OK...DH can make fun of me saving all change....

[ChisJo]

We too save all of our change. In 3 months, saved over $600!! Put it in an interest baring bank accoun to accumulate some interest. I rolled all of my own change, some banks actually won't even except it if it isn't rolled. I count it all without using one of those electric counters. It doesn't actually take that long. But saving change is good. I figure if we save over $600 every 3 months, and only have a little over a year before we head back, well, our tickets are well paid for ~ just from the change we saved. One thing I do is when I purchase something, I always pay cash, and never use the change from me pockets. The change I receive and the change left in my pockets at the end of the night all go into my Disney change fund. So far, so good.

Joline

 

[jesdmill1]

We save our change - this year we saved about 150 dollars, but last year we had over 400! I think my BF has been stealing quarters to pay for laundry and cokes, and that's why we don't have as much this year. I'll have to try taping the top shut! I'm happy though... between that and my weekly disney dollars plus the tax refunds we're both getting we'll have plenty saved for our trip!

 

[lvs_eeyore]

We bought one of those banks that seperates the change into tubes. I got it at Walgreens. I will let you all know how well it works tonight. I hate counting change and I know our bank wont take it unless it is rolled so I bought the bank while I was out the other day. When we get back from our next trip in August I think I will start a Disney account with the change we save.

 

[wackywitch]

I know this probably belongs on the IB or CB, but since y'all were talking change, I thought I'd throw in an extra added benefit.

One of the things I learned from my weight loss counselors is to never have spare change in your pockets at work. The temptation of that candy bar or bag of chips goes away if you don't have the right amount of money to buy it! Keep the change in a coin purse in your purse and keep it at your work area so you'd actually have to go back to get the money if a candy bar catches your eye.

It would also help to empty out the coin purse at the end of the day into your Mickey Fund so you don't accumulate enough money for the work vending machines.

Another added bonus!

 

[wdwnutze]

The change does add up quickly. We've been saving change for our August trip since about April. Well, I counted it all the other night and came up with $175. We'll have enough to pay for Chef Mickey for dd's b-day for 11 people! The best part is you never miss the money. We'll keep saving after the vacation for the next big item we want. It's painless saving.

 

[DalGal]

I save my change, too. Of course its not as much with just one person($150 per year), but I also round up my checks as I record them. I write the check and then when I record it in the register, I round everything to the next whole dollar (ex. $9.01 becomes $10 deducted from balance). I record everything correctly in a separate register, balancing that against my credit union statement. Usually adds up to about $200-$250 per year.

 

[KaraJade]

my BF uses a big water cooler jar too, i however like to have all my coins separated as i go, so i use the plastic cups you get for your quarters in vegas.... i have a really big one from mandalay bay that works nicely and i have a plastic cup from one of those really tall margaritas that i put my quarters in

 

[Ityldu]

My DH also used to laugh, but not anymore. We got in a jam when his car died unexpectedly and we needed to come up with a large chunk of money. I told him I'd give him the money from our Disney fund and since I've only been saving since Jan., he laughed out loud and said (in that condensending voice) "That's okay honey, you keep your change". When he got home I had almost $800 sitting on his dinner plate. He stopped laughing quick.

Our change adds up quicker because we put not just change, but "found" money in the jar. Any money found in the wash, rebates, consignment, yardsale, kids b-day money. They get enough junk, it's been working wonderfully since we made them their own banks and told them that we would not be buying them any souveniers, they had to buy anything they wanted. They are only 7 & 3, but it's amazing what they're doing to earn money. Today they had an art sale and charged Dad 10cents for every picture he wanted "to hang in his office".

BTW - he came up with the money for his car and I got the money back for the Disney fund.

 

[Geebs]

I also use one of those water cooler jugs. I started counting last night, using one of those machine counter things (cost about $10 at Walmart)..It works pretty well..you just have to go slowly and keep you eye on it. I have always said saving change was worth it. We had the jug filled to the top and last night we didn't even roll a quarter of it and we had almost $400...we didn't even get to the spot where the bottle is at its widest yet and there is that much money. Everylittle bit helps when you are saving for Disney and a Wedding!!!

 

[beansmom]

We use two cans: one for quarters and dimes which we roll ourselves and one for pennies and nickels which we let the 'coinstar' machine count. For 8cents on the dollar, I can roll quarters and dimes, but not worth it for the smaller change. We have cashed in there several times and I feel they are pretty accurate.

We've saved $30 in less than a month. By the time we go next november, it will at least pay for our hotel room!

 

[mainey-mouse]

We save change too. Up here in Canada where we have $1 and $2 coins it really adds up. Last year we bought a dvd player after saving those of 3 months. Pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters add up a grocery bill every 2 or 3 months too.