Any Spare Change?
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
May 22, 2007 1:32pm CST
Please help out a poor old grandpa with some spare change? Please? Okay this isn't right. But if you have some I won't turn it down. Now on to the meat of the matter of spare change. My wife is a waitress and as most do she has a lot of change from tips and all. I raid her wallet ever so often for this change. Never taking it all. She knows I do this and doesn't complain. Now I am taking a day and a half break from myLot and am going to spend the time at Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel.
http://www.mysticlake.com/indexmain.html
Especially since I've a free room, free buffet, and some free cash they perked me recently. Anyhow I asked the wife yesterday for ALL her change as she was given as a tip two bus passes and doesn't need the change for bus fare. She gladly, well not fully, said yes. Now I decided with the price of gas so astronomically high to use this change for gas for the trip as the casino round trip is roughly 90 miles. The total change I have taken to use is $30. So almost a tank full. Do you set asidfwe in a jar or tray your change from shopping/tips etc? Do you do this religiously at all? What do you do with a substantial amount of spare change if you have any? Another question is do you ever give any spare change to the homeless etc on street corneres with signs? I do this as I know the feeling of being broke, cold, tired,dirty, and hungry and every penny helps out in this situation. I have even given old blankets to the homeless. Well looking forward to responses in the near future. Have a great day/evening.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
11 people like this
23 responses
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
22 May 07
Hello Grandpa Bob!
Sounds like a fun little trip! Wish I could bug out of here in a flash and get some relaxation time.
Yes, we have a jar in the house and we save our change in it, then once it fills we roll it up and take it to the bank and deposit it in our savings. I like to use cash, so I usually empty out my pockets at the end of the day into the jar.
And yes, I also give to the homeless and people who ask for some spare change. I was always taught to give to the less fortunate, and although I know that I am having financial struggles at times, it's not nearly as bad as some other people's struggles.
Enjoy your trip!
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 07
I thank you for donating to the less fortunate as my wife and I were
in that spot when we first started dating way way wayyyy back when.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
22 May 07
I do save my change from whatever I do. I even stop to pick up change on the sidewalk, it adds up! The last time I emptied my jar and I had $50, not much but it was enough to take my family out to eat and we had a great time! As for giving to the homeless, I will give the jacket off of my back to someone who is in need, I have bought food, drink and tried to find shelter for several. I have however quit giving money anymore. It seems that there are several scam artists that are using the homeless as a way to gain money and doing very well at it. This however is a stigma for the truly needy. I have been on the street and been cold and hungry. I know the feeling and remember the despair. Most will always accept coming inside the store and having me buy their food, and sometimes I have even spent more than $10 to help them so they can have a couple days worth of food and drinks. I don't like to know someone I came in contact left my presence hungry, thirsty or cold. Bless you Grandpa Bob and I really hope you have fun at the casino!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 07
Oh yes the small change adds up faster than we think most times once we cash it in. Good idea and I was also there in the broke/homeless state years and years ago. My wife at work ever so often feeds a couple of homeless people when they can't get into the shelter due to overcrowding. And these men are ever so grateful. Some even laff at the fact the ones in the shelter are eating bologna & cheese sandwiches while they "dine" at her work. Hahaha!!!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
23 May 07
That is funny! LOL, At least they have a great sense of humor. I remember when I finally was able to get an apartment after my ordeal and I was walking back to my place from the gas station with my little purchases and this guy was about my age at the time and he was sleeping next to a generator to stay out of the cold and keep warm. He had lost everything he had. The police had thrown him out of the park and the other homeless who were hiding out there had taken his things. He scared the bejeezus out of me! I was hesitant to help at first, but I had a good feeling about this guy, so I took him home to my place, my exboyfriend was there so I was safe. He thought I was nuts, but I didn't care. I gave him some of his clothes that he didn't wear and we fed him and let him shower. He stayed the night with us and we found out that he was just down on his luck. WE helped him into a shelter and he got back on his feet. I saw him several years later and he was working, he had a wife and a baby. I was so happy for him! That made me feel so good to see that. Bless your wife for helping those guys! I bet she fed them a lot better than the shelter does lol, their food isn't the finest in town, lol. I remember that still.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
27 May 07
Thanks for the best response rating. It always makes me feel good to get them and I am very flattered!
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 May 07
I won $1,000,000,000 and I'm back.
If you believe this I've got some great land with an ocean view. Hahahaha. Thanks for the response also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 May 07
If I'm flush with cash I try and save all my coins. I try and save anything! You never know when it might come in handy. I needed to come up with a cash deposit the other day. We don't have any banks in the town where I live, it's a remote village. I had a $10 note and a $5 and the rest I made up with $1 and $2 coins...I was really surprised...looking at it I thought I'd come up short but no, I had $50.
Sometimes I give money to homeless people or buskers but not always. I used to live in a bigger country town and there was a guy who used to ask people for money ALL DAY. I reckon if he put as much effort into a proper job he'd do ok...lol.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 May 07
What are "BUSKERS"? I also see the same people standing at the same corner every night. I give some spare change ever so often. But never to the same people too often as if they can sit there all night then during the day they can search for work etc.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
22 May 07
We have a change jar! We aren't great about using it, but usually we do. Recently we cashed in a huge bottle of change and it was $144 i believe. That's pretty good! I haven't given to homeless in a long time, but I would. I just haven't seen any with signs and I feel bad about giving to the ones that don't have signs, I don't want to offend. Years ago I was almost broke but a lady had a sign that said she would work for gas, and food for her kids as her husband left her and she had no money, so I had $50 in my wallet and gave it all to her, and ate ramen noodles the rest of the week until I got paid again.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 07
Now that was very gracious of you.
I'm sure she'll always remember you.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
22 May 07
I hope everything turned out ok for her!! I really felt bad. I feel bad thinking back to it! Wish I had more to give her!
1 person likes this
@jen_jen (76)
• United States
23 May 07
We have a spare change jar in our home as well. It's not very big but last time we cashed it in it was about $30 so we used it to buy my sister-in-law something for her birthday that was approaching. Usually we just put the money into savings. We contribute to it constantly and have considered using something else that is larger.
As for contributing to the homeless, I live in a much more rural area so we don't normally see that kind of thing. Maybe it's just me but it seems like country folk tend to take care of their own. I do give clothing and sometimes other stuff to the Community Action, which is probably the closest thing we have to a shelter. I like the idea that someone had with giving away the subway cards. It's hard to trust people these days but the Bible does tell us that it's our job to feed the hunrgy, give drink to those who thirst, etc.
Have a good trip!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 May 07
Actually the ones that are bad off may go to the bigger city as they know they can get cash from strangers there. Hahaha! Seems most humans have a huge caring heart donating food, clothes, and other necessaties to charities.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@dixielol (1579)
• United States
23 May 07
I do safe my change. My boyfriend always leaves all his change in his pants pocket & I do all the laundry. I tell him that I keep it as a tip. Last week I got over $10.00 in change out of washing one load of his pants. He is a deputy jailer & they dont have cokes at the jail. So he will take a $5 bill & get change (all quarters most of the time) to buy Mountain Dews with then after buying one or 2 just leaves it in his pants pocket. I take the quarters & put in my purse. When I go to Wal-Mart I spend them in the crane machines there. Yeap, Im addicted to them. The dimes, nickles & pennies goes in my nieces piggy bank. When both banks get full there is usally around $100 in there. She is 2 yrs old but has her own savings account. We put the money in there. Her mamaw saves her change for her too. So far she has over $1000 in her account & is only 2 yrs old. (Of course half of that came from her great grandparents who give her $100 to Christmas & $100 for her birthday each year)
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 May 07
mY WIFE NEVER CHECKS THE POCKETS OF ANY CLOTHES WHEN SHE DOES THE LAUNDRY. sO ONE DAY AS SHE TOOK CLOTHES FROM THE WASHER TO PLACE IN THE DRYER DADS WALLET FELL OUT. iT HAD ABOUT $80 IN BILLS AND ALL HIS id ETC. tHAT WAS FUNNY. i KEEP TELLING HER TO CHECK THE POCKETS BEFORE HAND AS WE JUST BOUIGHT A NEW WASHER AND DRYER AND WIOTH HE LEAVING INK PENS IN HER APRONS FROM WORK THEY WILL LEAK SOON IN THE WASHER OR DRYER STAINING EVERYTHING
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
22 May 07
We do not do casinos, our preference. I would rather donate money to the poor. We have an organization that collects household cast offs etc. and delivers them to poor families throughout our community, and a group that provides things for homeless passing through town. We are such a small town we do not have this as a problem. We know of one young lady who has a home available, but prefers to live on the streets. People give her bags of food from fast food restaurants. She cleans herself up in public restrooms, and sits inside the library and reads. We save spare change. In cans and jars. Cash it in in emergencies. For awhile we did a USA today paperroute. The change from the machines was very gratifying. We cashed it in on a regular basis at the bank.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 07
Well heck then...I'm really poor.
I'm unemployed for the last 4 years.
Spare change? Tee hee.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
22 May 07
We save our change too. My hubby saves his and uses it to buy drinks while he is at work. I save mine in a jar and I'll use mine to buy postage stamps sometimes. Then sometimes I'll put mine in the coin papers and take them to the bank and get cash for them. Then I have a special place where I keep extra cash for emergencies or if we need something and just don't want to take the money out of our checking account then we'll use that cash. My hubby thinks I'm crazy for doing that but if we ever have an emergency then I know that money is there for that purpose.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 07
Now when that time comes he will be glad you stashed cash away.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
23 May 07
I never have any spare change, as the little I have is given to my daughter for her school lunch, & also my step daughter for doing littl;e jobs.
My husband accumulates spare change in his pocket, & yes, sometimes I do raid it. If I need spare change for my daughters lunch, or cofeee at swimming, I take my husbands. If he is around I tell him, otherwise I don't.
There is never enough to accumulate in a jar.
We don't have the homeless begging on street corners here. There are shelters & centres that give out free food & meals & provide accomodation. Actually, I believe it is against the law to beg here.
I give spare change, or my substantial amounts to legimate charities that help the poor. It is much more effective, & we know the money is being used for what it is intended.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 May 07
YES i KNOW THAT ROUTINE ALL TOO WELL. mY CHILDREN WERE LITTLE WHEN i GOT DOME BUYING MY BOOZE THEY GOT THE REST OF THE CHANGE ALL THE TIME.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@vokey9472 (1486)
• United States
23 May 07
I put all my change at the end of the night in my son's piggy bank. When the bank is full we take the coins to the credit union and put them through the coin sorted and then we deposit the money into his savings account. The kid has more money in his account than I do!
I never give money to the homeless. I will offer to buy them some food. The truly homeless always take the food. The ones who refuse and want the money only, I do not give anything.
1 person likes this
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
23 May 07
I hope you enjoy your break! I put my change in my "piggy bank" and every now and then roll it up and take it to the bank. I have a special bank account that I use for special things, like donations to charities or people, things I might want to buy for someone, including me, and other things that are not everyday purchases and bills. I recently had new French doors put in the front of the house with my income tax return and "spare change."
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 May 07
Oh I will enjoy my break all right. I'm tempted to leave real soon and gamble all night till check in time in the morning. Then sleep all morning then swim and exercise then gamble more then home. Who knows. I'm not sleepy right now and anxious to get away from the house. I haven't heard from my daughter if she was going to visit with the grandsons to swim so I may just head out soon.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
22 May 07
I will donate food to the food bank, I will give clothes to the womens shelter, I will give clothes to the day care for the homeless people. I will buy coffee, a sandwhich and a drink for a begger but I will not give them spare change. I do not like beggers. I feel some of them can get a job just like I do. I know that is not the case for all of them but when the same person stands outside a store day after day with a homeless sign saying "Homeless any spare change or anything will help" now why arn't they spending there time trying to get a job? I know people who will people on a daily basis under the table.
I know it sounds hard but I have never had anyone give me a dime and had to work for everything I have earned so why can't they
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 07
I've found out the main problem being able to get a job for the homeless is the fact they have no address or phone. It's a dog eat dog world out there for the homeless it seems. I've seen a few get minimum wage jobs because they DO have pride. Then I've also seen the true "beggars" that do this for a living. I seem to be able to pick the goods out from the crowd. Hahaha. Good for you for all the donations also. I give when I can to the food shelves etc. But it's usually my daughter or son that gets the food before the food shelves do. LOL
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
23 May 07
I put my change in a jar for our granddaughter.. Your post makes me think she must use it.. as it doesn't add up very fast.. of course, now that I think about it, I don't use cash a lot, but a bank card.. so maybe that's why.. I seldom give coins for tips, but dollars..! Though I suppose lots of quarters would be nice.. My kids have traded in their change before and gotten 40 or 50 dollars.. so I know it adds up.. Sounds like everyone should have a coin jar!
@dragonstar13 (1465)
• United States
23 May 07
I put all my spare change, and even some bills, into my "change jar." I pay my grandkids an allowance for doing their chores and let them earn extra for additional help around the house. They put all their change into their changes jars. And when we save enough, we are going to Disneyland.
1 person likes this
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
23 May 07
i put my change into 2 separate plastic baggies. One has silver change and the other has my pennies. When i get a fair amount, i cash in my change at the casino and have a few xtra dollars.
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
23 May 07
I am one of those that doesn't keep track of coins Grandpa Bob! However, I have the habit of giving change to my small nephews and nieces that I get to meet outside the house on my way to work or on the way home. I also habitually give my change to street beggars. I also give the 5 & 10 peso coins to my daughter for her to drop in her piggy bank that at the end of the year become substantial enough to pay for her birthday party. I usually accumulate change during the day and dispose of them mostly at the end of the day so I am usually left with little change because I also find them heavy.
@tonivandross (143)
• United States
23 May 07
i have a large jar for pennies ihave a large jars for change,nickels and dimes. i have jar for quarters. i used the the quarters for the laundry. when the pennies get to a certain amount i take them to a redemption center as well as the change. as for the homeless when asked i dont give them money they always say it is for something to eat.so itake them to get some thing to eat. you never deny anyone food. so i take them to mcdonalds or what ever is close by to get something hot.
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
23 May 07
First of all good luck at the casino! I do set aside a can for may change. I wait until it is full and then when I go grocery shopping I bring it to the machine they have there and pour it in for bills!
1 person likes this
