tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5685552029834098624.post18481582972061417..comments2008-03-26T08:26:09.579-04:00Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17432163745267812394noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5685552029834098624.post-56603085888311627902008-03-26T08:26:00.000-04:002008-03-26T08:26:00.000-04:00Commerce Bank is a medium-sized (and growing) bank in the NYC, Phila and Balt/D.C. area that does coin counting for free. Any branch, any person. You do not need to have an account, you just take the receipt from the machine to a teller.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5685552029834098624.post-5529314027206109772008-03-25T18:18:00.000-04:002008-03-25T18:18:00.000-04:00An excellent post, though I want to point something out about #8 -- 8.9% (8.9 cents on every dollar) is *not* what I'd call a "minimal amount for use." I'm quite a cheapskate, I suppose, but I don't think I'd ever hand a machine nine bucks just to count up a hundred dollars of my change for me.<BR/><BR/>Alternatives aren't always easy to find, but they *are* out there.<BR/><BR/>This is actually one of the few reasons it's a good idea to have a local bank branch (other reasons include being able to immediately make deposits in person so you know right away if there will be any problems; having someone local to scold in person if they screw up; free notary service :)). Most banks actually do have a coin counting machine hiding in the back somewhere, and they'll generally count your change for free if you're a customer.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes they'll slap on the requirement that they'll only do it for free if you're depositing the money to an account there, but there's nothing stopping you from just yanking it back out the next day if you need it.<BR/><BR/>Other options: some banks will count your coins for you even if you're not a customer, but will charge a flat fee (more rarely, a percentage). This will usually work out to be much cheaper than a CoinStar machine.<BR/><BR/>If you live in an area where gambling is legal, head to a casino. Dump your change in a couple of their buckets, walk straight up to the cashier, and hand them in. They'll count (and change) your coins without fee, and without even blinking. One caveat: many of them don't handle pennies anymore, so you'd have to deal with those separately (there was *one* casino I knew of in downtown Las Vegas that had a machine that counted pennies along with the rest, but that was several years ago).<BR/><BR/>I'd also like to add commentary on your sixth suggestion: replacing name-brand items with generics wherever cheaper (and possible) is an overall better money-saving move than using coupons. Exceptions: the generic version actually has a detectably different taste/consistency/etc. and isn't as good; the store you shop at does "coupon doubling" or similar gimmicks that actually drops the price of the name-brand item below the price of an equivalent generic; they don't *make* a generic of what you're buying.<BR/><BR/>Finally, a quickie about item #1 on your list. This is the single biggest electricity-saving move you can make apart from running your air conditioner less. Switching off lights in rooms where they're not being used is another no brainer, whether they're CFL or incandescent. Also, the note about the mercury content -- this was an unfortunate dose of FUD spread about CFL a couple of years back, and dealing with a broken bulb is not the huge public health emergency it was made out to be. Sweep it up, vacuum, wash your hands. All done :)<BR/><BR/>An outstanding article, by the way -- I do lots of these things myself (I am perpetually annoyed at my inability to find good coupons in my area ... the offerings in the newspapers here consistently suck :)) and it's great to see others doing these things too.willfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15633900437507743534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5685552029834098624.post-51426254114848556152008-03-23T12:56:00.000-04:002008-03-23T12:56:00.000-04:00These are excellent tips Meg and I am linking to this article coming up next week.Lulugal11http://www.howisavemoney.net/save-money/10-ways-save-money-2008/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5685552029834098624.post-78194268409815537752008-01-13T19:42:00.000-05:002008-01-13T19:42:00.000-05:00Great Tips, Meg :)<BR/><BR/>I actually did #8, and I was surprised that it added up to over $50 after a year or two.<BR/><BR/>I haven't tried #9 yet, but I usually finish my food in one sitting, so never needed the containers for anything.Jameshttp://www.lightningshock.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5685552029834098624.post-55371410323736536552008-01-10T12:51:00.000-05:002008-01-10T12:51:00.000-05:00Those are excellent resolutions,very sensible, nothing too difficult to accomplish.<BR/><BR/>I have to work on your #1 resolution. I still have the old fashioned light bulbs, shame on me.<BR/><BR/>mariemariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03236124752867568775noreply@blogger.com