Guide · Parent & Child Together
Family Savings Challenges: 4 Money Challenges to Do With Your Kids
Quick answer: the best savings challenge for kids is one you do with them. Start young kids on a spare-change jar race, move 8–18 year olds to a kid-sized 52-week challenge (25¢ more each week, about $344 in a year), and add a parent match to make saving exciting.
The 4 challenges
1. Kid-sized 52-week challenge (Ages 8–18)
How it works: Save 25¢ in week 1, 50¢ in week 2, and add 25¢ each week. After 52 weeks your child has about $344. Younger kids can use 10¢ steps (about $138).
Do it together: Parent does the adult version alongside; compare totals at every family money meeting.
2. Spare-change jar race (Ages 4–10)
How it works: Parent and child each get a clear jar. For one month, drop in spare coins and a share of chore money. Count together every Sunday.
Do it together: The winner picks a family activity; the loser plans the budget for it.
3. Parent match challenge (Ages 8–18)
How it works: For every dollar your child saves toward a goal, you add a set amount (for example 50¢). Set a cap and an end date.
Do it together: Works like an employer match on a retirement plan — a powerful lesson for teens.
4. No-spend week (Ages 10–18)
How it works: Everyone in the family agrees to skip one kind of spending (snacks, apps, takeout) for seven days and moves what they would have spent into savings.
Do it together: Track it on the fridge; share what was hardest at the end of the week.
Which challenge fits your child's age
| Age | Best challenge | Typical goal | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–7 | Spare-change jar race | $10–$20 toy or treat | 2–4 weeks |
| 8–12 | 10¢ or 25¢ 52-week challenge, parent match | $50–$150 bigger want | 3–12 months |
| 13–18 | 25¢ 52-week challenge, no-spend week, parent match | $200+ phone, trip or car fund | 6–12 months |
Kid-sized 52-week tracker (25¢ steps)
Copy or print this and check off each week together.
| Week | Save | Total | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.25 | $0.25 | ☐ |
| 2 | $0.50 | $0.75 | ☐ |
| 3 | $0.75 | $1.50 | ☐ |
| 4 | $1.00 | $2.50 | ☐ |
| 5 | $1.25 | $3.75 | ☐ |
| 6 | $1.50 | $5.25 | ☐ |
| 7 | $1.75 | $7.00 | ☐ |
| 8 | $2.00 | $9.00 | ☐ |
| 9 | $2.25 | $11.25 | ☐ |
| 10 | $2.50 | $13.75 | ☐ |
| 11 | $2.75 | $16.50 | ☐ |
| 12 | $3.00 | $19.50 | ☐ |
| 13 | $3.25 | $22.75 | ☐ |
| 14 | $3.50 | $26.25 | ☐ |
| 15 | $3.75 | $30.00 | ☐ |
| 16 | $4.00 | $34.00 | ☐ |
| 17 | $4.25 | $38.25 | ☐ |
| 18 | $4.50 | $42.75 | ☐ |
| 19 | $4.75 | $47.50 | ☐ |
| 20 | $5.00 | $52.50 | ☐ |
| 21 | $5.25 | $57.75 | ☐ |
| 22 | $5.50 | $63.25 | ☐ |
| 23 | $5.75 | $69.00 | ☐ |
| 24 | $6.00 | $75.00 | ☐ |
| 25 | $6.25 | $81.25 | ☐ |
| 26 | $6.50 | $87.75 | ☐ |
| 27 | $6.75 | $94.50 | ☐ |
| 28 | $7.00 | $101.50 | ☐ |
| 29 | $7.25 | $108.75 | ☐ |
| 30 | $7.50 | $116.25 | ☐ |
| 31 | $7.75 | $124.00 | ☐ |
| 32 | $8.00 | $132.00 | ☐ |
| 33 | $8.25 | $140.25 | ☐ |
| 34 | $8.50 | $148.75 | ☐ |
| 35 | $8.75 | $157.50 | ☐ |
| 36 | $9.00 | $166.50 | ☐ |
| 37 | $9.25 | $175.75 | ☐ |
| 38 | $9.50 | $185.25 | ☐ |
| 39 | $9.75 | $195.00 | ☐ |
| 40 | $10.00 | $205.00 | ☐ |
| 41 | $10.25 | $215.25 | ☐ |
| 42 | $10.50 | $225.75 | ☐ |
| 43 | $10.75 | $236.50 | ☐ |
| 44 | $11.00 | $247.50 | ☐ |
| 45 | $11.25 | $258.75 | ☐ |
| 46 | $11.50 | $270.25 | ☐ |
| 47 | $11.75 | $282.00 | ☐ |
| 48 | $12.00 | $294.00 | ☐ |
| 49 | $12.25 | $306.25 | ☐ |
| 50 | $12.50 | $318.75 | ☐ |
| 51 | $12.75 | $331.50 | ☐ |
| 52 | $13.00 | $344.50 | ☐ |
Let your child see the family budget
Challenges land better when kids see how the family saves too. Share one real, age-appropriate number — what the groceries cost this week, or what you're saving for a trip — and talk about it at your family money meeting.
Power the challenge with real earnings
Saving means more when the money was earned. In Qoin Wealth you assign chores and routines, approve them together and reward real money — then your child decides how much goes into the challenge. No card needed. See the allowance guide for how much to pay.
FAQs
What is the 52-week savings challenge?
You save a little more each week for 52 weeks. The classic adult version saves $1 in week 1, $2 in week 2 and so on (about $1,378). A kid-sized version uses 25¢ steps, totaling about $344.
What is a good savings challenge for kids?
For young kids, a short, visible challenge like a spare-change jar race works best. From about age 8, a kid-sized 52-week challenge or a parent match challenge teaches steady habits.
Should parents match what kids save?
A match can be a strong motivator, as long as you set a cap and an end date. It also introduces how employer retirement matches work.
Where does the money for the challenge come from?
Ideally from money your child earns — allowance or paid extra chores — so saving feels like a real choice, not a gift passed through.
How do we keep kids motivated?
Pick a goal they care about, make progress visible, do the challenge alongside them and celebrate milestones at a weekly family check-in.