2026 is almost here, and you know, the world might be a mess but heyyyy savings can help weather a storm, right???
We are continuing the 25 in 2025 challenges but have slightly adjusted the goal post for a new year!
The goal is simple, but not easy: save $20,260 this year.
If saving $20,260 of your salary isn’t practical - or if you make less than, say, $100,000 - consider the alternative 26 in 2026 Challenge: Save 26% of your income. Both get the same sticker, but the threads will have people at similar income/challenge levels.
Basic rules:
The goal is to save $20,260 in 2026. Just state the path and exchange rate you’re choosing (feel free to choose based on what makes sense for you.)
You can combine any type of savings: emergency fund, 401K, Super, IRA, taxable investments, buffer, house down payment fund, student loan payments - to reach your goal.
You can choose household or individual savings, whichever you prefer.
If your income is not in USD, you can choose to save 20.25K in your currency (i.e. $20,260 CAD or $20,260 AUD or €20,260). OR save the equivalent of $20.26K USD (i.e £15,013, $27,698 CAD or $30,196 AUD or €17,214)
What Counts
Debt repayment counts towards your savings total!
Mortgage principal (but not interest or escrow) counts.
Only savings that occurs between 1/1/2026 and 12/31/2026 count
If you are already retired, you can count savings you made after distributions (like pulling from a pension, etc).
You can use tax refund or any other windfall money towards your total savings.
you can count student loan forgiveness towards your savings.
What do you get:
Support on this thread as you go along - post monthly or quarterly check-ins as appropriate
A forum badge when you complete your $20,260
A sticker mailed to you for completing your $20,260 goal for the year
A shoutout on the livestream for reaching your goal!
Please Tag @anomalily when you hit any goals so we can get you your badge!
I’m in! I’ll be counting mortgage principle, 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, additional emergency fund savings, and debt repayment (0% interest loan on a shed).
Specific breakdown I’m aiming for:
Mortgage principle: ?? This year we paid down $10,231 total, so it’ll be more this year, but I dunno how much.
401(k): $13,000 minimum
HSA: $1,000 minimum
E-fund: $10,000 minimum
Debt repayment: $6,429 remaining at 0% interest
It’s interesting - these goals both feel ambitious (see: previous expensive house repairs) but also low, because I’m behind in retirement and e-fund savings
I’m in again!
With the same parameters as this year aka will count FHSA, TFSA and my pension contributions.
With the potential stretch goal of not counting the pension contributions but I will see then!
Roth IRA contributions for both of us even though they will be for 2025 since we’re making them in 2026. We plan to max them out
Pension contribution
Roth 457k contributions, thinking about $400 a month
Health savings account contributions, again planning to max it out. Probably won’t include the employer contribution, which is reduced to $650 total this year
Oh yes, parameters. I include as savings:
-Employer and employee contribution to the Boy’s 401(k)
-Employee contribution only to my defined benefit pension. My part comes out of my paycheck, their part feels more imaginary.
-Contributions to his HSA and my 457(b), which have no employer match
-Mortgage principal
I will subtract any $$ that I withdraw from the HSA to cover expenses. In past years I have NOT counted withdrawals for solar panels or electrical upgrades. I do not anticipate any withdrawals like that this year unless I impulsively invest in house batteries.
I’m in! Aiming for $20,260 AUD, stretch goal $26,000 AUD. This is focused on the money going in and out of our normal monthly budget.
So I’m leaving out employer retirement savings, but extra money we put in there or investments count. Mortgage doesn’t count. Money spent on renovation from our savings is ignored. Ponder’s bonus - doesnt count.
If saving $20,260 of your salary isn’t practical - or if you make less than, say, $100,000 - consider the alternative 26 in 2026 Challenge: Save 26% of your income. Both get the same sticker, but the threads will have people at similar income/challenge levels.
