One of the easiest ways to start saving this year is by starting a change jar if you don’t have one already! Three years ago, my husband and I took Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class and we have been using cash for all of our everyday purchases ever since. Since we’ve been on a “cash only” system, we end up with a lot of change. I started off by just keeping the change in my purse and either using it toward purchases or using it for a “bonus” for things like the vending machine at work or a Sonic drink during their “Happy Hour.”
Two years ago, we decided to do something different and we started a change jar. Whenever we got change from our purchases, we would add it to the jar. We were surprised when it was completely full by May that year and even more surprised when we went to cash it in and we had almost $100! We both had guessed that it would be somewhere between $30 and $60! Those pennies, nickels, dimes and sometimes quarters really do add up!
We have used the money from the change jar to have extra spending money for family vacations and we have also used to it to pay for Christmas gifts. If you cash out your change at a Coinstar location, there are no fees if you get a gift card. They have gift cards for Amazon, Gap, Chili’s, Old Navy, JC Penney, and even Kroger!!
Even our kids have gotten into this and they were so excited about throwing any change that they found into the change jar that we got each of them a piggy bank this week (they have them at Dollar Tree stores if you’re interested!) and now they’ve started their own change jars!
If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to save this year without taking money from your paychecks, a change jar is a great option! It works for us. I hope it will work for you, too!
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I got one of those cute little pink piggy banks for my grand daughter for Christmas. She saves all the money she’s given “for collage!” So, I printed her name on it , saying “Aisi’s bank.” She loved it!
:=)
Becki H
So cute Becki and you’re teaching her a great lesson for life, too!!
This is a great idea.. I always have change laying around the house. I have a little baggie full on a shelf right now.