Believe it or not, your loose change adds up pretty quickly if you make a habit of emptying your wallet or purse once a week and putting it in a jar. After a few months, if you count it, you will discover enough money to treat yourself to a dinner out with your family, or maybe it will help you pay for a minor car or home repair. Whatever you use it for, you will be surprised at how much you will accumulate. This is especially the case for Canadians where we have one dollar and two dollar coins. It doesn’t take much change to add up to to $20 or $30.
By keeping it in a jar at home, you will be less likely to spend your loose change on frivolous things like useless items at dollar stores, junk food at vending machines, or whatever other temptations you have. For me, my weakness is potato chips. If I know that I have enough change in my purse to buy chips, I will often squander my money by paying an outrageous price for a small bag of chips. By keeping my loose change at home, not only do I save money, I also eat a lot healthier.
I think it’s psychological, but for some reason, I don’t consider loose change as hard earned money. Instead, if I spend change, I feel as if I haven’t spent money at all. I’m not sure why exactly, but I think many other people feel the same way. It’s important to realize that you did work hard for that money, even if it is just loose change. I challenge you to start saving it, and within 3 to 4 months, count it to see how much you have managed to save. It’s time to dig out that old piggy bank you used as a child. Happy saving!
1 Comment
You are right about that! I have recently made a habit of putting all my change in a jar that I have in the car. Every time I buy something, if I have change (which I ALWAYS do) I put it in the jar. After a week, there in always 15-20 dollars in there.
More interesting, I find that I rarely have nickles. It’s mostly quarters and pennies, dimes are in there, but not nearly as abundant as the other two.
Thanks for the article!