ROCKWALL —
In these tough economic times, have you become a penny-pincher?
I’m learning, and I’ve discovered that one of the first signs you’re making a change to penny-pinching is you start picking them up — pennies, that is.
In the good old days of balanced budgets on the homefront, I would step over pennies that I would see in parking lots, on sidewalks, in the street, anywhere.
But I don’t step over them anywhere anymore. I realize now that pennies will add up to a nickel, nickels will add up to a quarter, quarters will add up to a dollar. I believe you understand.
While running or walking Gracie in our subdivision, I brake for pennies and all other coins. Yep, pennies are not the only coins that turn up. I’ve actually found dimes and quarters. Woohoo.
I also know where my coins end up when they slip out of my pocket while driving my car or sitting on one of the couches at home. You know there’s a route they roll when they fall out of your pocket.
If you don’t know the final destination of your lost coins, then count yourself among the few Americans I know who could be classified as wealthy.
So, where does my collection of coins end up?
That’s changed with the times. In the olden days — bbc (before budget crunch) — I would put all pennies in a little red bucket I have on my desk at home. All the bigger coins would go into a baby blue bucket.
When the blue bucket was full, I would take it to one of the grocery stores that has a coin machine. You may know about them. You dump all your coins into a tray, then tilt the tray so your coins will slide slowly into the machine. Your coins are counted, you get a printed receipt, then you take the little piece of paper to the store’s office and collect your folding money.
I believe that little bucket will hold about $30. Those were the days, when I could wait until the bucket was full to cash in on all my coins.
Nowadays, I still collect my big coins in that little blue bucket. However, I don’t keep the bucket on the desk of my home office. That bucket now goes with me, wherever I go in my car. I don’t collect the coins until the bucket is full. In today’s economy, I have a spend-as-you-go policy.
I feel a little more secure financially if I can hold onto my folding money. So, as often as possible, I spend my coins from the little blue bucket for fast food and convenience store purchases.
I’m pretty happy with my coin plan, and it’s paying off in a small way. But this is just the beginning of something I want to take to the next level.
I’m open to suggestions on this “next level” move.
Of course, I’m talking about folding money.
I want and need to become a pincher of the bigger bucks.
Ideas — but, please, no donations — will be greatly appreciated.
Opinion
Making a change to penny-pincher in tough times
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