30-Day Personal Finance Challenge

Ready for a challenge? Print out this list and try to cross off one of these items every single day for thirty days straight and see how you do – and if you run out of ones that work for you, write in your own. Good luck!

Note: some of the items are repeated on purpose, since they’re likely to occur more than once.

  1. Order a free cup of water instead of a drink.
  2. Order a free cup of water instead of a drink.
  3. Order a free cup of water instead of a drink.
  4. Buy the generic store brand instead of the big name brand for 1 item while shopping.
  5. Buy the generic store brand instead of the big name brand for 1 item while shopping.
  6. Buy the generic store brand instead of the big name brand for 1 item while shopping.
  7. Look for a coupon when you’re about to make a purchase (it’s okay if you don’t find one – the key is to just look)!
  8. Look for a coupon when you’re about to make a purchase.
  9. Turn off unused lights that are on in your house.
  10. Turn off unused lights that are on in your house.
  11. Put $10 into your savings account.
  12. Put $15 into your savings account.
  13. Put $20 into your savings account.
  14. Use your loose coins when making a cash purchase.
  15. Use your loose coins when making a cash purchase.
  16. Use your loose coins when making a cash purchase.
  17. Bring lunch to work.
  18. Bring lunch to work.
  19. Bring lunch to work.
  20. Skip buying the coffee, pretzels or whatever $4 snack it is you spend your money on.
  21. Skip buying the coffee, pretzels or whatever $4 snack it is you spend your money on.
  22. Take the shorter-distance route on your way to go somewhere, even if it takes longer (just leave a bit earlier!).
  23. Take the shorter-distance route on your way to go somewhere, even if it takes longer (just leave a bit earlier!).
  24. Change your mind about eating out and cook at home.
  25. Change your mind about eating out and cook at home.
  26. Order only an entree – no drinks, no appetizers, no dessert!
  27. Order only an entree – no drinks, no appetizers, no dessert!
  28. Go grocery shopping based on what’s on sale at the store that week.
  29. Find and sell an item around your house that you usually don’t use. Try Facebook Marketplace or LetGo!
  30. Exchange your loose coins at your local bank, or for an Amazon giftcard at your nearest Coinstar.