Photo: Victor Dubreuil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Why it works
It turns cash change into savings without any planning. How much you save depends on how often you use cash, so it suits people who still pay cash for small things.
The rules
- Every $5 bill you receive as change goes into the jar.
- No taking it back out.
- Count it once a quarter, or keep it as a surprise for the end of the year.
The plan
- Each weekTick off the week and note how many $5 bills went in.
- Each quarterCount and bank the jar, or leave it to grow.
Your tracker
Tick off each week
Your progress is saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us.
Tips
- If you rarely use cash, do the digital version: every time you spend on a treat, move $5 to savings.
- Use a jar you cannot easily open, or a sealed money tin.
If you slip
Spent one by accident? Put the next two in.
When you finish
Bank it before the holidays and decide what it is for.
Frequently asked questions
How much can you save with the $5 challenge?
It depends on how often you get $5 bills. Each one is $5; two a week is $520 a year.
Did $5 Bill Challenge? Rate it.
Tips from travellers
Tried $5 Bill Challenge? Share what helped. The first good one goes right here.
Share a tip
Questions from readers
Question about $5 Bill Challenge? Ask it here.