Martini Mom Posted February 5, 2015 #1 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I keep a coin bank to help save money before the cruise. We actually save quite a bit that way. The hard part can be not dipping into it or giving it to the kids here and there. Today I went to the grocery store, used the Coin Star machine, got my money voucher and bought a Carnival gift card from them. Now I have it allocated and untouchable. I plan on doing this many times in the next few months. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savlamara Posted February 6, 2015 #2 Share Posted February 6, 2015 What an awesome idea! What grocery store did you get the gift card from? I can't seem to find them in any of ours. And love your whale tail bank! Did you get it onboard? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martini Mom Posted February 6, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted February 6, 2015 What an awesome idea! What grocery store did you get the gift card from? I can't seem to find them in any of ours. And love your whale tail bank! Did you get it onboard? Sent from my iPad using Forums I got it at Ralphs/Kroger, but other stores like Lowes haves them too. I got the whale tail on board one of my cruises. It was filled with a cocktail, then can later be used as a bank. It was a little on the pricey side, but i thought it was cute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketheExbaker Posted February 7, 2015 #4 Share Posted February 7, 2015 You may want to check with your bank, many of them have coin machines now and they don't charge the fee that coinstar does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplelife Posted February 17, 2015 #5 Share Posted February 17, 2015 My credit union has a fee-free coin counter; it credits the total right to your account, It's in the "kids card" area but they have no objection to adults using it. After I cash in all the coins, I take out the amount in ones and fives for tipping an small purchases along the way. I have about $80 saved up for our cruise in June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted February 18, 2015 #6 Share Posted February 18, 2015 I HATE the thought of PAYING to count my change! What a waste of money! Banks should be required to do that FREE OF CHARGE....it's U.S. Tender, after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsPete Posted February 18, 2015 #7 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Yes, go to the bank -- not CoinStar. Don't they deduct something like 9 1/2% for the privilege of using their machine? In contrast, the credit union charges nothing. Keep in mind, too, that saving changes doesn't actually increase your savings. It's just keeping your money in a different form so that you feel less tempted to spend it. If you're looking for ways to decrease your spending, you would do better by bringing your lunch to work, skipping those new shoes, renting a DVD instead of going to the movies, or whatever small things you typically spend upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martini Mom Posted February 25, 2015 Author #8 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Yes, go to the bank -- not CoinStar. Don't they deduct something like 9 1/2% for the privilege of using their machine? In contrast, the credit union charges nothing. Keep in mind, too, that saving changes doesn't actually increase your savings. It's just keeping your money in a different form so that you feel less tempted to spend it. If you're looking for ways to decrease your spending, you would do better by bringing your lunch to work, skipping those new shoes, renting a DVD instead of going to the movies, or whatever small things you typically spend upon. My bank doesn't count for free. The grocery store was convenient and didn't take too much of a cut. If you opt to turn the coins into one of the gift cards offered on the screen, they take zero. I already bring lunch to work, rarely buy new clothes and shoes (and then it's often Target), we rarely go to the movies, etc. This is just another fun way to allocate (like that word better than saving? :) ) funds for our cruise. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20somethingguy Posted March 4, 2015 #9 Share Posted March 4, 2015 (edited) Just a heads up: The gift cards can only be applied towards the cost of the cruise ticket and settling your onboard sign and sail account at the end of the cruise. Carnival will still need a debit/credit card to place a pending charge or cash to put down as a deposit on the account. I was going to do this for saving up for the S&S card onboard, but decided against it since it can only be applied as charges are posted to your S&S account. Be sure to separate your trip expenses savings from the gift cards :-) Edited March 4, 2015 by 20somethingguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martini Mom Posted March 4, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted March 4, 2015 We usually put cash down on our onboard account. Other have done that and then used their gift cards to pay down the amount as they go. They didn't have to wait until the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maere Posted March 10, 2015 #11 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I do the same.......Affinity Credit Union doesn't charge so every penny goes first towards the bar bill!!! Maere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galensgrl Posted March 11, 2015 #12 Share Posted March 11, 2015 (edited) I keep a coin bank to help save money before the cruise. We actually save quite a bit that way. The hard part can be not dipping into it or giving it to the kids here and there. Today I went to the grocery store, used the Coin Star machine, got my money voucher and bought a Carnival gift card from them. Now I have it allocated and untouchable. I plan on doing this many times in the next few months. :D It's funny you mention this. We are cruising HAL Boston to Bermuda in May, and I thought it would be fun to save "spare" change this way too. I am using a big water bottle, and because it's kind of big any progress is NOT showing hardly at all lol. But we have been doing well putting money in and leaving it there. I figure it will be extra spending money to cover transportation costs to the port (it's a two hour drive for us) and some drinks and lunch in Bermuda. I'm hoping I get a pleasant surprise when I bring it to Coin Star the week before our cruise. Happy cruising :D Lorie Edited March 11, 2015 by galensgrl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langit Posted March 16, 2015 #13 Share Posted March 16, 2015 good job, nice idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YankeePenny Posted May 23, 2015 #14 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I have used coin star. I now use a bank. Nickels and dimes add up. I love trying to guess the amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted May 23, 2015 #15 Share Posted May 23, 2015 I roll them myself. Usually do it while sitting and watching television Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOJO351969 Posted May 25, 2015 #16 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I have been taking 20.00 each Friday and hide it and don't touch it. Now I got a very welcome visit from one of my nephews on his way from Nashville to PA and I am one of those Aunts who likes to give my nephews some gas money and take them for a meal so I dipped into the stash since I never have cash on me. Well on my way home from work I stopped at the bank and got the amount of money out of the bank plus a Penalty charge. Wasn't out of the hiding sport 12 hrs and still paid the penalty. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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