Baby steps

I just have to share this- not the money but the story.  For the last few years we have had a big bottle in our room and it was always called, somewhat generically, the vacation fund.  It was fun to actually finally have a vacation to assign to the fund this year.  It was made up whatever change was in our pockets at the end of the day as well as misc. one dollar bills that I would have in my back pocket after work days.  Leftover lunch money.  Then there was the twenty dollar bill M put in.  I asked her where she got it and she said, "Daddy's wallet".  Oh, of course.  Periodically I would go through my hubby's top dresser drawer as he tended to toss change in there after work.  This was not money we missed.  (except maybe that $20...) it was mainly just bits and bobs that alone didn't amount to much more than a buck or two.  Well,  A few days before our vacation, we all gathered around to dump,count and roll the fund.  We all made guesses as to how much we had in the bottle and mid way through realized we had to change our guesses because it was adding up pretty fast.  Two hours of counting later, we had $774 !!  Can you believe it?  It felt so great!  It feels like such a metaphor for so many other things in my life right now.  Taking my time,  doing things slowly and deliberatly while not overthinking them.  Plus it was a fantastic exercise for the kids because to have a jar full of change turn into what seems like a million dollars to a five year old was pretty impactful.  It also helped on the vacation because they could put the money we would spend into the context of all that saved money.  That after spending $100 to get into the aquarium (!), that our $774 was suddenly $664.  Putting it into context and realizing that even though it sounds like so much money, it goes fast if you aren't careful.

When we were all done counting,  we had a handful of odd nickels, dimes and a quarter or two that were left over after rolling all the rest so we threw them back into the jar and off we go again. 

Comments

[Paula]

This is wonderful! I've been trying to keep a jar like this for a year or so now, but haven't been so good at it. I think maybe you've just given me the inspiration I needed...
oh and that $20 is just hystrical. Maybe if I sneak into my hubby's wallet from time to time mine will grow faster...LOL!
Happy 2008!

[Rosa]

How fun! We did this when we moved from our old house. We got about $400! Isn't it amazing how much we can gather over the years! Happy New Year. (Visiting from SOSF.)

[kristin Jones]

I'm just catching up....It's so great to see what you've done with Logan's room--super cute...and then there are all the Bedell Christmas decorations I so love! Hey--what's the green picture on the wall behind the Xmas tree? A new piece of art?

[Mary Lynn]

Good for you. I always through my change into a little piggy bank and then use it for personal splurges (haircut, pedicure, manicure). I've gotten pretty good at judging exactly how much my little piggy has!