My Last Penny
March 30th, 2005
This weekend I spent my very last penny. Don't worry I'm not broke, so don't send money (or do if you want to), I just finally got rid of the huge pile of pennies that has been haunting me for the last several years.
To explain better I have to give you a little background. In a time long-long ago I used to keep all of my change in my car. As I went to a drive thru, car wash, or other driving related activity, I would use up my change paying for things. I was at symbiosis with my normal change collection process throughout the rest of my day. Eventually I gave up my car and no longer had the outlet for using up my change. It began to pile up in drawers, on the kitchen counter, next to the bed, anywhere that was convenient to throw down coins. It started to become a big mess, as well as an expensive habit.
One day I decided I was going to make a conscious effort to get rid of all of that change. I could take it to the grocery store and cash it at one of those coin machines, but that seemed like cheating. I could also roll it up and take it to the bank, but that seemed like too much coordination. I decided to get rid of the change the old fashioned way... spend it.
It has taken several years to get rid of all the change. To make the system work I had to make a game out of it. Every time I left the house I would fill my pocket with some assorted change, whenever possible I would use up all of the smaller coins and then the larger ones. After a while I even developed the perfect assortment coins that would yield the best reduction in amount of coins, with the least weight in my pocket, and as many payment options as possible. It actually became such a habit that if I could get rid of nine pennies in one shot I was so excited I might come home and load up on more for the rest of the day.
It is very satisfying being free from the coins that cluttered my life. I almost feel like a smoker who just had their last cigarette, an drug addict who just had their last hit, or a college student who just payed off their last credit card bill. I will remember this experience for the rest of my days and never let the change pile up again.
Me | Comments (2) | words in this post
congratulations on this wonderful success. and how symbolic to enter a new year of your life unburdened by the presence and weight of extra clutter in your life... ahhh...
it's a good thing you didn't have to go through metal detectors........ever count up all that you saved?
I think it's terrific that you were finally able to get rid of all that change, but I'm wondering if all the folks on the receiving end appreciated all your coins.
Glad to have your blog back....I've missed you!