However, if you prefer instant gratification, Coinstar won't charge you if you turn your coins into gift cards. That's right -- the green machine offers a Coinstar Coin to Card service that counts your pennies for free when you turn them into a gift card or e-certificate for Starbucks, Old Navy, Borders
replica new era hats, iTunes and tons of other places.
You could avoid all the loose change if you just started shopping online. Not sure where to start? There are many websites that list the best offers, promotions and coupon codes. But I digress. Let's get to the penny-pinching.
A few helpful tips for putting your spare change to work:
Designate a place for those pennies. Be it a piggy bank or an old coffee can, you need a receptacle into which you can toss your change and watch it multiply. Put your container of choice in a place where you'll see it every day, and make a rule that you can't pass by without emptying those pockets. (For extra savings, impose this rule on family members and friends as well.)
Uncover loose change. Yes, it will require some digging through the couch cushions and under the seats of your car (maybe you should clean down there, while you're at it), but that's how this stuff adds up. You might even spot a couple of quarters in the washing machine or the dryer, if you're lucky. Check your purse, too, and add your findings to the pot.
Protect yourself from yourself. If you know you always ransack your stash of quarters on laundry day, use a ceramic piggy bank that you have to break to get into -- like the one from your childhood. (Just make sure there's no rubber stopper at the bottom, you cheat!) Another option is to use a can that requires you to poke a hole in the top to deposit your coins, which means you'll have to cut it to get to your change out.
Pay in cash. You'll notice how quickly your coins add up when you see them being handed back to you as change. Ditch the debit card and pay with cash so you get more; use them to add weight to your piggy bank, coffee can or empty water jug.
Open a smart savings account. Bank of America's Keep the Change program offers a brilliant solution to help you save automatically with every debit card purchase you make. Each time you buy something with your card, the bank rounds your purchase up to the nearest dollar and transfers the difference to your savings account. It's an easy way to save without even really trying.
Finally, when it's time to cash in all that hard-earned coinage cash, keep in mind that the Coinstar machine will charge you 8.9 cents per dollar. (Retailers may choose to discount this fee.) Instead, hit up a local bank to cash in at no extra charge.
The most basic principle of positive thinking is - "whatever we think about expands", so if we're constantly thinking about "doom and gloom" we will get more of it. Having everyone be aware of "doom and gloom" has not made it go away. What will make it go away is a change in focus and taking positive action accordingly. And that change in focus begins with each of us as individuals. Even if you do have to listen to the merchants of doom and gloom at least keep it to a minimum!Here's a wonderful quote on courage by Mary Anne Radmacher, to finish this article (please use it and share with those who simply need some inspiration during the current challenges we face):"Courage does not always roar, Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow"
5. Stop listening to and reading about doom and gloom - yesterday I was at a talk and even though I pretty much have stopped listening to the media
Wholesale Ray Ban Sunglasses, who are in the main selling misery to the masses, the speaker reminded all the business people present that it wasn't helping any of us in our business to listen to the merchants of doom and gloom, in fact it's possibly making it worse! And of course they are getting paid for bombarding us with such soul destroying negativity! They are painting a picture far worse than it really is and even if it's as bad as they say its still best to focus and celebrate and be grateful for all the great things in our lives and in this world of ours. Make a choice today in your life to stop "buying into" the misery and buy into what makes you feel good!Remember the greatest failures are often steps to the greatest successes. And the fact that you are alive and have a life means you're already a success. And that's the place to begin again!
Now that you've saved all this cash, you can afford to get a date. But don't let anyone know. Chicks aren't into frugal guys.
Choose something you don't have room for in your budget -- something you've been hoping to splurge on -- and let your change work for it. You'll feel a lot less guilty about dropping a mountain of cash on those new shoes if you know it all started with a couple of dimes
fendi sunglasses, a jar and a daydream.