How to save pennies, and nickels

Do you need 20 or 40 dollars sometimes? Who doesn’t? Saving up is easy and you will be surprised just how much fun it can be and all you need is a penny!

Instructions (Steps):

Get two kinds of jars. It can be a bottle, pickle jar, or even a tea jug. Clean both out really good. After you clean it put a label on it and call it My Cheap Fun, or Piggy Bank. The second jar label it For Charity.
Remember, you reap what you sow and the more you give out the more you get in return. I’m a big believer of this if it’s done with the right heart. If you have children you might even want to have a third one for them. You can also decorate the jars with glitter, and stickers – just for fun!

Go around your house and see if you can find any pennies hanging around. If it’s one dollar divide it, and put 50 cents in your piggy bank, and 50 cents in for charity. Check the laundry, and see if any could have dropped from clothes. Look behind the couch. This is really fun to do with the kids! You can start a treasure hunt and even clean while doing it!

After you have looked all around go out in your yard and look on the ground. It’s very important to check around rocks, in your flower/herb garden, and around your car. Money can easily fall out of people’s pockets. Make sure and check around your house door. One day I found 75 cents on the window seal outside that someone forgot about! People can be doing things and put stuff in the oddest of places.

When you’ve collected the money from your yard go inside and divide it between the two jars. Get some water and some really comfortable walking shoes. If the weather is still very nice get ready to go on a long walk!

Take your kids with you, or partner. If you’re single call up a friend, or ask a neighbor. Go for a walk to the park, or just around the neighborhood. Look on the ground when you’re walking. Check for pennies and money. Put it in your pocket when you find some. When doing this make sure to still keep a close eye out on traffic and don’t be looking down when crossing the street.

When you’re outside look around in the oddest of places. Check around a fountain and see if someone missed the water when throwing a penny inside. If you’re near a gas station look around the pumps. People drop money sometimes when filling up for gas. Search inside of the store, or outside of the Wal-Mart parking lot. Check your buggy when you get one. When you need to use the bathroom make sure and check around the toilet and around the sink area.

Before you leave places make sure and count your money. This way you know how much you have. I would avoid taking a big purse out or a jar outside with you. That’s asking for trouble. Instead take a little coin purse and put it in your pocket. Check often and make sure it’s still with you. Have your name,number, and emergency contact info inside of your coin purse incase if something happens.

Once you are back home recount the money and put it in the jars. It’s really fun writing down the amount each time you find some so you can keep up with the total easier.

When your jar has reached it’s limit and no more can fit in call a local charity such as GoodWill or the Salvation Army and see about giving to them first. Search the yellow pages for local numbers or use a search engine for the local charity.

Once you’ve given your charity money you can either visit a local grocery store and put your money in a machine they have up front and collect the money. The machine is usually green. A lot of stores have money machines but they do pay you like one dollar more or less depending on how much you have. You can always call and see if the store has one. If a money machine is not at your store roll up your coins and take it to the bank and put it in your account. That doesn’t cost anything. Have fun seeing your money grow just with pennies and nickels- oh my! You don’t even need to save quarters for it to grow!

Tips & Warnings:

• Never brag about how much money you’ve saved to a stranger or friend. You can sometimes say you found a penny and smile but don’t say your amount. When going on long walks take water with you and a camera. You never know what else can happen when you’re out for a walk!

• Don’t keep your money jar out in the open inside of your house. Don’t keep it underneath your bed either. Find a place that’s tucked away and that noone knows about.