Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by April
I made these Emergency Fund Challenges because I knew I needed to save, but a big goal felt overwhelming. Coloring in one small circle at a time made it feel doable, and I wanted to share that with you. That’s why I’m offering them free to download.
Here are two free printables that turn an emergency fund into something you can color in. Each circle is $10, and you can choose the $500 version (50 circles) or the $1,000 version (100 circles), depending on where you’re starting.
What Is An Emergency Fund?
An emergency fund is money you set aside for unexpected expenses, like car repairs, medical bills, urgent home repairs, or a sudden drop in income. A challenge printable turns that goal into something visual: you color in a circle each time you save, so you can see your progress instead of guessing.
A sale or a vacation isn’t an emergency, but a car that won’t start is. If you need to use some of your fund, that’s what it’s for. Just color the circles back in as you rebuild.
Why Small Steps Work
Saving can feel slow, and a big goal is easy to give up on. Breaking it into $10 pieces gives you a small win each time, which makes it easier to keep going, even when progress is slow.
How Long Will It Take?
It depends on how often you can save, so here’s a quick guide:
| Saving pace | $500 tracker | $1,000 tracker |
|---|---|---|
| $10 every other week | About 2 years | About 4 years |
| $10 a week | 50 weeks (about 1 year) | 100 weeks (about 2 years) |
| $20 a week | 25 weeks | 50 weeks |
| $25 a week | 20 weeks | 40 weeks |
| $50 a month | 10 months | 20 months |
| $100 a month | 5 months | 10 months |
Pick the pace you can keep up, not the fastest one. You can also color in several circles at once whenever you have extra cash, like a tax refund or a side-gig payment.
Where To Find Your First $10s
- Sell something you no longer use
- Cancel one subscription you forgot about
- Set aside a few “no-spend” days each month
- Put any cash refund or reimbursement straight into the challenge
- Choose homemade coffee instead of a coffee shop
- Round your grocery or gas spending up and save the difference
What You’ll Need
- Colored pencils or markers. Check out my Must Have Pens For Planners in my Amazon Storefront.
- A binder and reusable dry-erase pocket, so you can print once and reuse it
- A cash envelope or cash wallet if you keep your savings as cash. Printable Savings Challenge Essentials in my Amazon storefront.
Where To Keep The Money
You can keep it in an envelope, but many people prefer a separate savings account so it isn’t easy to spend. A high-yield savings account pays more interest than a standard one, and it’s worth checking that the account is FDIC-insured.
Download Your Free Emergency Fund Challenge
- $500 tracker: 50 circles, one per $10
- $1,000 tracker: 100 circles, one per $10
- Prints on standard US Letter paper (8.5″ x 11″), for personal use
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save more than $10 at a time?
Yes. Color in one circle for every $10 you add.
What should I do when I finish?
Move the money somewhere safe, then start again with a bigger goal. A $500 fund is a common first target, and many people eventually aim for several months of living expenses.
After that, you can start the challenge again and increase your emergency fund goal.
More Savings Challenges
If you enjoyed these printables, be sure to check out some of my other free printable savings challenges.
