Change Jar

[Nebsky]

Just counted my change jar for the first time since April. Have just over $54.00...

Things are getting even better though. Sons daycare is going down by $43.00 a week. Thats an extra $172.00 a month into the Disney Jar. Not to mention we have decided to throw 20.00 every week. Dont worry, we arent short changing ourselves. By the end of the year we should have roughly $1100 for our next trip. Then we get our income tax back, take some of that for other stuff around the house etc and we could have well over $2,000. Plenty to go to WDW for a week and stay onsite.


Im all excited now!!

Im already planning the trip. Any input on where we should stay? Have stayed in Sports and Pop. We are wanting to go moderate or deluxe for sure. We are just your average family. Thanks for your replies.

 

[Amirah95]

You must be smiling big right now. Good for you! My DD has had a change jar since I was three months pregnant with her. She does a very good job of saving money. Every red cent of her money goes into that jar. Birthday money, recital money, Xmas money, pennies here and there, money from family, etc. goes into her jar and she does this all by herself. I just counted it and she has $773. 22. We empty it every September and we put half in the bank...the rest she keeps for gift giving, vacations or for something to buy herself. Whatever is left over in the next September gets placed in the bank. To date, she is 9 years old and she has several thousand in the bank. Now that she's getting older she likes to spend more...so now the lesson is Spending 101!

I am so glad she is disciplined and patient when it comes to saving money. And it all started with a change jar.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Nebsky, change jars are inspiring! DH and I have even started throwing $20 bills into ours now and then . Our very first attempt at saving 17 years ago was with a change jar. It helped us save money for a down payment on our house. Once we started earning more $$, we started socking away money in banks and retirement funds, but we have gone back to using change jars for fun things like vacations!

Amirah95, what a wonderful way to teach your daughter about handling money!

 

[LMC]

I started the change jar this year too! I haven't counted it yet but I hope it is full by the end of the year. Mine is an old piggy bank that I got when I was little that has a combination that only I can open so no one can rob it! Hopefully we will have at least $100 in there when we leave at Christmas and that can be the kids' souvenier $$$. I noticed you have a child in daycare. Maybe you can go in value season when the crowds are lower and the resort rates are LOWER so you can stay in a moderate or deluxe without "breaking the bank!"

 

[Karibeth19]

We were at the bank the other day depositing all the rolls of change from our change jar (which amounted to $93!). The teller was telling us that she and her BF save singles along with their change in their change jar. I had never thought about doing that, but it's an easy thing to do. I don't know about anyone else, but the stuff I use singles to pay for, I can usually do without: drinks, candy, silly little toys for my DD that she really doesn't need, fast food, etc. I don't put all my singles in, just a few here and there, but it will really add up after a while, I'm sure! Plus, I've decided to transfer $10 a week to my ING account. It seems like such a small amount, the price of eating lunch at a fast food restaurant, or a new book. But, by the time we leave in May, I will have over $400 in my account just by doing that (not including my change jar deposits, ING sign up bonuses, rebate checks, survey payouts, etc.).
It's not painful at all, and it keeps me from making all those silly, unnecessary purchases of things I really don't need, and I stay focused on the goal, WDW!

 

[barbeml]

When DH and I got engaged, I had a change jar (actually, a giant plastic crayon bank) and he had change all over his house--in frisbees, mugs, bowls, you name it. As soon as we set a wedding date, we combined our change into my big crayon. A few weeks before the wedding, I cashed in more than $800 for our WDW honeymoon.

The big crayon is still going stong, but now I put all of our singles in there, $100 per month from my pay, and any "found" money, expense reimbursements, etc. We have saved over $1600 for our November trip.

Change jars rock!!!

Barbe

 

[Nebsky]

We occassionally put singles in there...

Son just lost his first tooth. He told us that he wanted to put the money in the Disney Jar. We figured 5.00 is the going rate on first teeth. So we gave him 10.00. 5 of which he had to keep for himself.

Hes a good kid!!

 

[MELSMICE]

I started a change jar before we were married & I paid for my wedding dress with my change. After we were married DH & I continued this & in December 2002 we bought a resale at OKW with the "change" so it certainly adds up.

We have continued to save our change & now I started saving my singles to turn into Disney $'s (a great tip from these boards). The singles really add up. I'm not as diligent with the singles as I am with the change, but I'm pretty good. I'll break a $20 for an item that is $1.01 before spending that penny because then I'll have 99 cents for the change jar and at least $3 in singles to save!!!

Keep saving your change - even if it's not for WDW. Don't let anyone ever say that a penny isn't worth anything any more!!!

 

[Disney4me04]

My change jar is a large insulated Coke mug. It holds 8 -- 8oz of water or whatever. Yep I measured it.

Today at the store. I wrote my check then realized I did not give the clerk my store card. So I had her scan it. I got back 2.00 an some change. Light bulb moment __ do that at the store all the time. And add the money to the change jar.

I have mine hidden in my new carpet bag. This way DS won't be going in my bag looking for change.

Going to save till it is full then take to the bank to have them put in the counter.

Disney here I come!

 

[eeyore kelly]

Light bulb moment __ do that at the store all the time. And add the money to the change jar.

I find myself purposely getting change for my change jar too! Other day I paid $9.50 for gas instead of an even $10. because it was $.50 for the change jar.

 

[ptcruisermom]

My DD 10 and I started 3 weeks ago putting all our change and 2.00 a day in a change jar. We counted tonight and have over 65.00. This will be used when we take a long weekend in Chicago the end of Feb for a dance conveention. figured we should have between 650.00-700.00.

 

[Strings]

I started a change jar 6 weeks ago. I "give myself an allowance" of $20 a week for things like lunch, coffee, etc. Every Friday anything that is left from that $20 goes in the jar. I now have $148. DH has agreed to match 1/2 of my total each month. It will go towards upgrading our room for our vacation. Starting point was All Stars, but I want WL. Makes that coffee not so important.

 

[Disney4me04]

Strings when is your trip?

 

[Missy1961]

I have to roll up my coins---I have a ton!

I also reward myself--if I bring breakfast & lunch from home, I'll throw a single in my bank. Then I can save a little extra.

 

[Strings]

My trip isn't until December 2005. Too far away, but that gives me more time to save.

 

[Disney4me04]

Strings mine is in October 2005. When I lock the door to go to the airport. Everything will be 100% PAID! My only thought will be

CAN'T THIS PLANE GO ANY FASTER!

I agree planning ahead and paying the way is the only way to GO!