Why I Started Savings Challenges (And Why I Still Do Them 3 Years Later)

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Three years ago, I started doing savings challenges for one simple reason — we had a destination wedding to attend in Aruba.

BigDog’s son was getting married in 2024, and of course we wanted to be there. But the moment I started thinking about flights, hotels, and all the expenses that come with travel, one thought kept running through my head:

How were we going to afford it?

What I did know was this: I didn’t want to put the trip on a credit card. I’ve always believed that travel is better enjoyed when it’s paid for ahead of time, not something you’re still paying off months later. So, I needed a plan.

How My Mom Introduced Me to Cash Stuffing

My mom had mentioned to me something interesting. She told me about people on YouTube who were doing something called cash stuffing and participating in savings challenges. She stated this was a system she heard about years ago.

When she first mentioned it, I had never really thought about budgeting in that way. But the idea stuck with me. I started thinking, maybe I could do this.

So, like most curious people these days, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole. I started watching creators who were organizing their money using envelopes and savings challenges. They were setting aside small amounts every week and slowly building up their savings. It wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t fancy, but it seemed to work. And that’s when I decided to give it a try.

My First Savings Challenge

The first challenge I tried was the 52-week savings challenge. My goal was ambitious: save $5,000. I didn’t know if I would reach it. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I could stick with it. But I figured the only way to find out was to start. Every week I put money aside. Some weeks it was easier than others, but I kept going. Then something surprising happened.

Instead of saving $5,000 like I originally planned…I saved $8,000. That was the moment everything changed for me.

The Moment I Knew It Was Working

At first, savings challenges just felt like another thing to try. But over time I started seeing the envelopes fill up. Money was being saved. Not in theory. Not in a budget spreadsheet. Real money.

That’s when I realized this system was working. The consistency mattered more than the amount. Some weeks were small, some weeks were bigger, but it all added up. And that trip to Aruba? It was paid for without relying on credit. That felt like a huge win.

Why I Continued Savings Challenges After the Trip

Once the wedding was over, I could have easily stopped. But I didn’t. By that point I realized savings challenges were doing something bigger than just helping me pay for a trip.

They were helping me:

• Budget our household finances
• Be more intentional with spending
• Build better money habits
• Save money consistently

It became less about the challenge and more about the discipline it created. My Weekly Savings Challenge Updates

Now I share my journey publicly.

Each week I create a video showing:

• How much I saved that week
• Where the money is being allocated
• What goals I’m working toward

These weekly updates keep me accountable, but they also show people something important: Saving money doesn’t have to be perfect. Some weeks are big. Some weeks are small. But every week counts.

What Savings Challenges Changed for Me

After three years of doing savings challenges, the biggest changes aren’t just financial. They’re mental.

I’ve become:

More disciplined.
Saving is now a habit.

More mindful.
I pay closer attention to where my money goes.

More intentional.
Money isn’t something that just disappears anymore.

Instead, I see money as a tool.

A tool that helps create opportunities, security, and experiences.

What I Tell People Who Think Saving Is Impossible

One thing I hear often is this:

“I can’t save money. I don’t make enough.” I understand that feeling. A lot of people are working with tight budgets, fixed incomes, or rising costs. But here’s what I’ve learned from doing savings challenges for three years: Consistency matters more than the amount. Even small amounts count.

Five dollars saved every week adds up. Ten dollars saved consistently adds up. You don’t need to save huge amounts to start building momentum. You just need to keep going.

The Biggest Lesson from My Savings Journey

Savings challenges didn’t make me rich. But they did something just as valuable. They made me aware of where my money is going. And once you become aware of that, everything starts to change. Saving becomes less about restriction and more about intention. Small steps. Small wins. And over time, those small wins turn into something bigger than you expected. That’s the power of consistency. And it’s the reason I’m still doing savings challenges today.