Yesterday I wrote about my desire to track down spare change to help pay for our upcoming bathroom renovation. I mean, it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra bucks in my pocket, especially when it’s found money, right?
So I’m pleased to report that during my spare change challenge, which took me all of about an hour–most of the time was spent counting–I found $47.08. While that doesn’t quite add up to the Coinstar statement that the average American household has $90 in spare change, I’m pretty happy with the amount I did find.
If you think collecting spare change is just chump change, consider this: a Suddenly Frugal reader wrote to let me know that she and her husband have been collecting spare change since their son was born four years ago. In that time, they’ve managed to sock away close to $2,000–just from spare change. This is all going into their son’s college savings account. I think it’s brilliant and congratulations to them.
So, did you do your own spare change challenge? How much did you end up finding?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Well, I must say that my hubby & I have a piggy bank that is super full. I keep putting in a few extra coins thinking that they won’t fit, but somehow they do. I really do need to count how much is in there. The last time I counted it was around $40, but I should really count it to see where it is now (about 6 months later.)
My hubby has a habit of putting his change everywhere, so I make a habit of taking some of it and putting it in the piggy bank.
He never notices and I’m hoping to be able to save up for us to do something big like getting a new couch or go to Disney World (which is where we got married.)
It will be awhile, but I’m not sure we could save up the money any other way. I’ll let you know howmuch I’ve saved very soon.
A friend of mine separates her change by denomination and has different funds for each. Like quarters to toward vacation, nickels are set aside to pump up the Christmas fund, and pennies are rolled as trick or treat handouts. I don’t remember what dimes are used for.
Barb, I love this idea!
The other day I found almost $8.00 just under my recliner!
$47?? Wow! I scoured the house, including my husband’s pants pockets and my pocket book, and came up with well under $5. Glad you guys are catching up with your runaway change though.
Actually, I’m embarrassed that we are so careless with our change and am going to make a marked effort to locate change more regularly and put it right into my wallet. It’s ridiculous to let that amount of money gather like clutter in my house.