I started saving my change from lunch, back in my high school days 25+ years ago. Lunch cost .90, so everyday I took home a dime. I eventually saved enough to buy my first camera, a Pentax K1000. The camera cost $135 when I bought it, I believe in '84. Seems like I saved for 1 1/2 years, something like that.
I wont use a Coinstar machine, not when I'm taking $300-$500 in change, I'm not giving them 8%-10% of that amount. I always take mine to the bank rolled. It might take an hour to roll them, but well worth saving $30-$50 that Coinstar would get. I changed banks a few years ago, and my current bank doesn't have a machine, but ask your bank if they have a counting machine. If they do, good chance they'll do it for you for free, being their customer, or at least they should. My previous bank would do it Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Said it had to do with the vending machine guys using it on the other days.
Anyway, over the years, I've taken $500 in quarters and dimes, and made 1/4 of my down payment on a new car. Car repairs over the years have partially been paid for with change, car insurance many times, car payments, tires for a car, paid down my credit cards, paid one off totally with a change run to the bank.
My first laptop which I recently dropped and broke the screen, about $260 of the $400 cost was made with saved change. It's replacement, which I'm on now, I took $90 in quarters to help pay for part of it just last week.
I'd say I average $1.00/day that I drop in my change buckets. $365/year, every 2 years I could rebuild a nice gaming rig, eh?
Save your change people, it can help out in a pinch, or to just blow it on a new toy.
Edit: When I looked back at the op's pic, reminded me that I paid 100% for my LCD (Samsung T190) back when Circuit City went out of business earlier this year.
Last edited by OxenBreeder (2009-08-04 19:06:46)