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100 Envelope Challenge

Marcus Vance • • 6 min read
100 Envelope Challenge

How to use the 100 envelope challenge step-by-step with free printables that will keep track of how much you save

The 100 envelope challenge helps you save $5,050 in a relatively fun way. You number 100 envelopes from 1 to 100. Each day you pull out a random envelope and put in the amount of cash that is written on the envelope and seal it. When all the envelopes are sealed you should have $5,050!

What is the 100 envelope challenge?

Put 100 envelopes in a box and shuffle them. You then randomly pull out one envelope from a box and stuff it with the amount of money that is written on that envelope. When all envelopes are filled you will have saved $5,050. You can use this extra money to create an emergency fund, pay off your credit card debt, or go on a vacation!

How often do you pull out an envelope?

You can pretty much decide for yourself how often you pull out an envelope. There are variations of the challenge so it can be completed in 100 days, 50 or 100 weeks depending on how many envelopes you pull out each day or week. For example, if you are paid bi weekly then you can turn this into a biweekly money-saving challenge and draw one envelope every two weeks. If you prefer, you can pull out one envelope each day for 100 days. The 100-day envelope challenge helps you save $5,050 in 100 days.

The money challenge went viral on TikTok since it helps you save a decent sum in a relatively short amount of time. If you combine it with the cash envelope system then you can save even more!

If you would prefer a 52-week challenge, then see our 52-week money-saving challenge.

How to do the 100 envelope challenge?

You will need the following:

  • 100 envelopes
  • A marker
  • A box or huge envelope to store the 100 envelopes
  • Access to $5,050 that you will save during the challenge

Directions:

  1. Take 100 envelopes and label them with numbers starting from one to one hundred.
  2. Shuffle the envelopes so that they are arranged in random order.
  3. Put the envelopes in a storage box (or a shoebox).
  4. Over the next 100 days (or any other timeframe you decide on), you randomly pull one single envelope out of the box.
  5. You check what number it is and put that amount of cash in the envelope. For example, if you pull out envelope number 54 then you put $54 in the envelope.
  6. If you keep doing this until all the envelopes are full of cash then you will have $5,050 by the end of the challenge.
Marcus Vance
Author

Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.