…an experience whose memory I do not cherish, a repeat of which I do not crave…
I have devoted a lot of effort to making certain of two things: I know what is really necessary for the (at least reasonably) comfortable continuance of life, and I’ve got lots of reserves of those things. Life on the economic edge isn’t the same as the edge of starvation, if you just plan ahead a bit. A bulging pantry is better than a full wallet.
Since we’re just scraping the leading edge of winter my pantry does indeed bulge, which is good because my wallet is pretty flat. And one thing I never found a way to store in reserve is gasoline, which while not on the list of essentials goes a long way toward that “reasonably comfortable” mark.
Fortunately I even keep reserves for FRNs…
With just a little organization that big penny jar can become a practical part of your reserves. I let all my spare change collect, then periodically have a coin rolling party. The rolls accumulate unchecked, never spent on frivolities, until the day when I wonder where the money for my next full propane bottle or gas can is going to come from. And there it is, more than a hundred bux I’d nearly forgotten I had.
An unexpected benefit of living in a town so small it doesn’t even contain a bank is that the guy behind the counter loves it when you do this. I learned this when I worked in the saw shop several years ago. In the city when I tried to pay with rolled coins I often got attitude, and first I had to go to a bank and change the coins for bills. But here, chances are the guy behind the counter is running low on coins in one denomination or another. This morning when I went to the gas station I brought far more than I needed and let the guy choose: Pennies, nickels, dimes or quarters? And sure enough, he had a preference.
Ah, it’s the little things in life…….
Must be nice not to have to jump through the hoops I do. When I bring change to town there are only two places I can take it. The first is the bank I deal with where they will deposit it but will not exchange it directly for bills. The fear is they might be shorted a few cents since they don’t count it right then and there, they do that after hours. I found out that some person will in the evening unroll all the rappers and run the change through a coin counting machine just to make sure. So if I need cash I can have it the next day. Ah trust is such a fickle thing.
The second place is at a big supermarket where they have a coin counting machine. Just dump the change it and the machine will count it and issue a voucher less 5% (their service fee) of the total. When I asked about the fee I was told that it was to pay for the cost of buying and maintaining the machine.
So with all the hoops in place I just take the stuff to the bank and deposit it into an emergency fund.
Because of the issues that M Ryan has mentioned, I have long been systematically tearing open my rolled coins, filling my change purse and then spending them a handful at a time. I’ll be dammed if I will pay someone to take my coins.
Yeah! They had the same machines in Southern California. I forgot all about that till you mentioned them, MJR. They charge you a fee, then they issue scrip that can only be spent in the store. Screw, as they say in the Vatican, that.
“I found out that some person will in the evening unroll all the rappers and run the change through a coin counting machine just to make sure.”
Also gives “some person” the opportunity to glean any collectible coins.
Texas Coinstar change fee is 11% (!), but you do have the option of getting a gift card with no fee.