Some of the simplest ideas have endured because they work so well.
The wheel. A hammer and nails. A lever. Hugs.
One of my favorites is the humble change jar.
At the end of every day, where do you throw your change?
Try a change jar.
Use it as a way to save up some cash to buy something small that you might need. Maybe treat you or a loved one to a little treat.
We throw our change into a little change box in our detritus drawer (my lovely wife doesn't like calling it a junk drawer :)).
When it gets kinda full, we bring it to a local Coinstar machine (kiosk finder) and turn it into an Amazon.com gift card. From time to time there are promotions, like an extra $5 if you pour $20 in coins, and we'll sometimes wait for those promotions before cashing them in. They'll count your change for free if you turn it into a gift card.
If you want cash, skip Coinstar and their 10.9% fee. Call your bank and ask if they will count coins for you. Some will do it for free, others will charge you a fee. Call to find out what your bank will do.
Then spend it! (or save it, whatever!)
Not everything has to be complicated. It's nice to keep things simple. 🙂
Ohhhh – I never knew Coinstar offers promos for gift cards. I have to add this one to my list! I have been saving my coins in the same mini Carlos Rossi jug for the past 10 years! I usually just take it to the bank for free, I never saw the point of paying someone else to count my change, but now I’m going to hold out for a promo. Thanks!!
It happens more around the holidays but ever so often there’s something. If my bank did it for free, I would do that all the time too.
How did you find out about the Coinstar promo? That’s a sweet deal. You should toss up a post next time do a promo.