Cashed in my change today $$$

[krantcents]

I used to cash in my coin change every month and add it to savings. It averaged $40-50 EVERY MONTH.

[mcfroggin]

Every once in awhile, I pick up donuts for the family and pay in change. I'm sure they hate me.

[DaveInPgh]

That is aweseome! My bank doesn't have a coin counter for customer use so I have to roll as well. I haven't done coinstar yet because I really don't want a giftcard. Thoughout the month of August I would take a couple rolls to my bank each time I had a check to deposit. Mine was up to $65

[photo]

It was $23 in the store. Pulled out the phone and checked Amazon where it was $3.95.

That brings up a really great point about being aware of prices. Sometimes Wal-mart (or any other store, online or brick and mortar) has the best price, and sometimes it has the most expensive. If a person limits his shopping to just one store, then he'll never get the best prices for everything. Stores hope that you'll come in for the loss-leader items and then pick up several other things that are highly profitable for them.

Savvy shoppers give them a run for their money.

[disneysteve]

That brings up a really great point about being aware of prices. Sometimes Wal-mart (or any other store, online or brick and mortar) has the best price, and sometimes it has the most expensive. If a person limits his shopping to just one store, then he'll never get the best prices for everything. Stores hope that you'll come in for the loss-leader items and then pick up several other things that are highly profitable for them.

Savvy shoppers give them a run for their money.

More and more lately, I've seen others in the stores doing the same thing with their iPhones. It is really changing the face of shopping. Knowing that you could go home and search online was one thing but most people wouldn't bother because if they couldn't find it cheaper they had to trek back to the store. But now that you can price check right on the spot and order the item online instantly, things have changed. When we were in Disney World recently, we overheard a couple of people doing that in gift shops, particularly when looking at books. We did the same thing. We saw the latest Kingdom Keepers book and I pulled out my phone, found that it was several dollars cheaper on Amazon and ordered it.

[another_chelle]

The kids and I collect change throughout the year and put it in a piggy bank. Every summer we cash it in at the credit union and put the money in their college funds. It ususally comes out to a couple hundred a year. A nice little addition to the college funds and it's fun for the kids.

[twest]

"The kids and I collect change throughout the year and put it in a piggy bank. Every summer we cash it in at the credit union and put the money in their college funds. It ususally comes out to a couple hundred a year. A nice little addition to the college funds and it's fun for the kids"




Great idea. I may have to start doing that. I am always looking for ways to get more money into my son's college plan and he loves getting extra money too.

[BMEPhDinCO]

We also cash out change once a year - US bank does it for us for free since we have a mortgage & checking account there....but getting an Amazon gift card is a good alternative.

As to those wondering how to best use Amazon, here are some things I got there this year (or DH got)

Boots - $400 elsewhere, $100 on Amazon - one arrived broken & I sent back for free & got the new ones the next day

Tapes for video recording

Large memory card

Electric shaver

Textbooks

Printer cartridge

Adobe software

Things to know as well: Mom's saver club helps with kid related stuff; A student email address will get you free Prime membership for a year

As for change, if you are trying to bulk up college savings, consider buying bonds with the change and also never paying with change or with $1 bills - instead all that goes into a jar/bank and then buy bonds or 529 with them once a quarter...

[mamasita]

To keep the whole family motivated to save change, we stash it all in a tall clear glass vase. When it is full, we cash it in and put the money towards a family vacation.