People are making finance decisions based on weather forecasts — and it’s working

Are you looking for ways to save some extra cash this summer? Whether it’s to pay for those all-important festival tickets, book a last-minute getaway, or stash some cash for your future, there’s a new savings challenge in town. And, it’s weather-related. Dubbed the ‘weather savings’ or the ‘check-the-temperature’ challenge, the idea is simple: your daily contributions to your savings account are weather dependent (Picture: Getty Images)

Ultimately, it’s a fun way to ensure you’re still planning for your future. Especially for those who struggle to save traditionally or prefer a more ad hoc approach due to financial constraints. But before we get into the crux of this challenge, remember: saving in whatever capacity you can is still good monetary practice. You should never compare yourself to others (Picture: Getty Images)

What is the ‘weather savings challenge?’ In a nutshell, you check the weather forecast for the day (the highest temperature), and transfer that exact amount into your savings account. Today, for example, is set for highs of 23°C. Meaning you’d need to put £23 away. While this all sounds very simple, you do need to have a plan. Some people may be able to afford to do this every day. Others may need to reduce to weekly deposits (Picture: Getty Images)

Whatever you can afford, it’s a challenge that you can dip in and out of. And, one that you don’t need to think about: it provides you with an exact amount you need to save. In the UK, it’s likely to be more affordable in the winter. With average temperature highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C during the colder months, many will be able to keep up with the challenge for longer. The challenge also works, in that our household bills tend to be bigger in winter (leaving less room for savings) (Picture: Getty/Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock)

In the UK, we can never guarantee constant sunshine. But say this gorgeous heatwave holds out until the end of August, and you start saving now, you could stash away a decent amount. Obviously, the UK isn’t going to experience temperatures of 23°C every day until September, so that’s just an example. If it’s a cooler day and you can afford it, our advice would be to double the temperature to ensure you can save more. (This is another great winter hack, as it’s more likely to be a long stretch of single digits) (Picture: Getty Images/Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Or if daily saving isn’t doable, why not try putting the highest temperature from the past week, or past month, into savings? This week, the UK saw record-breaking highs of 33°C. A few more of those, and you’re on your way to having an extra hundred quid in the bank. If this savings challenge isn’t for you, don’t worry. Metro has been sharing plenty of other savvy ways to save money (Picture: Getty/Shutterstock/Linda Bestwick)

From the 50/30/20 method, which involves dividing your spending into three categories: needs, wants, and savings, to a hack that could see you accrue almost £3,000 before Christmas, there’s also a guide to investing for beginners. Happy saving! (Picture: Amer Ghazzal/Getty/Shutterstock)