Are you looking for ways to save some extra cash this summer?
Whether it’s to pay for those all-important festival tickets, book a last-minute getaway, or stash some cash for your future, there’s a new savings challenge in town. And, it’s weather-related.
Dubbed the ‘weather savings’ or the ‘check-the-temperature’ challenge, the idea is simple: your daily contributions to your savings account are weather dependent.
Ultimately, it’s a fun way to ensure you’re still planning for your future. Especially for those who struggle to save traditionally or prefer a more ad hoc approach due to financial constraints.
But before we get into the crux of this challenge, remember: saving in whatever capacity you can is still good monetary practice. You should never compare yourself to others.
What is the ‘weather savings challenge?’
In a nutshell, you check the weather forecast for the day (the highest temperature), and transfer that exact amount into your savings account. Today, for example, is set for highs of 23°C. Meaning you’d need to put £23 away.
While this all sounds very simple, you do need to have a plan. Some people may be able to afford to do this every day. Others may need to reduce to weekly deposits.
Whatever you can afford, it’s a challenge that you can dip in and out of. And, one that you don’t need to think about: it provides you with an exact amount you need to save.
In the UK, it’s likely to be more affordable in the winter. With average temperature highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C during the colder months, many will be able to keep up with the challenge for longer.
The challenge also works, in that our household bills tend to be bigger in winter (leaving less room for savings).
How much can you save?
In the UK, we can never guarantee constant sunshine. But say this gorgeous heatwave holds out until the end of August, and you start saving now, you could stash away a decent amount.
Monthly weather saving challenge
Going off the 23°C summer suggestion, here’s how much you could save if you put £23 away daily until the end of August:
• Monday, July 7: £23
• Tuesday, July 8: £23
• Wednesday, July 9: £23
• Thursday, July 10: £23
• Friday, July 11: £23
• Saturday, July 12: £23
• Sunday, July 13: £23
• Monday, July 14:
• Tuesday, July 15: £23
• Wednesday, July 16: £23
• Thursday, July 17: £23
• Friday, July 18: £23
• Saturday, July 19: £23
• Sunday, July 20: £23
• Monday, July 21: £23
• Tuesday, July 22: £23
• Wednesday, July 23: £23
• Thursday, July 24: £23
• Friday, July 25: £23
• Saturday, July 26: £23
• Sunday, July 27: £23
• Monday, July 28: £23
• Tuesday, July 29: £23
• Wednesday, July 30: £23
• Thursday, July 31: £23
• Friday, August 1: £23
• Saturday, August 2: £23
• Sunday, August 3: £23
• Monday, August 4: £23
• Tuesday, August 5: £23
• Wednesday, August 6: £23
• Thursday, August 7: £23
• Friday, August 8: £23
• Saturday, August 9: £23
• Sunday, August 10: £23
• Monday, August 11: £23
• Tuesday, August 12: £23
• Wednesday, August 13: £23
• Thursday, August 14: £23
• Friday, August 15: £23
• Saturday, August 16: £23
• Sunday, August 17: £23
• Monday, August 18: £23
• Tuesday, August 19: £23
• Wednesday, August 20: £23
• Thursday, August 21: £23
• Friday, August 22: £23
• Saturday, August 23: £23
• Sunday, August 24: £23
• Monday, August 25: £23
• Tuesday, August 26: £23
• Wednesday, August 27: £23
• Thursday, August 28: £23
• Friday, August 29: £23
• Saturday, August 30: £23
• Sunday, August 31: £23
Total: £1,288
Obviously, the UK isn’t going to experience temperatures of 23°C every day until September, so that’s just an example.
If it’s a cooler day and you can afford it, our advice would be to double the temperature to ensure you can save more. (This is another great winter hack, as it’s more likely to be a long stretch of single digits.)
Or if daily saving isn’t doable, why not try putting the highest temperature from the past week, or past month, into savings? This week, the UK saw record-breaking highs of 33°C. A few more of those, and you’re on your way to having an extra hundred quid in the bank.
If this savings challenge isn’t for you, don’t worry. Metro has been sharing plenty of other savvy ways to save money.
From the 50/30/20 method, which involves dividing your spending into three categories: needs, wants, and savings, to a hack that could see you accrue almost £3,000 before Christmas, there’s also a guide to investing for beginners.
Happy saving!
10 jobs that have the biggest pay rises revealed — plus latest salaries
If a steady job with a good salary is more of a priority now than saving, Metro rounded up 10 jobs that have seen the biggest pay rises since 2023:
10. Contracts manager
• Industry: Procurement
• Average salary (2024): £53,667
• % salary increase since 2023: 6.8%
9. Software architect (Microsoft Stack)
• Industry: Technology
• Salary (2024): £83,444
• % salary increase since 2023: 7.2%
8. In-house lawyer (1 year PQE)
• Industry: Legal
• Salary (2024): £54,000
• % salary increase since 2023: 7.2%
7. Part-qualified accountant (finalist)
• Industry: Finance
• Salary (2024): £41,375
• % salary increase since 2023: 7.6%
6. In-house lawyer (7-10 Years PQE – commerce and industry)
• Industry: Legal
• Salary (2024): £87,625
• % salary increase since 2023: 7.6%
5. Site Supervisor
• Industry: Engineering/manufacturing
• Salary (2024): £45,000
• % salary increase since 2023: 8%
4. Technology cyber manager (operational)
• Industry: Technology
• Salary (2024): £100,500
• % salary increase since 2023: 8.5%
3. Industrial engineer
• Industry: Engineering/manufacturing
• Salary (2024): £44,000
• % salary increase since 2023: 8.6%
2. Risk surveyor/consultant
• Industry: Insurance
• Salary (2024): £55,400
• % salary increase since 2023: 9.2%
1. Fabricator/welder
• Industry: Engineering/manufacturing
• Salary (2024): £33,500
• % salary increase since 2023: 9.5%
Find out more about each job description, plus the required qualifications, here.
