Let’s face it; we all have loose change lying around everywhere including in the couch, laundry room, closet floor, tables, car, and any other possible place you can think of. When we think about coins we tend to think of having much money because it is only $.25 cents here or $.05 there but in reality your loose change can really add up without you realizing it.
Did you know that some people who have collected loose change have been able to do things they otherwise could not afford to do? Well, it’s true and you may have hundreds of dollars of loose change available right now although you may not know it. So start gathering up your change because there are fun things you can do with your loose change.
1Start an IRA or Savings Account
The average person has about one dollar in loose change every day which adds up to $365 dollars each year. If you saved one dollar in change for the next 25 years that’s close to ten thousand dollars. Imagine if you saved three dollars or more every day; that is probably what you spend on a latte in the local expensive coffee shop. You can end up with a nice little nest egg to do many things you enjoy. Saving a little spare change each day is like making a commitment to yourself to set aside money for a rainy day. Although it may not be a fun thing to do, if you stick with it you will be able to do many fun activities as well as earn a return on your spare change.
2Take Your Family Out
Take your family on a fun outing to do something that you normally do not have the chance to do. If your kids see that you saved all of that change, this also teaches them about saving money so you get to do the things you want to do. What’s more is it will break the monotony of everyday life and allow you to spend some fun and quality time with your family. You can even make it a family ritual to save coins and then decide on something that everyone wants to do.
3Do Something for Yourself
Use your loose change to do something for yourself. In today’s fast paced lifestyle we often forget to pamper ourselves. Decide on something that you have always wanted to do and then go do it. It could be something as simple as going to the spa for a day, getting your hair cut so you feel better about yourself, or going out to dinner at a fine restaurant.
4Go on a Treasure Hunt
Sometimes if you end up with a lot of loose change you could find a diamond in the rough. Conduct a treasure hunt through your coin collection to see if there are any rare coins that made their way into your collection which may be worth more than face value. There are a lot of people who do not realize the value of old coins and they can make their way into your pocket.
5Use It for a Date
If you have not gone out because you only have enough money to cover the bills, use your loose change to take that special someone out for a night on the town. It could be someone you have been meaning to ask on a date or your spouse. Either way a special night out will only strengthen the relationship.
6Help Someone
Use your spare change to help a good cause such as the local soup kitchen, ASPCA, or other charitable cause you believe in. It is fun to enhance the lives of others regardless of how small the deed and you will feel good about yourself for doing so. Find a cause you believe in and then use your spare change to brighten someone’s day by doing the unexpected.
7Buy That Big Ticket Item
If your family has been yearning for a new home entertainment system but there have been other priorities like paying the bills, buying groceries, and doing the necessary repairs on the house, try creating a central location in the house for saving all of your change. If you make a habit of it and save over time some people have been astounded to discover they had saved nearly $1000 when they counted up the loose change. This can take a huge bite out of a big ticket item such as a home entertainment system where your family can spend quality time together.
8Take That Dream Vacation
Saving your loose change up can mean affording that dream vacation you have always wanted. You would be surprised at how many people have taken the vacation of their dreams mostly on the loose change that they had saved over a period of time. When you think of paying for a vacation out of your pocket it seems like a goal that is unattainable; however, when think of it in terms of your spare change the dream seems a lot closer to being a reality.
You may be laughing at some of the fun ways that you can use the change you saved because you think that change could not possibly amount to a vacation or big ticket item. Well, think again and try coming up with a way to save all of your loose change and you will see for yourself that you will be able to enjoy some things that you originally thought you did not have the money to do.
