Ways to get money for the change jar-- Post yours

[Disney4me04]

I thought it would be fun to see how many ways we can get change for our change jars:

1. I hang laundry. It cost me 1.00 to dry a load. So for every load I hang I add the 1.00 in quarters to the change jar. This could net me between 4 and 5 a week. I dry towels-jeans-and socks. I also try to wash all hangables together. And watch how I run the dryer.

2. Write my check at the grocery store for the amount before coupons and discount cards. Just started this but last trip I got over 2.00 for the change jar.

3. All change except what I need for bus fare goes to the change jars.

I know everyone has a ton of ideas. So post yours.

 

[barbeml]

I always pay for things with bills and all the change goes into the big crayon bank.

I empty our wallets of singles at the end of every week.

$100 from my pay goes in each month.

All expense reimbursements and "found" money goes in there too.

 

[sunkissed212]

Anytime BF or I pay for anything, he throws the change into my purse. At the end of every week, I empty it out and put it into the change bank. Last week I kist took back $174 to the bank!!! Woo Hoo can't beat that!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

--I carry extra change in my purse so when someone asks for change for a dollar (happens a lot at work) I can make the change which goes into the change jar.

--We also pay in bills as much as possible so we can put the change in the jar.

--All bottle money from returns goes into the change jar.

 

[janie91]

but here's our list.

recycle cans all money from our efforts go here.

clean out autos and you will almost always find some spare change.

My kids clean out from under the washer and dryer and under the furniture.

Don't make the exact change for purchases and always break bills to get more change.

round up any checks you write to at least the nearest dollar, or five, or whatever you can swing. Get the change back and there you go! IF you are paying bills this way just write yourself a check for all the odd change.

I'd love to hear more of your ideas!

 

[Leota]

I put $1.00 bills in as well as change.
If I stay under budget for weekly groceries, all the extra money goes in the change jar.
Recycle money all goes in the change jar.
All "extra" money goes in (overtime, odd jobs, etc....)

 

[ladydancer]

The 2 things I do:

DH and I always use $ and put the change in the jar.

When balancing the checkbook aways round up to the next dollar. Sometimes if I deposit example $728. I will write in I deposted that amount but when I balance I will drop the $28 dollar amount. Just before my trip I will balance my check book and I usually will have several hundred $ extra in my checkbook.

 

[newchic99]

I am doing the rite aid rebates. So far I have $197 put away from that.
When I write a check, I always round up the amount when I put it in the register. For example- $18.54 is registered as $19.00.

 

[Deesknee]

I quit smoking, but still get cravings, so every time I get one I put a dollar in the jar.

we have "no say words" in our house ex. can't do, shut up, etc. every time ANYONE says those kind of words quarter goes in the jar. (usually it's me.)

also as others have said, extra change at the end of the day, and empty pockets before washing that change goes in also whether bills or change.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Don't save change too much but do save for our trips in a big way by:
1) Making our coffee at home instead of buying it. Bought a Black and Decker commuter coffeemaker, brews right into cup. Savings between DH and myself $20/week.
2) Don't eat out much. Savings $200/month.
3) Don't buy things we don't really need. Savings several hundred/year.

It's not always easy but looking forward to our trips make it worth it!

 

[Disney4me04]

another one I have is people in my building drop change in the basement by the washers. They don't pick it up. I do though. I can make anywhere from 25 cents to about 1.00 picking up the change.

Silly people.

 

[Mermaid02]

Any money I find in the laundry (whether it's a couple of nickels or a $10) it's mine and I put it in the Disney Fund.

 

[vettechick99]

My fiance has one since he always uses cash for lunch, gas, etc. But I hate cash (because I'll spend it!), so change jars don't work for me. Although, last time we cashed his in, he saved $200 in 6 months!

BUT I have my own change jar version. I withdraw a $100 bill each paycheck and set it in a safe place. I'm not tempted to grab it when I need cash because I hate to break such a large bill. So I can save $200/month this way and usually put it towards my Disney fund!

 

[worlddreamer]

I used to work at a gas station, so this is very easy for me, but every time I go in, I ask if they have any odd monies- like dollar coins or half dollars, $2 bills, etc, and then I buy them. Last week I stopped to buy a drink and came out with $22 in dollar coins! (I also live in a casino town which makes this more probable.)

Another change jar tip my BF uses: every once in awhile dump all the change out of your jar, then separate the coins. Then refill the jar starting with the largest denominations, and ending with the pennies. Not only does this give you a general idea how much you've saved, it prevents "skimming from the top". I know I won't dig through a couple inches of pennies to get a few quarters!

 

[MI mom of 3]

Hubby and I will only spend dollars. All of the change goes into the jar. He will make a game out of it. Which ever kid guesses closer to the amount that he has in his hand gets to be the one to put it in the jar.

DH has also started to play Texas hold 'em with his buddies.
He takes $20 of his money, if he loses that was his entertainment budget. Anything that he wins I get for our vacation fund. In the past 3 weeks he has given me $120 bucks.

 

[barbeml]

Wouldn't it be great if we could get the politicians and bureaucrats to follow some of this good advice?!

 

[HenDuck]

take my DH's money!