The Savings Games

Whether you need a little kick or are just hyper competitive, turning savings goals into a game can make the task of saving that much easier and more enjoyable. Even setting hypothetical challenges and rewards can become the dangling carrot you’ll need to reach your goal, while having a bit of fun in the meantime. You can think up just about anything to challenge yourself, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

Summer games

There are so many ways you can challenge yourself to save during the summer months, so why not invent your own games that will have you cheering for the heat to come around? For example, ‘dollars for degrees’ lets the weather determine the amount you save on a day-to-day or weekly basis. The game is simple, on any designated day, check the weather and deposit $1 for every degree in the highest temp for that day (i.e. 34 degrees = $34.00 savings). Depending on how keen you are and how often you play, dollars for degrees could be the game that saves you a tone of cash and give you all the more reason to soak up those beach days.

Bad habit savings account

If you find kicking bad habits particularly hard to do, then this is the game for you. It’s easy; think of a habit you’d like to kick and start a savings account or penalty jar to make sure you keep your word. For example, if you’ve promised yourself to exercise on certain days of the week, every time you miss an appointment, throw $20 in the jar. Win or lose, at least you’ll have something to show for it in the end.

Currency collecting

For some, coin collecting is a hobby, but if you’re not into it, it can still be a great way to save something extra each month on your own terms. This involves putting aside one of every type of coin or note over the course of a month (totalling $188.85 after all are collected), pretty straight forward. You get to decide when and what you put away, but you must collect them all before the month finishes ready to deposit away. For example, in week one you might be super busy so maybe it’s not the best time to throw in a hundred or fifty dollar note – put aside a 5 or 10 cent coin that week and save the big ones for when you’re spending less. Do this each month and you’ll find yourself sitting on a nice little pot of extra savings.

While we’re at it… here are some tools to help you get there

“There’s an app for that”, the modern day catch phrase that is thrown around whenever someone in your immediate circle of friends is venting about their ‘first world problem’. The funny thing is, there probably is an app for it. Here’s a handful that’ll help ease the pressure on your back pocket.

• MotorMouth – A crowd-sourced database of petrol stations and fuel prices from all across Australia. All station information is added and edit by users like yourself (iOS and Android compatible).
• GetPrice – Compare prices on the fly with this handy app that lets you scan a products barcode and reports back on where you’ll find it on the cheap  (iOS compatible).
• The Happiest Hour – Dinner and drinks on the cheap. This app will help you hunt down the best deals at pubs, clubs and restaurants Australia wide (iOS and Android compatible).