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What do you do with your loose change?

By
Real Estate Agent with CondoDomain.com

Loose ChangeSo yesterday my family and I were going out for our weekly morning breakfast and run our errands at the same time. We were going to Publix for groceries as well and he suggested we empty the kids piggy banks and changed them for bills. Well the kids were all excited. They ran to there rooms and bought them out. I got some shopping bags and were placing them in there. My daughter reminded me of the one up on her shelf that she couldn't reach. I went and got it and started to empty it, I didn't realize how much money she had in there! Then there was one in my son's room as well on top of a shelf. He too had alot in there.

So we headed out to run our errands. Our last stop was Publx we got a shopping cart since it was to heavy to carry. We started to empty the coins in the machine and the kids were having a blast. Man it was so loud everyone was looking at us. Do you realize how fast that change adds up? My husband and I was just floored when we saw our total. It took about 45 minutes to finish and the manager had to come and empty it when we were done. That is how much change we had. 

Took the reciept to the customer service desk to get our money. It was a total of 800.00 dollars. Now you pay a service fee to have it exchanged, 8 cents per dollar. Not too bad, so we walked away with 750.00 dollars.  Can you believe that? 

So we told the kids that it would be split 3 ways and put in to there bank accounts! So we got home and they found some change that must have fallen on the floor when we were putting them in the bags. I told them to put it in there piggy banks and we would start from fresh again!

 

So what do you do with your loose change? Do you just let it sit there, have you ever thought of changing it? Well if you didn't know that some of the grocery stores have this machine, well they do, and they all charge the same fee. Winn Dixie also has it and if you get a gift card for either circuit city or I forgot the other store you don't get charged that fee!

 

Now what do you plan on doing with your loose change?

 

jeannette neerpat

 

Have Fun, Play Safe, Live Hard!!

Comments (42)

Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Be careful...If you use a glass one, the bottom will blow out when you try to lift it...and it is usually so damn heavy, you need a hand truck to move it.  (Belive me!!!)  Get a plastic one with a good handle on it.

Jul 28, 2008 12:40 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Clint ~ I have one of the plastic ones. And believe me I know how heavy it can get the one I had in my son's room was when I was younger and I couldn't lift it because it was too heavy, so i can imagine the water bottle one!

Jul 28, 2008 12:42 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

Yeah, it took two people to pick up to start emptying.  We were there for an hour...lol

Jul 28, 2008 12:46 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Clint ~ Are you on twitter yet?

Jul 28, 2008 12:48 AM
Douglas Cartwright
Bankers Life/Colonial Penn - Somerset, NJ

When my mom was alive at the end of evry year I would take her to Atlantic City and knock herself out... She loved it

Jul 28, 2008 12:53 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

This is a fun post.....I've had over 500 dollars worth of change in a pretzel jar....that's so fun.

Jul 28, 2008 01:45 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Larry ~ You know I never thought I would get the response I am getting on this post! This is a fun one, but also an eye opening one! Glad you are enjoying it!

Jul 28, 2008 01:54 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Douglas ~ You should keep the tradition going, and go on your ownor with a friend!

Jul 28, 2008 01:54 AM
Birmingham Alabama Real Estate, Stephen Wolfe
LivingInBirmingham.com - Birmingham, AL

Jeannette, this sounds like a good idea, or I should actually say reminder. I used to do this quite a bit pre-marriage. I actually paid for every meal on my honey moon this way. Seems like I would have learned a little something from it.

Jul 28, 2008 09:30 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Jeannette, so what will you do with all of that money? ;-)

Pepper

Jul 28, 2008 01:25 PM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

Amazing what you get from the change we usually go thru the drive thru count out the pennies they love us then.... have a great week.

Jul 28, 2008 03:24 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Stephen ~ Well I hope you get back into it~

Jul 28, 2008 11:48 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Teri ~ It will go to my kids bank accounts!

Jul 28, 2008 11:48 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Lynn ~ It adds up so fast but it doens't look like it would.

Jul 28, 2008 11:49 PM
Jim Lee, REALTOR, CRS, ABR
RE/MAX Shoreline - Portsmouth, NH
Buying or Selling? Ann & Jim are the local experts

I save all my pocket change and also all $1.00 bills from my wallet each day. It adds up to around $2-300 a month.

We use it for dinners, stuff around the house, and things like that.

Most banks will machine count your change for free or that would also be a good job for your children instead of pay 8% of $800 at the supermarket.

8% of 800 bucks is $64.00 or about 20 bucks a kid.Most banks will give you free coin wrappers and bill straps.

 

Jul 29, 2008 12:50 AM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Jim I am going to have to see if my local bank has one of those change machinces. But my kids are still to young to do this themselves, except for my 5 year old. When we were putting them in the bag I had her tell me which coin she was grabbing and how much it was worth. We used it as a learning experience.

Jul 29, 2008 04:20 AM
Catherine Sinocruz
Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate - Reno, NV
Broker-Salesperson, ABR, GRI, CRS

Hi Jeannette,

It must be a good lesson for your kis as well--to save their coins.

Catherine

Aug 01, 2008 09:36 AM
Alisa McKeel Willson
Appraisal Pros in Texas - Huntsville, TX
Certified Res. Appraiser

I bought one of those jars with the lid that keeps a running total of the change you put  through the slot for my Grandson (now seven years old).

It was great because it helped him learn to count money and actually see the value of each coin as he put it in the jar.

Grandpa bought me one for Christmas one year and I try to remember to put my change in it but I don't usually remember until I am walking funny from the weight of my purse on one shoulder.  It's supposed to be my Christmas fund but I don't remember often enough or else my list is too long, not sure which.

 

Aug 01, 2008 06:46 PM
Jeannette Neerpat
CondoDomain.com - Coral Springs, FL
e-Pro Coral Springs/Parkland Real Estate

Alisa ~ Where can I find these type of piggy bank. Would love to get a couple for my kids.

Aug 02, 2008 12:08 AM
Alisa McKeel Willson
Appraisal Pros in Texas - Huntsville, TX
Certified Res. Appraiser

Jeanette,

 

I saw them in a catalog recently for a great price -- try www.lakeside.com  It's called the Lakeside Collection

Or www.collectionsetc.com has them for $3 more.  They make cute gifts.

(No, I don't work for either company...no compensation..smile..)

Alisa

 

Aug 02, 2008 08:34 AM