6th Annual Piggy Bank Challenge

This year was the first year that I took part the annual piggy bank challenge that Val has been running.    And now that I'm a home owner, my budget is even tighter so that I can continue to pay off bills.   But so that I have money for fun stuff as well I'm going to work even harder to save money at the same time.   I'll be saving my change and also what ever I get in the way of $5 bills.

I have a lovely 23.75 ounce jar that I put my change in, the bills go into another container.   This will fill at least a couple of times through out the year and I'll take it to the bank and exchange it for bills.  I'm looking forward to seeing what my total is next year when we total everything up!

As for what I may use the money for, I'm hoping to take a trip to Scotland & England next year so it will most likely go towards that.

The artwork behind the jar is how I track where I am in paying off my debts.  I'm a visual learner so these really help keep my attention focused on the longterm plan without getting so distracted. 

If you are interested in signing up for the challenge, you can go here to read more about it and sign up.

Gratitudes:
1. Cooler temps here in N. TX today

2. Good traffic on the commute home today

Piggy Bank Challenge Results

Now that June is over it's time to tally the savings that everyone who participated in Val's (of Val's Quilting Studio) savings challenge this past year.

I saved both $5 bills and my change - both have been my practice to do the last few years.   I lost track of what my savings were in the bills, but it was over $150.   That was part of what I used for my earnest money used to purchase my new house (aka my quilt studio!).  And I've traded in my coins twice because I don't have a big jar, and that totaled up to about $100.  Don't know what I'm going to do with that money yet. 

I'm already starting to fill the jar with change for this year and have accumulated over $30 so far.  Definitely an easy way to save!

Gratitudes:
1. A good drive home from work yesterday

2. For the  two quilts from one of my coworkers that will be a blessing to someone.

Piggy Bank Challenge

Val of Val's Quilting studio is hosting a challenge this year for people to throw all of their change into their choice of a piggy bank.  And then at the end of the year count it up to see how much there is.

This is something I normally do, but haven't been really keeping track of the totals but I will do so this year.  I also normally hold back all $5 bills that I get as an additional means of saving money and that also adds up!

Since this last move when the jar I used to use for my change vanished, I have replaced it with one similar to the middle jar in this picture (lid is different, but size is about the same).  I've already got about 2" worth of change in it at this point.  

I may end up changing it out for something smaller because it is getting heavy and will be very heavy by the time it is full.  Need to go check out what I can find at Goodwill in the way of a nice looking jar.

As for what I'll be using the money for - most likely to help pay expenses for a trip next May for my nieces wedding back in Indiana.  =)

Gratitudes:

1. Pretty Jars to help keep me focused on things like this

2. A job that pays the bills