Coins and Cleaners
Save up your coins- every night drop your change in a bucket or jar. Take them in to a Coinstar location near you. If you choose a gift card instead of cash, you get the full value (occasionally they run specials, so check back regularly. There are a few grocery stores, CVS pharmacies, places like Old Navy or Lands End, and, my personal favorite, Amazon. Click through the link to see what's available in your area.
Then I use Amazon gift cards (which I also get through swagbucks) and buy Baby
Or I use them to buy the ingredients to make a home-made detergent for our dishwasher that actually works, and works better than store-bought.
I use many of those ingredients to make our own laundry detergent, and other cleaners, too.
Of course, you can always just sort the coins yourself and turn them in at the bank for cash or deposit them.
Whichever you do, be sure to double check your dimes and quarters (and larger coins, if you have them) and keep any pre-1965 (and some other dates) silver coins because they are, in fact, mostly silver and are worth more than their face value.
7 Responses to “Coins and Cleaners”
January 28th, 2012 at 7:36 am
I guess I live so frugally that I USE all the extra coin; there is no such thing as saving it. However, I did just sell off some pre-1965 silver, and I was amazed at what it brought. I was hoping to have enough to really splurge and get myself an iPad 3. It was far more! Anyone with extra coin lying around in a closet should consider it. I thought it would be cool for the kids and grandkids; they could not care less! Have some fun NOW!
January 28th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
actually, you need to save nickels as well…right now it cost more to produce a nickel than the face value of a nickel…and soon they will be no more-being slated to be made from cheaper steel alloy. it is also a good idea to not cash in your change…it will be needed should the economy collapse..coins will be more valueable for their metal content and paper money will not be worth anything except maybe a firestarter. you are correct about the dimes..im not sure when pennies quit using copper, but i am for sure on the nickels. you will also notice that banks are not liking exchanging large amounts of dollars for coins.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
As a frugal Guru I would expect you can do better than that. Use the coin machine at your credit union and there is no cost,gift cards are just another gimmick to spend money on more junk.
I really have my doubts about making my own laundry detergent, seems like a hassle also an invitation to the roto router man. Using coupons and looking for deals may be a better option. Using borax with your laundry soap makes it last longer also.
January 30th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Actually, I’m perplexed that a blog about frugality would suggest using Coinstar. I’m all for saving loose change but I will never use Coinstar as the “convenience” fee is around 9%.
What’s the real agenda here?
February 1st, 2012 at 11:55 am
I did not mean to suggest you use them for anything but the gift cards- which give full value. And if you check coinstars website, periodically, they offer discounts, which means they pay you to take your change.
February 12th, 2012 at 2:13 am
TDBANK will count them for free. I check all my coins for Pre-1964; those are silver and worth 20 times face value. In my area, other banks are doing the same thing (I.e., count your coins for free). No coin star 10%.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:05 am
But periodically, if you watch coinstar’s website, they do better than count them for free. They give you a gift card for five percent more than the face value of your coins.
And yes, always check all silver coins (except nickels) for pre-1964 dates. And silver dollars remained silver past the 1964 date.
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