6 Savings Challenges That Will Take Your Account From $0 To $1000 Real Quick
Adulting really is a thing that is happening whether we like it or not. As I slowly but surely come to terms with this, I've realized that one thing I have to consider is the importance of a savings account. Like a real real savings account.
I know, sometimes we feel overwhelmed just staying above water with our bills, because at times that can be a struggle in itself. But a savings account can make or break your entire money situation, and life, when the unexpected happens; or even if you just want to save for a major life event like buying a car or a house. While it's a big deal, it's not as hard as it sounds. The biggest obstacle is pressing "go" and getting started.
Thankfully, we've come across a few savings challenges that not only make it easy but prove that putting a little away each week or month can help you save more than $1,000 in a year.
1. The 52-Week Challenge:
If you're like me, it's really easy to feel all motivated and inspired to start saving, but when it comes to actually doing it, it can feel a little overwhelming because I might not have a couple hundred dollars on hand to jumpstart the process, so it's hard to start to begin with. That's why I love this 52-week money challenge. It lasts a year (clearly) and by the end of the timeframe, you would have saved almost $1,400! And it's really just starting with a little bit at a time and gradually growing the amount you save.
SaveALoonie
For the first week, you save $1, for week 2, $2, and so on… so for week 29, you save $29, for week 52, you save $52. Just like with all of these challenges, sticking with it is the major key to seeing the results you want.
2. That Every Other Week Challenge:
Most (if not all) of us get paid every other week. It's the nature of working a full-time job, so I completely understand why saving every week might not be the best challenge for you. If you get paid bi-weekly, I think payday is the best time to save because that's when the momentum is lit. You might feel like you're ballin' and can throw some money into your savings account before you let other expenses eat it up.
You can do the 52-week challenge your own way and only save on payday instead of every week; just double the amounts per week (so for week 1, save $2 and for week 2, save $4, and so on) to still reach the nearly $1,400 you would get with the 52-week challenge.
3. The $20 A Week Challenge:
I can't help but reiterate that the focus of these challenges is doing a little bit at a time. $20 a week might sound like everything to you or nothing, but it can be done if you take the initiative. For me, I've thought there's no way I'll have $20 leftover at the end of the week. But once I realized how much I was spending on food and other unnecessary items just for leisure, I found out I could actually save more than $20 a week if I really wanted to be that disciplined.
The best part is, once you start challenging yourself and see your savings account start stacking up, you'll want to save even more. At the very least, if you save $20 a week for a year, you'll end up with more than $1,000 in your savings. If your goal is to save more, decide how much you want saved within a certain time frame, divide it by the weeks and boom, that's how much you need to save per week.
4. A Penny A Day...
…Can help you save almost $700. It's not $1,000, but I had to throw this one in there because it's so easy, you might even be able to do it along with one of the challenges on here. You literally start with one penny a day and save an extra penny for each day after that. So day 1 is one penny, day 2 is two pennies, day 3 is three pennies, and so on and so on. By the end of the year, you would have saved $667.95.
I know it's extremely tedious to try and find pennies, because who really carries change like that? You can either transfer it to your savings from your checking or just save a larger amount than a penny, so it doesn't get annoying. You can also save by the week using this chart if to you a penny a day is really doing the utmost.
5. It's The First Of The Month
Yes, if saving daily, weekly, or bi-weekly is too much to remember, there's also a monthly challenge that will get you almost $1,100 a year. With this challenge, you can set a reminder on the first or whenever your initial payday of the month is to put an amount into your savings. The only thing with this one is that since it's monthly, you'll have to save more each time compared to the other challenges.
For the first month you save $25, the second you save $50, the third you save $75, and keep adding $25 until the six month, where you'll save $150. Then you channel your inner Missy Elliott and reverse it for the rest of the year. The seventh month you save $150 again, $125 in the eighth month, $50 in the eleventh month and $25 for month 12. By then, you'll have $1,050. It's definitely tedious but when you challenge yourself and make it fun, you'll start a new habit that can stack your account without a question.
6. No Spending Challenge
Even though stacking your savings account is an obvious and easy way to save, that's not the only way to partake in a savings challenge. You can also challenge yourself not to eat out for a week and put what you normally would spend on a restaurant (even if it's just McDonald's) in your savings account. You can save money by setting a budget for everything you do from grocery shopping to gas, and any portion of that allotted amount you don't spend can get dropped right in that savings.
Ultimately, it's really up to you what you're willing to give up or sacrifice for the sake of stacking your savings account. Thankfully, it's really not that bad once you get going.
The key is to keep the momentum until you reach your goal.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Originally published December 28, 2018.
- 11 Money Challenges to Try When Saving Sucks ›
- Top 10 Fun & Easy Money Savings Challenges for 2019 ›
- 5 New Year's money challenges to save more in 2018 | Clark Howard ›
- 8 Savings Challenges You Can Use To Save More in 2018 ›
- 10 Money Saving Challenges to Start Today! ›
- 4 Money Saving Challenges for Small Budgets - The Budget Mom ›
- 5 Money Saving Challenges to Try | Budgets Are Sexy ›
- 7 Fun Money Saving Challenges to Try in 2018 ›
- 10 Money Saving Challenges To Kick-Start Your New Year - The ... ›
- 8 Different Money Saving Challenges to Try | Young Adult Money ›
Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
I think we all can agree that social media really is a double-edged sword. What I mean by that is there is just as much bad that can come out of it as good. At the end of the day, it really is about 1) having your own mind, 2) finding balance when it comes to how much time you spend online, and 3) doing your own research instead of taking random people’s opinions as the gospel (i.e., facts).
Gee, I wish more folks did all of this when it comes to if a man needs to have a large penis to sexually satisfy a woman (he does not) and if a woman who has had multiple sex partners will ultimately end up with a vagina that is too large for smaller penises to please her (a lie).
Science totally has my back on debunking both of those things (more on that in a bit). Know what else does? A particular type of sex method that is becoming more popular by the day. One that just might convince you to, as they used to say back in the day, focus less on the “size of the wave” and ride out the “motion of the ocean” instead.
It’s called shallowing. Here’s what it’s all about.
What Is Shallowing?
GiphyIf there’s one thing that I wish folks would say more thoroughly when it comes to women and orgasms, it’s that when it comes to75 percent of women not being able to orgasm from only intercourse, the accurate statement is they struggle with achieving a vaginal orgasm without the assistance of some type of clitoral stimulation. Yeah, we’ve really got to remember that very few things in this life are a complete monolith — orgasms included (check out “U-Spot Orgasm, Fantasy Orgasm & 6 Other Orgasms You Should Try Tonight”).
In fact, it was while I was reading up on pairing — a word that is used for when clitoral stimulation transpires during penetration — that I decided to do some deep-diving into shallowing (because it was mentioned inone of the articles that I read).And what is it? Shallowing is when a penis, finger, tongue, or sex toy of some sort is used in order to ever so slightly penetrate the vaginal opening of a woman.
And why is shallowing not just a current sex trend but something that every woman on this planet should try? It’s because of what I’ve said, more than once, on this platform: it focuses on the most sensitive part of a woman’s vagina, which isthe first two inches of her vaginal opening.
When the emphasis is placed there, not only does it increase your chances of experiencing “the big O,” but it can also build up anticipation, which can intensify your orgasms too — yes, shallowing can also be seen as a form of edging.
Another thing that’s cool about shallowing is — and it really and truly can’t be said enough — something that makes vaginal and blended orgasms easier to achieve for some women really has little to do with the size of a man’s package or even his technique; it’s straight up anatomy. Yep, the closer that a woman’s clitoris is to her vaginal opening, the easier it is for a penis to stimulate both. So, science makes it possible for vaginal orgasms to be easier for some women than others.
At the same time, shallowing can make it possible for more women who want to see what a vaginal orgasm actually feels like (because it’s easier for the head of the penis to stimulate the opening of the vagina while the shaft can rub up against your clitoris; based on the position that you are in, of course — the missionary with some pillows propped under the lower part of your back is ideal for this).
Now that you see what shallowing actually is, do you get why I said that penis size doesn’t matter when it comes to doing it — and getting the kind of orgasms that you want? Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is only around four inches. In fact, some health experts say that it ranges between 2-4”. Anything larger, your body literally has to stretch out to accommodate; this includes penises and babies. So, if your vagina is “making room” for more than four inches, why in the world do you think you need a 10-inch man? Yeah…exactly. It really is time to get over the silliness. The average penis continues to be 5.5”. Makes sense when you take it all in (no pun intended).
Aight, so now that you know what shallowing is all about, let me try and hard sell you on why it’s a sex technique that you should try as soon as tonight (if you possibly can).
1. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner.
I’ve been working with couples for almost 20 years at this point. This means that the topic of sex comes up quite a bit. And if there’s one thing that continues to be an issue is inconsistent orgasms (check out “Why Do Orgasms So Often Seem Like A ‘Hit-Or-Miss’ Experience For Women?”).
Listen, no matter how many articles you read or sex positions you try, if you’re anxious, stressed out, or overthinking, it’s gonna get in the way of you experiencing high peaks of pleasure on a consistent basis. Since shallowing is something that can easily be done even in foreplay (via fingering and/ororal sex) if you get that first “release” off, that makes it easier to just sit back and enjoy the ones that (hopefully) are to follow.
2. It teaches you more about your vagina.
A part of the reason why I keep repeating certain facts about vaginas in these articles is that it’s amazing how little certain things are discussed en masse — like the size of the vaginal tube. And since shallowing helps you to stimulate the nerve endings at the entrance of your va-jay-jay along with your G-spot (which is housed a little ways from your opening), shallowing is a great way to explore that area of your body as you figure out what truly works for you and…what doesn’t.
3. It’s the perfect merging of foreplay and intercourse.
When you really stop to think about it, shallowing is like the bridge between foreplay and intercourse because you can use so many different things to do it. So, if you want to experiment with a new sex toy or you want a bit more time to “warm up the engine” before full-on penetration begins, shallowing is one of the most sexually arousing compromises there is.
4. It can help to increase your partner’s stamina.
A few years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “We’ve Got Some All-Natural Ways To Increase Stamina & Sensitivity.” Listen, even though I onceread a GQ article that said that over 60 percent of the people they polled were fine with intercourse lasting no longer than 5-10 minutes — that poll doesn’t speak for all of us, chile.
So, if you would like your man to build up to going longer, shallowing can help to make that happen. Since he’s barely putting beyond the tip in, he can learn how to be in you for longer periods of time without being, well, in you.
5. It helps you to appreciate whatever “package” he has.
Again — and it really can’t be said enough — if shallowing is all about exploring the mere entrance of your vagina, you don’t need a man with BDE (check out “BDE: Please Let The 'It Needs To Be Huge' Myth Go”) or honestly, even anything close to it.
I mean, even though, reportedly, the size that the average woman says gives her the most orgasms is eight inches — I bet those women have never really tried shallowing before. 10”, 8”, or the average 5.5” can certainly get the job done. And well.
6. It feels A-MAZ-ING.
Okay,so now that you know about shallowing, I promise that if you put the word into your favorite search engine, you’re either gonna see articles on golfing (LOL) or sex, especially as of late. That’s because more couples are trying it out and getting mind-blowing results from it. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, give shallowing a shot.
Hey, anything that’s designed to stimulate your most intense vaginal nerve endings has got to be something for the record books. I mean, how could it not be? Lawd.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Juan Moyano/Getty Images