My kids' piggy banks are getting full. Like really full. Now I remember back in the 80s, I used to sit at my dining room table and roll my change. Then we'd proceed to go to People's Bank and I'd deposit them. Fast forward to 2009. I do not have the patience to roll coins. I do not have a local bank to deposit them in. So what to do? COINSTAR!!Problem? If you do coin to cash, they charge you 8.9 cents per dollar redeemed. No thanks. It's not worth that big of a fee (8.9%!) BUT! If you transfer your change into gift cards, you get the FULL VALUE! Now I did this when we moved from Washington to Boston in 2005 with a jar that hung out above our washing machine. I didn't want to pay the fee for my loose change, but there weren't many good cards to choose from. So I got myself a $92 gift card to Starbucks. Now though? WOWZERS!!
You can get a gift card for CVS, Lowe's, Amazon, Old Navy, etc without any fees! Click HERE for all offered and to find a location near you! I'm sure most of us have a jar or something of change laying around - might as well redeem it and use it! Especially if you need some clothes and have one of those 30% off Old Navy Coupons for this weekend!
Now I know some are thinking now "Becky! Goodness! Stealing from your kids?" No no no. I'll give them the money in an account and maybe some to go buy whatever they want. I'm not paying a fee though! I'll probably get a CVS card and not have to pay cash for the rest of the year - but I'll still count the total towards my grocery spending. I kind of wonder how much change we've accumulated over the past 3 years....
3 comments:
At least where I am (MI), you can get a free checking account at TCF Bank and then you can use their coin machines for free and get cash back.
Join the Quincy Credit Union, they have a coin machine and it is free up to $250. Then you have to pay a percentage but it counts them as you are putting them in so you can just stop when you get close.Just do a smal account for the boys because they have a Christmas party every year. Last year we went to Edaville for free. There are probably other banks that do this too. I need to bring Will's banks down too.
Thanks for the Quincy Credit Union idea Lori! I love my bank but it's not local. But they make life easy - I can deposit at home using my scanner and get reimbursed ATM fees. I'll think about getting a local bank around the same time I think about getting a landline! Put it on the back burner...
Post a Comment