 | $52 | $1 |
| 2 | Jan 8 | $2 | $51 | $3 |
| 3 | Jan 15 | $3 | $50 | $6 |
| 4 | Jan 22 | $4 | $49 | $10 |
| 5 | Jan 29 | $5 | $48 | $15 |
| 6 | Feb 5 | $6 | $47 | $21 |
| 7 | Feb 12 | $7 | $46 | $28 |
| 8 | Feb 19 | $8 | $45 | $36 |
| 9 | Feb 26 | $9 | $44 | $45 |
| 10 | Mar 5 | $10 | $43 | $55 |
| 11 | Mar 12 | $11 | $42 | $66 |
| 12 | Mar 19 | $12 | $41 | $78 |
| 13 | Mar 26 | $13 | $40 | $91 |
| 14 | Apr 2 | $14 | $39 | $105 |
| 15 | Apr 9 | $15 | $38 | $120 |
| 16 | Apr 16 | $16 | $37 | $136 |
| 17 | Apr 23 | $17 | $36 | $153 |
| 18 | Apr 30 | $18 | $35 | $171 |
| 19 | May 7 | $19 | $34 | $190 |
| 20 | May 14 | $20 | $33 | $210 |
| 21 | May 21 | $21 | $32 | $231 |
| 22 | May 28 | $22 | $31 | $253 |
| 23 | Jun 4 | $23 | $30 | $276 |
| 24 | Jun 11 | $24 | $29 | $300 |
| 25 | Jun 18 | $25 | $28 | $325 |
| 26 | Jun 25 | $26 | $27 | $351 |
| 27 | Jul 2 | $27 | $26 | $378 |
| 28 | Jul 9 | $28 | $25 | $406 |
| 29 | Jul 16 | $29 | $24 | $435 |
| 30 | Jul 23 | $30 | $23 | $465 |
| 31 | Jul 30 | $31 | $22 | $496 |
| 32 | Aug 6 | $32 | $21 | $528 |
| 33 | Aug 13 | $33 | $20 | $561 |
| 34 | Aug 20 | $34 | $19 | $595 |
| 35 | Aug 27 | $35 | $18 | $630 |
| 36 | Sep 3 | $36 | $17 | $666 |
| 37 | Sep 10 | $37 | $16 | $703 |
| 38 | Sep 17 | $38 | $15 | $741 |
| 39 | Sep 24 | $39 | $14 | $780 |
| 40 | Oct 1 | $40 | $13 | $820 |
| 41 | Oct 8 | $41 | $12 | $861 |
| 42 | Oct 15 | $42 | $11 | $903 |
| 43 | Oct 22 | $43 | $10 | $946 |
| 44 | Oct 29 | $44 | $9 | $990 |
| 45 | Nov 5 | $45 | $8 | $1,035 |
| 46 | Nov 12 | $46 | $7 | $1,081 |
| 47 | Nov 19 | $47 | $6 | $1,128 |
| 48 | Nov 26 | $48 | $5 | $1,176 |
| 49 | Dec 3 | $49 | $4 | $1,225 |
| 50 | Dec 10 | $50 | $3 | $1,275 |
| 51 | Dec 17 | $51 | $2 | $1,326 |
| 52 | Dec 24 | $52 | $1 | $1,378 |
Where to keep the money
Keep challenge money in a savings account at a bank or credit union with deposit insurance (FDIC for banks, NCUA for credit unions). An account that pays interest helps a little more each month; try the compound interest calculator to see the difference. If you carry credit card debt at a high interest rate, paying it down with the same weekly amount can save you more than a savings account earns. See how to pay off credit card debt.
Pair it with a no-spend month
Many people start the year with a no-spend challenge and move what they did not spend straight into the 52-week savings account.
Questions
How much do you save with the 52-week money challenge?
The classic version saves $1,378 in one year: $1 in week 1, $2 in week 2 and so on up to $52 in week 52.
How do I save $5,000 in 52 weeks?
Save $96.15 a week, $192.31 per biweekly paycheck or $416.67 a month. The $5-step version ($5, $10, $15 … $260) saves $6,890.
How do I save $10,000 in a year?
Save $192.31 a week, $384.62 per biweekly paycheck or $833.33 a month.
Can I start the 52-week challenge in the middle of the year?
Yes. Week 1 is whenever you start. The total is the same after 52 weeks.
Sources & review
Written by the Everydaily Editorial Team and checked on November 5, 2026. For planning only, not financial advice. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy or tell us.