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Why? It’s a penny. That kind of frugality only goes so far. Are you really going to waste your time and dirty your digits picking up pennies that will take years to amount to anything more than a stupid pile of copper?

Yes.

How did you finance your latest must-have? Did you budget accordingly and save your hard earned cash specifically for that big ticket item or did you splurge unexpectedly then question how you were going to dig yourself out of the impulsive monetary failure of a hole you spent your way into? No matter how you made it happen, finding the bucks for the “wants” in life is challenging when the “needs” clearly come first. When you’re low on funds and seem to lose every last cent to the basic living necessities, what’s the first thing to go from your budget? The exotic overseas vacation you’ve been dreaming of? The romantic weekend getaway? Dining out and date nights? Entertainment? Items you’ve been swooning over? Yes. All of the above. I’d say a safe home, heat and electricity, decent eats, insurance, and a debt-free lifestyle are definitely priorities over camping gear and adventurous excursions. The things you long to have and do get pushed aside so often, and really, what can you do about it other than accept it or change it?

Ted’s a fanatic about snapping up loose change he spots on the ground. He has an eye for scanning the ground until he spies discarded pennies, dropped nickles, runaway dimes and misplaced quarters. On any given day he comes home with a small handful of coins that we call “playstations,” lovingly nicknamed for the playstation we dreamed of one day purchasing with all these acquired monies long before we were married. Pennies are the most common, though on occasion, he’s found quarters and dollar bills as well just by keeping his eyes peeled. He keeps all the coins he finds in milk jugs and juice bottles. Last year he cashed them in at the bank for bills and it had accumulated to – wait for it – over $700! $700!!! That’s no insignificant hunk of change. In fact, that’s a pretty extravagant wad of dough! Think of all the things you could do with $700! And all of it from money you didn’t miss from your paycheck or budget because you found it laying on the ground. It requires patience, but what an easy way to bag that vacation or new toy! Another way to come by extra coinage is to pay for things in cash and when you get change back, make it a habit to plunk it in the old milk jug.

For our wedding we registered for a bunch of neat camping gear – sleeping bags, a tent, lantern, campfire cooking gear, a cooler, portable grill, hammock, etc. Sadly, that registry wasn’t as popular as we’d hoped. I suppose because most people assume registries are a “bride’s thing” so they opt for cooking essentials, bakewear, and decorative items over the more “manly” items – though we both wanted and picked out the camping items together, it wasn’t just a Ted thing. We were kindly gifted cash from many of our guests, but we’ve decided to use that money on experiences (read: travel and adventure together) rather than using it to purchase material goods for our home. There’s an expression that goes something along the lines of people who spend their money on experiences instead of material objects are happier. I agree. So that’s what we’re doing. But that still leaves us without our much desired camping gear that we would use on these said travels and adventures together. It would cost us several hundred dollars to get everything we need – and that’s several hundred dollars we’re not likely to have anytime in the near future. However, our “playstation” jugs are already at nearly $100. Between keeping a watchful eye out for homeless or neglected change and relying on cash more often and then saving the change, I think we can afford our camping gear before the year’s over. Not bad for doing practically nothing other than stooping over a few times a day. All in a year’s work!

In other news (other than the news of the world’s youngest grandmother at the age of 23. Scary, right!?), I’ve decided to take part in the 30 Day Picture Blog Challenge. Yes, I’ve succumbed to the popularity of this blogosphere fad. Be on the lookout for it in my next post. I’ve Redboxed Morning Glory so I’m off to make a hot cup of relaxing chai and enjoy a movie starring Rachel McAdams, who just so happens to be one of my favorite actresses. Good night!