The Weather Wednesday challenge is simple: every Wednesday, look up that day's maximum temperature where you live and save £1 for each degree Celsius. A 12°C day means £12; a 20°C day means £20. Based on Met Office averages for the UK, that adds up to about £665 over a year, with small amounts in winter and bigger ones in summer.
It works because it takes ten seconds, feels like a game rather than a budget, and the amount changes every week so it never gets stale. This guide gives the rules, a month-by-month guide to what to expect, variations and ideas for stacking it with other challenges. For a daily version using pennies, see the Weather Penny Challenge.
The rules
- Pick a source and stick to it: the Met Office or BBC Weather forecast for your town is easiest.
- Each Wednesday, note the day's forecast maximum temperature in °C. Round to the nearest whole degree.
- Move that many pounds into a separate savings pot the same day.
- If the maximum is 0°C or below, save a minimum of £1 so the habit does not break.
- Keep a running tally on paper or in an app so you can see the total climb.
What you can expect to save each month
The table uses the Met Office's 1991 to 2020 average daily maximum temperatures for the UK as a whole, multiplied by the average of about 4.3 Wednesdays a month. Real weeks will vary, and southern England usually runs warmer than Scotland.
| Month | Average maximum | Typical monthly saving |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6.7°C | £29 |
| February | 7.2°C | £31 |
| March | 9.2°C | £40 |
| April | 12.0°C | £52 |
| May | 15.1°C | £66 |
| June | 17.7°C | £77 |
| July | 19.6°C | £85 |
| August | 19.3°C | £84 |
| September | 16.9°C | £73 |
| October | 13.1°C | £57 |
| November | 9.4°C | £41 |
| December | 7.0°C | £30 |
Over a full year that comes to about £665. Starting now, in mid-October, you would expect smaller amounts through winter and the bulk of the saving between May and September.
Variations to suit your budget
- Half rate: 50p per degree, about £330 a year. Good if money is tight.
- Double rate: £2 per degree, about £1,330 a year.
- Cold-week bonus: in winter, save £20 minus the temperature instead. A 4°C Wednesday becomes £16, which evens out the year and builds a pot for heating bills.
- Sunshine top-up: add £1 if it is sunny and dry, so summer weeks feel like a treat rather than a cost.
- Family version: let children check the forecast and drop the coins in a jar, then bank it monthly.
Make it automatic
The weekly check is the fun part, but the money still has to move. Set a phone reminder for Wednesday lunchtime, then transfer the amount to a savings pot straight away. Some banks let you name a pot ("Weather Wednesday") so you can see the total separately. If you prefer a daily rhythm, SYM suggests a small amount to put aside each day and keeps your streak, and Weather Wednesday can sit on top as a weekly bonus.
Stack it with another challenge
Because the amounts are small in winter, Weather Wednesday pairs well with a challenge that is heavier at other times of year:
| Combination | Approximate yearly total | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Weather Wednesday + 1p Challenge | About £1,330 | The 1p Challenge adds £667.95 over 365 days |
| Weather Wednesday + 52-Week Challenge | About £2,040 | Adds £1,378 with predictable weekly amounts |
| Weather Wednesday + round-ups | Varies | Automatic spare change on top of a weekly game |
Use the 1p Challenge calculator or the 52-Week Challenge calculator to build a schedule, and our list of savings challenges to find others.
What to do with the money
A neat use for the pot is next winter's energy bills: the summer months, when you save the most, are when heating costs are lowest. Or treat it as a holiday fund, ready for the following summer. Keep it in an easy-access savings account that pays interest; our savings accounts hub explains how to compare. The savings goal calculator helps if you want to aim for a specific figure.
Weather Wednesday: frequently asked questions
How much does the Weather Wednesday challenge save?
Should I use the forecast or the actual temperature?
What if it is below freezing on a Wednesday?
Can I start the challenge in autumn?
Is Weather Wednesday the same as the weather penny challenge?
- weather challenge
- savings challenge
- weekly saving
- fun saving
- money game