This is a partnered post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
With the gift-giving season upon us, we are all probably spending a little more than normal. According to a recent survey, 66% of Americans shopping for winter holiday gifts go over budget by an average of $116! There are gifts to buy, cookies to make, and decorating to do. All these things add up quickly and can do quite a number on the checkbook balance. Since many of us are looking for ways to pinch our pennies during the holiday season, I’m working with Coinstar to let you know how to use those coins this holiday season.
In a recent survey, 85% of Americans report that they have spare change lying around, but 86% of survey respondents said they would not feel comfortable buying holiday gifts with just their loose coins. Totally understandable. I would not walk into my local Target with a bag of coins and pay for my items. Would you?
In the past, I’ve always just rolled my coins and deposited them into by bank account. Not only is this very time consuming, it’s a trip to the bank. So not only did I waste time by counting and rolling the coins, I wasted gas driving to the bank to deposit the coins. But this year I’m doing things a little bit different.
Coinstar offers a simple way to turn your loose coins into cash, eCertificates or even a charitable donation! With over 20,300 coin-counting kiosk locations throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland and the United Kingdom, you’re probably one of the 90% of the U.S. population that lives within five miles of a kiosk.
If you have spare change laying around the house and you want to use it this holiday season, here are three ways coins can work for you!
3 Ways Coins Can Work for You
Cash Voucher: When you take your loose coins to a Coinstar kiosk, select “Get Cash” on the screen. The kiosk will print out a receipt for you to take to the checkout stand in exchange for cold, hard cash perfect for holiday spending. With this option, there is a 10.9% fee taken out of your earnings.
No Fee eCertificates: When you choose to exchange your coins for an eCertificate with Coinstar, there is no fee. That means you can keep each and every penny for yourself and choose from popular brands like Amazon and Starbucks!
Charity: Towards the end of the year many people are in the holiday spirit and want to make meaningful donations. Coinstar makes it easy. Transform your spare change into meaningful change with more than 14 nonprofit organizations across the country.
Americans who have spare change laying around estimate they have about $21. But Coinstar customers cash in an average of $58 worth of coins. How much spare change do you think you have laying around?
Raijean says
Yes, people don’t realize it but change can really add up. I have my son saving all of his change.
Andrea Kruse says
Love Coinstar! We make it a big deal and everyone saves their loose change for 6 months or more so it is really dramatic when we cash it in. Love the no fees for cash.
Penelope says
I’d save them up for Amazon! Those pennies really do add up.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
One year I had so much change and when I cashed it in, it was over $300! I was SO excited! I need to start a coin container again!
Stephanie Keeping says
I have three jars full of pennies.
Kecia says
I used to use Coinstar at our local Food Lion all the time! My papa would save his change for me, and I’d cash it in about once every 1-2 months. It would always be like $40-$50, which was a big deal to a 10 year old!!
Jennifer H says
We save up and when the jar gets heavy enough we exchange it for cash. I like the fee-free option for a voucher to amazon though!
Liz Mays says
Coinstar is super convenient and I’ve used it many times. I often get vouchers for the stores they’re in.
NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner says
I love using Coin Star! I almost always choose the voucher for the store!
Digna D. says
I personally have never used Coin Star but see them in our local stores. I do see folks using them quite often.
Sara P. (@SensiblySara) says
I have a large glass jar full or coins. It’s probably got $75 or so in it.
I love that you can cash in your coins for eCertificates and not have a fee taken out!
Valerie Remy-Milora says
Our church does a special collection where they give each family a jar and ask them to put their coins in every night for a month… then everybody brings them in. It’s always fun to watch our kid’s eyes when they see how much they can actually contribute this way. These CoinStar Kiosks sound like a great resource for turning pocket change into something special!
Maureen @ Wisconsin Mommy says
I empty the change out of my wallet a few times a week (it’s heavy!!). I am always amazed at how fast it adds up. You are right – I always underestimate how much I have.
Audrey at Barking Mad! says
I never realize, until I actually go to LOOK, how much all those tossed coins (into a huge jar we have) adds up to! I can’t stand rolling the coins so we ALWAYS take them to the Coinstar kiosk at the local grocery store. It’s convenient and I don’t have to touch the money, plus, now that they have the eCerts, there’s no fee, which is a huge plus! Literally!
Emily says
We save our change in a jar throughout the year and use the money towards the purchase of our Christmas tree! We typically have enough to purchase another tree for a family who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford one.
Coins are a great way to pay it forward!
maria says
We always save our coins! We usually cash them in for the kids right before we leave on a vacation. They love cashing them in at Coinstar.
Kathleen Kennedy-Leon says
I really need to change in our huge change jar-its a five gallon water bottle- that is nearly full–had it for years–I wonder how much money it contains–its so heavy-thanks for the reminder!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
We have a “vacation” jar with our coins in it.
Jenn says
What great options for your spare coins this holiday season. I love the charity option best!
Melinda says
I love seeing kids at the coinstar counting their money. It’s such an easy way to cash out spare change
Scott says
We usually do just that. We grab a handful of coins and use it to feed the kettles each year!
Lena says
Great ideas – I need to get my kids more into it. We have a coins everywhere in the house and they all belong to my kids
Robin Gagnon says
I didn’t realize there was no fee with the gift card option. Time to cash in that piggy bank.
Emily says
I love the charity factor. It’s a great way to give back without feeling it in your pocket book at the holidays.
Julie Cohn says
My son has a gazillion coins in his piggy bank—this would make a great giving back project for the holidays. Thanks for the suggestions!
April says
Great ideas. We have the a huge bank of change.
Marysa says
I love Coinstar! I’m always taking my coins there for an Amazon e-card 🙂
Debi says
We save all of our coins. I have paid for a whole vacation saving coins and cashing them in through coinstar
Tammy says
Wow! We don’t have a lot of spare change because we don’t pay cash for a whole lot any more 😉 What we do have around I usually drop in the charity boxes.
Marcie W. says
We always save our spare change and it eventually really adds up. I like that you can purchase gift cards through Coinstar without any fees or penalties!