Save $1 in week 1, $2 in week 2, continuing up to $52 in week 52. Total saved in one year: $1,378. A habit-building exercise that starts almost painlessly.
Anyone who has never saved consistently and needs to build the habit before the amount.
Start week 1: transfer $1 to a savings account.
Each subsequent week, add $1 more than the previous week.
Alternative: reverse it — start at $52 and work down, so the hardest weeks are at the start when motivation is highest.
At week 52, you've saved $1,378 and built a consistent weekly habit.