The Christmas savings challenge that could leave you with an extra £345 by Christmas
Read time: 3 minutes
Published: 8th September 2026
Brits could build up an extra £345 in time for Christmas simply by putting aside £3 a day from 1 September, according to a new savings challenge created by thimbl.com.
The £3-a-Day Christmas Challenge encourages people to transfer £3 into a separate savings account each day between 1 September and 24 December. By Christmas Eve, participants could have saved £345, which could help to replenish money spent on seasonal expenses such as presents, festive food, and travel.
With many households feeling the financial pressure of Christmas well before December arrives, starting early with smaller daily contributions could make festive spending more manageable than trying to find a large lump sum at the last minute.
Joe Lytwyn, a personal finance expert at thimbl, says, ‘Christmas can be one of the most expensive times of the year, but many people don't start thinking about the cost until the festive season is already underway.
‘Saving just £3 a day may not feel like a significant sacrifice, but building the habit over several months can leave you with £345 by Christmas Eve.
‘Setting up an automatic daily transfer to a separate savings account can make the challenge much easier to stick to, as you're less likely to spend money that you never see sitting in your current account.
‘Don’t be discouraged if £3 a day isn't realistic for your budget; the important thing is creating a regular savings habit. Even putting away a smaller amount consistently could make a real difference when Christmas arrives.
Starting in September also gives people time to build their savings gradually, so they're less likely to notice the money being set aside.’
How the £3-a-Day Christmas Challenge works
- Start saving on 1 September.
- Put aside £3 every day.
- Continue until 24 December.
- Total saved by Christmas Eve: £345.
thimbl recommends setting up an automatic daily transfer into a dedicated savings account to help make the challenge easier to maintain.
Methodology
The thimbl £3-a-Day Christmas Challenge was calculated by saving £3 per day from 1 September to 24 December, inclusive.
The challenge lasts 115 days.
Calculation:
£3 × 115 days = £345.
Dates were calculated using the number of calendar days between 1 September and 24 December, inclusive.
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