How to start a savings challenge

Make small steps towards bigger savings with a savings challenge.

A savings challenge that requires a little less maths is the save your age challenge. For this one, you basically save your age until your next birthday, giving you a little pot of gold just for you – Happy Birthday!

Are you 25? Save £25 each month. 45? Save £45. You could even do it for your little one, niece or nephew – using their age – to help pay for their birthday treat when the big day arrives.

A simple savings challenge with a big feel-good payoff. Choose an amount that works for you and move it into your savings every pay day, before you spend it. Even small, regular payments can build into something meaningful over time.

How it works:

choose your savings account
pick an amount you can stick to
pay future you every payday.

That’s it. Small amounts. Big future-you energy.

Taking the “future you thanks you” challenge can help you to:

turn saving into something you do automatically, not just when you remember
build up a pot for the things that matter to you – from family holidays and Christmas presents, to inevitable home repairs and vet bills.
feel more in control of your money, knowing you’ve already done something positive for future‑you each time you get paid.

Tiny top ups are a simple way to save a little bit every day.

Each time you spend, you can chose to move the spare change - the last digit amount in pounds or pence into your savings. There's no automation or rules. Just a small action when it suits you.

How it works:

you decide when to top up
you chose how often you save
you can skip, pause it, or stop anytime

An example is:

You spent £3.55 at the corner shop, you add the remaining 45p to your savings to round it up.

It's all about putting a little bit away regularly and building good habits.

How to start a first direct savings challenge

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Starting a save your age challenge

The simplest way to set up the save your age challenge in our App:

Set up a standing order

To complete this challenge you'll need to save your age amount each month. So if you're 25, save £25 per month. Set up a standing order for your chosen amount and frequency in our App and we'll automate your transfer.

See our Standing Orders page for support setting up in our App.

Starting a future you thanks you

Get started on this savings challenge in 3 quick steps:

choose a savings account. Either pick an existing savings account with us, or open a new one if you prefer to keep this challenge separate. This is where your “future you” money will go each payday
pick an amount you can stick with. Start small with £10 or £15 if you're unsure and you can always increase it at a later date.
set up a standing order from you current account into your savings for each payday.

Or, you can make a manual transfer each payday, whichever works best for you.

What to do as you go

As you continue the challenge, it can help to:

check your savings balance from time to time to see how it’s growing and how it feels to have that extra buffer
adjust the amount if you need to – you can reduce it if things are tight, or increase it when you can afford to
set or update a goal for what you’d like future‑you to be able to do with this money – such as covering an unexpected bill, booking a trip, or starting a home project.

You can simply keep going for as long as you like – turning a short challenge into a savings habit that sticks.

Starting tiny top ups

Tiny top ups don't require standing orders, prep work, or setting up - just a small action when it suits you.

Each time you spend, you can chose to move the spare change - the last digit amount in pounds or pence into savings.

See our Payments and Transfers page for support sending money between your accounts in our App.

One of the best ways to save money is to put it aside in a savings account. That way, you won’t accidentally spend it – or be tempted to dip into it (we’ve all been there).

If you've got a savings account, you should check to make sure you’ll get the most out of your money during your savings challenge. And if you haven’t got a savings account yet, now’s the perfect time to open one.

We offer different types of savings accounts, each with their own terms and conditions – from tax-free* savings, to instant access and favourable fixed rates. Compare our savings accounts and see how much more you could save.

*Tax-free means it is paid free from UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax .

How to start a savings challenge

What is a savings challenge?

What's in here?

Save your age challenge

Future you thanks you challenge

Tiny top ups

How to start a first direct savings challenge

Starting a save your age challenge

Starting a future you thanks you

Starting tiny top ups

Now to make the most of your savings

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