Madison Reporter

Over a period of 21 days, participants in Dupaco Credit Union's Sprint-to-Savings challenge made strides toward enhancing their financial health. The initiative, held from June 2 to June 22, encouraged individuals to develop stronger savings habits through consistent small actions.

Participants engaged in various activities such as budgeting, tracking expenses, identifying financial leaks, and participating in "No-Spend Saturdays." These strategies aimed to help them achieve their financial goals.

The challenge included weekly and grand-prize drawings with randomly selected winners. Participants set diverse savings objectives ranging from vacations and emergency funds to debt repayment, college expenses, weddings, new vehicles, and even a headstone. They discovered effective ways to reduce costs and rethink spending.

Meal planning and adhering to grocery lists were frequently mentioned as impactful changes by participants. Some also became more mindful of impulse purchases by delaying online shopping decisions. One participant noted saving $720 annually by reviewing subscriptions.

The No-Spend Saturday challenge was particularly popular among participants. One individual remarked on the enjoyment of turning it into a family activity: “I really enjoyed implementing a No-Spend Saturday. Weekends are usually when we tend to spend the most, so turning it into a fun family challenge to avoid spending was both rewarding and effective!”

Another participant shared their experience: “Weekends are when I do most of my shopping. I followed it (No-Spend Saturday)! I made a picnic as my way of getting out of the house, cleaned the house that night instead of going out. Cooked a nice home-cooked meal out of what I had in the cupboard instead of doing my weekly out-to-eat day! It definitely changed the pace of my normal schedule.”

Tara McDermott, Senior Marketing Communication Specialist at Dupaco said, “Over the last three weeks, sprinters showed up, took action and made meaningful progress towards their savings goal.” She added that building savings requires dedication and is more akin to a marathon than a sprint.

For further details about the challenge, visit Dupaco's website.