Spare Change June 24, 2007

I think it’s a little early on this journey for me to be spouting recommendations about how to save money, but this is one I’ve been doing a while now and have found very helpful.

A lot of people will tell you the virtues of keeping a spare change jar. You don’t generally miss the few coins rattling around, but a little bit adds up over time and you’ll find you have a few hundred dollars in your little change jar. No Credit Needed made a similar post about getting out of debt a little bit at a time.

So, for about four years now, I’ve kept piggy bank. I’ve had one at home for a long time, but in the past (when I lived with a partner) it tended to get used on takeout or for the train. I also started keeping a piggy bank at work for change that was created when I bought coffee or went to the pharmacy. The trouble with this, was with a piggy full of change sitting on my desk, I’d tend to use it (particularly at the end of my pay period!) - often to buy snacks! This was bad for two reasons - my bank balance and my waistline

My current solution has been to move the piggy home (I lost my other one in a move about six months ago). With nothing to spend the money on at home (I walk to work and don’t buy takeout when I’m on my own) it’s adding up quite quickly! Better yet… I don’t buy snacks at work!