Do You Keep a Change Jar? Maybe You Should.

Years ago, my dad gave me an old glass wine jug half full of pennies. I hauled it around for years, including to my college dorm, where it served as a quirky decoration and nothing more.

Eventually I decided I'd rather have the money than a giant paperweight, so I cashed it in. It came to about $40. From then on, that jug had a real job: collecting our loose change.

How Our Change Jar Works

I moved the jug to the pantry, where it's easy to reach. Whenever my husband or I come home with coins, in they go. I also sweep up stray change from tabletops, couch cushions, and the junk drawer. Plunk, plunk, plunk.

When I was saving for a trip to a conference in New York City, my first time there, I wanted to pay for everything up front. So I emptied about a year's worth of change from the jar.

The total? $87. It may not sound like a fortune, but it was money I didn't even notice I was saving.

Why a Change Jar Works

• It's effortless. No budgeting, no apps, no willpower required.
• It's out of sight. Coins in a jar are less tempting to spend than coins in your wallet.
• It's motivating. Watching the jar fill up is surprisingly satisfying, especially for kids.
• It gives savings a purpose. Assign the jar a goal, like a trip, a holiday fund, or a family treat, and you'll be more likely to keep at it.

How to Cash In Your Coins Without Paying Fees

Coin-counting kiosks are convenient, but many charge a hefty percentage of your total. A few ways around that:

• Choose a gift card or eGift card at kiosks that waive the fee for gift card payouts, if it's a store you'd shop at anyway.
• Ask your bank or credit union. Many will count coins free for customers, or give you free coin wrappers.
• Roll them yourself and deposit them at your bank.
• Use coins at self-checkout for small purchases.

Level Up: Round-Up Savings

Pay with a card most of the time? Many banks and apps offer "round-up" features that round each purchase to the nearest dollar and move the difference into savings. It's a digital change jar.

Do you keep a change jar? What's the most you've saved in one? Share in the comments!

Need somewhere to deposit that cash? See our guide to places to cash a check and other money basics.