A simple daily saving challenge could help you build up nearly €1,000 before your summer holidayCredit : Garun Studios, Shutterstock
With summer holidays just weeks away, here’s one super easy way to build a travel fund, no spreadsheets, no stress, just one euro at a time.
Let’s be honest: summer sounds like a dream until you check your bank balance.
Between flights, hotels, eating out and those ‘just one more drink’ moments, holiday spending adds up fast. And even though we all promise ourselves we’ll “start saving next month,” that next month tends to creep up a little too quickly.
But here’s the good news: you’ve still got time to build a pretty solid summer fund — and you won’t even need to give up your morning coffee. The trick? It’s called the 30-day saving challenge, and if you start now, it could leave you with nearly €1,000 in your pocket just in time for that beach escape.
So, what’s the 30-day challenge?
It’s surprisingly simple. On day one, you put aside €1. Day two? €2. Day three? €3… You get the idea. You keep adding one more euro each day, right up to day 30 (or 31, depending on the month).
If you stick to it, by the end of the month, you’ll have saved around €465–€496, depending on how many days you commit to. Double that by doing it for both May and June, and you’ve got nearly €1,000 ready to go — just in time to book those flights or treat yourself to a guilt-free mojito.
This isn’t some niche finance hack : even Self Bank backs it, calling it a flexible, motivating way to save. And they’re right. It doesn’t feel restrictive. You’re not depriving yourself. You’re just building a habit, one small step at a time.
How the gradual saving trick keeps you motivated
What’s clever about this challenge isn’t the amount, it’s the rhythm. It starts off easy. Just €1 here, €2 there. You barely notice it. But by the time you’re tucking away €25, €28, €30 a day, you’ve already built the discipline — and seeing your savings grow is strangely addictive.
Now, if €1 feels too easy and you want a bigger boost, you can start higher. But be warned — starting at €2 means ending the month at €60 a day, which could get painful fast. The key is balance. Choose a number you can stick with, and actually enjoy the process.
Oh, and if you’re jumping in mid-month? No stress. Just catch up on the missed days in one go (it’ll sting a bit but only once) and carry on from there.
Why paying yourself first makes saving easier
If there’s one thing personal finance experts agree on, it’s this: stop waiting to save “what’s left”. Because let’s be real — there’s rarely anything left after the bills, the rent, and that midweek takeaway you swore you wouldn’t order.
The trick? Save first, spend after. Take a chunk of your paycheque the day it lands, even if it’s small, and move it straight to savings. Make it automatic. No decisions. No drama.
As HelpMyCash puts it, saving shouldn’t be what’s left over — it should be the starting point. Whether you’re putting money aside for a trip, an emergency, or just future-you, that mindset shift makes all the difference.
And here’s the best part: this challenge isn’t just about this summer. You can do it anytime. Before Christmas. Ahead of a big purchase. Or just to prove to yourself that yes, you can save — and you don’t need a finance degree to do it.
So go on, grab a jar, open a savings account, make a note on your fridge. However you do it, start now. Because when July rolls around, and you’re sipping something cold with your toes in the sand, you’ll be so glad you did.
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