| Remember ole George Costanza from Seinfeld and | | | | candy, "Pennies from Heaven," "A penny for your |
| that monstrosity for a wallet that he carried around? I | | | | thoughts" etc. Put now the penny is used to throw at |
| think that episode was the harbinger for the end of the | | | | buddies (see above), and in the college dorms we |
| tri-fold, and even some bi-folds that were so thick that | | | | used to "penny" the door shut, then blow body powder |
| sitting on one tucked in one's back pocket on a | | | | in the room with an album cover or a hair dryer with a |
| continuous basis made regular trips to the chiropractor | | | | super long extension cord (yeah, not a good idea from |
| a necessity. Most people carry money clips these | | | | a fire safety standpoint, but hey.......it was funny at the |
| days with a few pockets for credit cards. Ladies can | | | | time.) If you walk down the street, or look on the floor |
| get away carrying billfolds with pictures of the kids | | | | there are pennies in plain site that people see but not |
| included because they have a purse to carry around. | | | | many people even bother to pick up anymore except |
| While some more liberal areas of the country may | | | | for old timers, and many of them are getting too old to |
| allow for the "man bag," you're putting your safety and | | | | bend over lest they not be able to straighten up again, |
| well being in peril by doing this in traditional and more | | | | so the pennies remain. |
| conservative areas of the country. | | | | Not many people realize though, that when it comes to |
| Anyway, since we're paying all with paper money, | | | | pennies, 1982 was a very important year. Why is that? |
| what happens to all of the change? You know, the | | | | Because 1982 was the last year that pennies were |
| metal stuff that you get back when you've overpaid, | | | | made from pure copper. The pennies thereafter were |
| the stuff that old timers (including me at 38) can | | | | made with a copper composite that is not worth as |
| calculate in their head while it seems that today's youth | | | | much. How many people look at the dates of the |
| have never been required to be able to make change | | | | pennies they receive in everyday life? Not many I'd |
| without some type of electronic aid. Sure, it may get | | | | guess. I can remember that about a year and a half |
| used if you went to one store to make a purchase, | | | | ago, right before the economy took a major plunge, |
| and now you're in the second store on the leg of your | | | | that there was an article questioning the viability of |
| trip, you need some change, and remember that you | | | | continuing to mint the penny. Included in the article was |
| received some in the first store so you pull it out of | | | | a caption that many people missed. Because |
| your pocket in order to make exact change or round it | | | | commodity prices were high at that time, including |
| up to the nearest dollar or other denomination to either | | | | copper. It was actually worth more to melt pennies into |
| avoid getting pennies, or be stuck with 90 or 95 cents | | | | their base metal than the pennies were worth as |
| in change jingling around in your pocket because you | | | | pennies. That being said, imagine how much pre-1982 |
| didn't have a dime or nickel on you to round it up. | | | | pennies would be worth. You'd need a lot less, to get |
| Change can also be found in couch seat cushions | | | | the same or more. Incredible and insightful don't you |
| (having guests sleep over here on the couches at | | | | think? Next time you get a penny, take a look at it, you |
| "casa de Chris' can be quite lucrative), in pockets of | | | | could be holding a valuable metal that you received |
| pants (laundry day is another lucrative day for me), on | | | | without having to break into a vacant house to destroy |
| counter tops, on the gym floor, on sidewalks. If we | | | | the plumbing. |
| want to throw something at a buddy, we'll think nothing | | | | THE THIRTY DAY TEST |
| of whipping a penny at him. But after I'm done, you | | | | New information is not worth much if it doesn't suggest |
| many change your tune. | | | | a way that you can take action, so here is my |
| TURNING METAL INTO PAPER. | | | | suggestion. For thirty days keep a jar in a conspicuous |
| Have you ever wished you could have just a little bit | | | | place, and put all of your change in that jar. I use an old |
| more when it comes to money? You're not greedy, all | | | | candy jar I used to have in my other office. If you |
| you want is an extra ten or twenty to buy a round of | | | | have a family, make it a family thing, include the spouse |
| drinks for your friends on the weekends, maybe a few | | | | and kids. You can get change rolling paper from your |
| bucks to donate to your favorite charity, treat your | | | | local bank for free. The denominations are as follows: |
| sweetie to an ice cream cone, you name it. What if I | | | | $10 worth of quarters, $5 worth of dimes, $2 worth of |
| told you that you probably already have the means to | | | | nickels, 50 cents worth of pennies. Check the change |
| do this, you're just not properly handling what you have. | | | | jar every two weeks. Once you have enough, roll it |
| Imagine the money you would have if all of the change | | | | and take it to the bank and change it for paper money. |
| you throw around wantonly could be accumulated in | | | | Use that money to buy something cool (like ice cream) |
| one place. Imagine further that occasionally you would, | | | | or save it for college, retirement or for something else |
| after reading the paper on sunday morning, dump out | | | | you've been wanting. If you have children and are |
| the change, separate it and roll it, then take it to your | | | | wanting to teach them the value of money, this is a |
| bank and trade it for paper. That's what I call turning | | | | great tool to incorporate into the training. Have the |
| "trash into cash." | | | | family put all their change in the jar and it's the kids' job |
| THE MONEY THAT'S WORTH MORE THAN | | | | to roll it and trade it in. All money that they receive for |
| MEETS THE EYE | | | | their labor is theirs to keep, or heck, you decide the |
| Pity the lowly penny.........or not? Nothing gets beat up | | | | ground rules. |
| more than the penny. Nothing has gotten beaten up by | | | | Do you now look at pocket change differently than |
| inflation more than the penny. There used to be penny | | | | you did before you read this? Yeah you do, admit it. |