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                 Tim Mrva (dot) Com

Handy Tech Tip for March 2016:

Saving Money the Easy Way Do you find it hard to save money to buy that special Tech Gadget you have always wanted to get? It's so painful to just cough up the cash to go out and buy it outright, and it is a matter of dicipline to save a little bit out of each paycheck. You always find a different use for that cash that is sitting around. Well, I discovered a simple, painless, fool-proof way to save between $110 and $140 in as short as a few months. This could work for you, too!

What You Need:

  • A glass one-quart mayonnaise jar.

    Photo of an empty jar
    Click image to enlarge.
  • Some Coin Rollers.

    Coin Rollers otherwise known as Coin Wrappers
    Click image to enlarge.
  • A Screwdriver or Other Sharp Object:
    Photo of screwdriver
    Click image to enlarge.
  • A Hammer:
    Photo of a Hammer
    Click image to enlarge.
  • A Sharpie Permanent Marker:
    Photo of Sharpie brand Permanent Marker
    Click image to enlarge.

Step One:

Use the screwdriver and hammer to cut or poke a slit in the top of the jar.
Photo of Jar Lid with Hole cut in it.
Click image to enlarge.

This is a photo of the jar with the hole already cut and the marking "NO PENNIES" on top. The reason for this marking will be explained later.

I used the screwdriver and hammer to poke the hole in a slit pattern. BE CAREFUL not to tap the screwdriver too hard! You could break the glass jar. The metal of these lids is pretty soft. If you can only find a mayo jar with a plastic lid, you could use an exacto knife, utility knife or box cutter to cut the hole.

Step two:

Be sure to flatten down the sharp edges after cutting the hole.
Photo of inside of Jar Lid with hammered-down sharp edges
Click image to enlarge.

I used the hammer to pound down the sharp edges of the lid. Also to flatten the lid back out because the hammering of the screwdriver to cut the slit in the lid bent the lid in just a bit.

 

 

Step Three

Put the lid on the jar and start filling it with ONLY Nickels, Dimes and Quarters. NO PENNIES! Why? (Keep reading below...) Photo of quart jar with a few bucks in it
Click image to enlarge.

The reason we use ONLY Quarters, Dimes and Nickels and NO Pennies is this: When the quart jar is filled to the top with coins, it will ALWAYS come out to about $110.00 to $140.00 in coins.

 

Here is how it works:
When you spend ANY cash, ONLY spend bills (Ones, Fives, Ten's, Twenties, etc.) DO NOT give a teller exact change EVER! ALWAYS work it so that you get back at least some coins for your change.

You MUST NOT fool with or manipulate the "Natural Distribution" of the coins you get back when breaking bills! Just empty your pocket or purse every day or every few days and put the coins you got into the jar.

NEVER spend any of the coins. ALWAYS take the change, remove the pennies into a different container and put ONLY the Nickels, Dimes and Quarters into the jar.

With the natural distribution of coins you get back in change from ONLY breaking bills, you will ALWAYS end up with between $110.00 and $140.00 in the jar when it is full.
($110.00 if you just fill the jar to the mid-point of the place where the jar narrows, and $140.00 if you fill it until the coins are right to the top of the neck.)

Step Four

When the jar is full, roll the coins according to denomination. Many banks don't have coin counters any more and insist on receiving a bunch of coins you cash in ONLY if they are rolled. Be sure to put the exact amount of coins into each coin wrapper that is marked on the outside of it.
Photo of rolled coins and the jar
Click image to enlarge.

We purchased a bulk box of coin wrappers at Wal-Mart for under $3.00. This is WAY LESS than the 10% that CoinStar will deduct from your cash when taking it down to the supermarket and putting it into their green machine. Sure, it takes a bit of time to roll the coins, but just get a TV tray, turn on the latest episode of "Scorpion", "The Kelly File" with Megyn Kelly, "Mark Levin TV", "Criminal Minds", "Limitless" or "The Blaze" and you'll be done in no time.

 

Here's the proof!

This is a photo of my deposit silp the day I turned in the coins.
Deposit Slip
Click image to enlarge.

Do you like this idea? Leave a comment on our contact page. Are you going to try this? Let me know how this works for you!

 

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