Quit Wasting Your Time Saving Change!!

[Purseval]

I know it's almost a tradition: the big jar, bottle, piggy bank, whatever that you toss your spare change in. When it's full the typical saver takes it to the local supermarket where they dump it down a hopper, get a slip of paper and trade it in for some cash. It seems those change machines are popping up everywhere nowadays, and for good reason. They make 20 to 25 cents on every dollar collected, a nice tidy profit for whoever owns the machine but a lousy deal for you. There is a better way. It takes discipline but you can save just as much and keep it all for yourself. Get rid of that change!!

Every chance you get, pay for purchases in change. Every chance you get, swap pennies for nickels, nickles for quarters, quarters for dollar bills. When you get a dollar bill, throw that in the jar. Dump all of your change, save all of your dollars. Why? Nobody will refuse paper money. You don't have to roll it up, don't need a sorter and, best of all, you don't have to pay a commission to get rid of it. 100% of the money is for you.

So, start dumping your change in ways that give you 100% of your money back. Carry around a change purse and don't be shy about paying exact change for purchases. If you go to a yard sale or a small business ask them if they need a few dollars worth of change, many times they are grateful to have it. You have a purchase that costs $8, give them a $5, $5 in change and ask for 2 dollar bills back. Keep track of what you take out and swap it dollar for dollar until your change is gone but don't forget to replace it.

Once you are rid of your extra change (or if you want to start from zero) put your change in the jar until you have a dollar or two, then swap it out. Once you get in the habit you will find that it's as easy as saving pennies, just with all of the pennies for you

[stitchlovestink]

while many times I do use coins so that I can pay the exact amount, I don't completely agree w/ the concept. Our credit union has a coin counter and it is completely free. So not everyone is paying $$ to 'change' their change into paper money. but I do agree, if you're using coinstar and paying a fee, you would be better to use your change so that you are getting use of every penny. just my .02.

[dawnn12]

i have td bank and they count the change for free and if you guess within 2.00 of what you have you get a prize(cool for kids)usally a bank or last time they asked if they wanted coloring books

[patsal]

Originally Posted by Purseval

I know it's almost a tradition: the big jar, bottle, piggy bank, whatever that you toss your spare change in. When it's full the typical saver takes it to the local supermarket where they dump it down a hopper, get a slip of paper and trade it in for some cash. It seems those change machines are popping up everywhere nowadays, and for good reason. They make 20 to 25 cents on every dollar collected, a nice tidy profit for whoever owns the machine but a lousy deal for you. There is a better way. It takes discipline but you can save just as much and keep it all for yourself. Get rid of that change!!

Every chance you get, pay for purchases in change. Every chance you get, swap pennies for nickels, nickles for quarters, quarters for dollar bills. When you get a dollar bill, throw that in the jar. Dump all of your change, save all of your dollars. Why? Nobody will refuse paper money. You don't have to roll it up, don't need a sorter and, best of all, you don't have to pay a commission to get rid of it. 100% of the money is for you.

So, start dumping your change in ways that give you 100% of your money back. Carry around a change purse and don't be shy about paying exact change for purchases. If you go to a yard sale or a small business ask them if they need a few dollars worth of change, many times they are grateful to have it. You have a purchase that costs $8, give them a $5, $5 in change and ask for 2 dollar bills back. Keep track of what you take out and swap it dollar for dollar until your change is gone but don't forget to replace it.

Once you are rid of your extra change (or if you want to start from zero) put your change in the jar until you have a dollar or two, then swap it out. Once you get in the habit you will find that it's as easy as saving pennies, just with all of the pennies for you

Wow, I lose no money by sorting it all out myself and rolling it in the free rollers provided by the bank, then I turn it in at the bank and lose no $$. I easily save $60-85 per month this way--that reminds me a quick trip to the bank is in order as I have hundreds sitting on the floor next to my dresser ready to be deposited.

[Teacher510]

I take my change to the machine at TD Bank where it is free to get bills. I now bank there but you don't have to to change for free. I cash in before each WDW trip.

[marlynnp]

Originally Posted by Purseval

You don't have to roll it up, don't need a sorter and, best of all, you don't have to pay a commission to get rid of it. 100% of the money is for you.

I don't need to do any of that. My bank provides a change counter as a FREE service.

easy peasy lemon squeezy

No work for me!

[PaulaSue]

Originally Posted by dawnn12

i have td bank and they count the change for free and if you guess within 2.00 of what you have you get a prize(cool for kids)usally a bank or last time they asked if they wanted coloring books

Do they still do that now that the name chaged to Metro or whatever?

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I used to always use Coinstar since my bank doesn't have a change sorter.

But DD9 loves to count out change so now she and I spend quality time together rolling our change every other week. I take it to the bank once a month after writing our account number on it.

I just don't want to lug all that change around in my purse every day. It would get heavy.

[ChrisinNJ]

Originally Posted by Teacher510

I take my change to the machine at TD Bank where it is free to get bills. I now bank there but you don't have to to change for free. I cash in before each WDW trip.

Same here, cashed out $125.00 before our trip to Niagara Falls.

[C.Ann]

Originally Posted by marlynnp

I don't need to do any of that. My bank provides a change counter as a FREE service.

easy peasy lemon squeezy

No work for me!

DD's DH can do this - or just take it to 2 different branch managers who work for 2 different banks (that he knows on a personal level) and they take care of it for him/us..

For some reason the OP must be under the impression that all people have to "roll and pay" in order to get their paper money..

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

My bank counts it for free - no fees. I almost never use change - only if the amount is 5 cents or less. All change I get goes into the Disney jar, and I dump my wallet after every shopping trip. I also put rebate money in the jar, so it gets a few dollars now and then, and I put the money in when I resist the drive thru and come home and make a sandwich for lunch. It's painless, except when I really, really want to go through the drive thru!

I had no idea some machines charged 20-25%, though. I thought Coinstar was 8 or 10%, but I've never used one.

[Tweevil]

Originally Posted by dawnn12

i have td bank and they count the change for free and if you guess within 2.00 of what you have you get a prize(cool for kids)usally a bank or last time they asked if they wanted coloring books

Me too! Free change trade in and right before the trip I cash out for a bunch of ones and fives. I love it and so do the kids.

[Piecey]

Originally Posted by GaSleepingBeautyFan

I used to always use Coinstar since my bank doesn't have a change sorter.

But DD9 loves to count out change so now she and I spend quality time together rolling our change every other week. I take it to the bank once a month after writing our account number on it.

I just don't want to lug all that change around in my purse every day. It would get heavy.

Does your bank require you to put the account number on it??

I've been a teller for two different banks (1 quite large, the other medium sized) and we would prefer you NOT write on the rolls of change as then we have to re-roll it to get your information off of it.

Just a thought.


... I enjoy rolling change while watching a movie or something. I can't sit still so it's a good thing for me.

[MM27]

I never pay with exact change. I throw the coins I get back into my purse and then every once in a while I empty it out into my coin jar. I roll it myself and take it to the bank when it's time to pay off a vacation. I usually have enough to put a nice dent into my balance.

[NYCDiane]

Originally Posted by Purseval

You don't have to roll it up, don't need a sorter and, best of all, you don't have to pay a commission to get rid of it. 100% of the money is for you.

I completely disagree with your "theory".

First of all, not everyone has to go to a Coinstar machine to change their coins into dollars. Many banks have similar machines and count your change for you at NO CHARGE and will convert it to dollars for you, whether or not you're a customer of that bank. TD/Commerce is the first one that comes to mind.

Second, it's much easier to save change than it is dollars and what's the point of counting your change and then changing it for dollars yourself? Doesn't that kind of defeat the whole purpose of not having to count it, etc?

With change, you just empty your bag/wallet/pocket at the end of the day, dump the change in a jar, and forget about it. Simple. Why would I dig back into that jar to see if I have $5 in change so I can change it for a $5 bill?

My "change jar" is wonderful.... I toss all my silver coins (pennies are in a separate container) in and, if I have a $5 bill, I thow that in there, too. Once I have $25 in 5s, I roll them up and rubber band them together.

My other change jar gets filled with silver coins and dollar bills.... when we have enough in there, my daughter and I go see a B'way show. I can't tell you how many shows we've seen thanks to our "broadway jar" --- and always great orchestra seating.