I am trying to help JDaniel learn more about money. When I had the opportunity to try a Coinstar at my local Bi-Lo, I decided it would be a great way to help JDaniel learn a little bit more about money. It is right beside the machine with the claw that picks up toys that JDAniel would love to try, but I had never used the Coinstar before. Using it meant paying a fee and I just didn’t what to pay it. Well, the Coinstar is now no-fee if you select a Bi-Lo gift card as the way to
When I explained to JDaniel that we would be shopping with a gift card after using the Coinstar, he was thrilled.
We have a coin jar that has been been sitting in the cabinet since he started potty training. The idea was he could earn money by remembering to use the pottty. It was a great idea, but not want ultimately helped him learn. It took a lot of time and practice.
The jar has just been sitting in the cabinet for months gathering dust. He reminded me that we could use those coins for this project.
We also looked under cushions and in my purse and found a little change.
Once we had all the coins gathered, we dumped out his jar. There were some stray items in his jar and we set them aside. When there were only coins left, we sorted them by type.
After exploring them, we put them in a plastic container and headed off to Bi-Lo. The Coinstar machine was right in the front of the store right near the games I try to avoid. When I asked JDaniel to find it, he knew right where it was.
JDaniel was eager to dump them right in the machine and start the coin conversion process, but we read all the directions before doing so.
It was so easy to follow the directions on the screen telling me how to use the Coinstar.
When I was done reading, JDaniel finally got to dump the coins in.
It took no time for the Coinstar to tell us what coins we had dumped in.
The receipt and gift card came out quickly.
JDaniel was ready to shop for the food items of his dreams. He ended up with a box of Trix and one of Vanilla Wafers. He was in heaven until he realized the cereal would have to wait until breakfast and the Vanilla Wafer had to wait until after dinner.
It was so easy to follow the steps in the coin conversion process by reading the messages on the screen. I will definitely use the Coinstar again even if it is near the “claw” machine.
Disclosure: I have been paid (at Coinstar’s request) to try and blog about Coinstar’s
products/services as part of a Collective Bias ( #CBias) shopper insights study . All
opinions are my own.”
That sounds like a fun teaching tactic! I’m sure most children would find the machine quite interesting!
It is fun to watch the money add up!
I bet that was fun. My son used it once.
Blessings,
Dawn
He really liked getting to dump the money in.
How fun! We helped a young man bring a wheel barrow full of money to the bank last year. He saved from 7-17 and had almost $3,000 for college! Everyone had given him their loose change of the years and it really added up!
Wow! That is a ton of coins!
My husband and my son use the coin star for spare change. They love to do it and my son always comes home with a big smile on his face!
It does make you smile.
What a fun way to teach him about saving!
He really liked using the machine. I think he would save his money to get to use it again.
I do that once a year and trade it in for an Amazon gift card! All the clanging is kinda fun!
It really is fun to hear the coins clang.
What a great lesson, a great adventure – and a great time for you and your son!!! I remember my oldest son asking if he could take the money in the change jar, take it to the change machine and keep 10% for himself. He is amazing with his finances today:)
It sounds like he learned to value of money early on.
What a fun lesson about money. Knowing that change can really add up. Maybe he will be saving all his money from now on!
We didn’t think he had over $5 until the Coinstar announced he did.
We’ve done Coinstar before and my kids ALWAYS choose to pay the fee to get the cash. Can’t say as I blame them!
JDaniel loved the gift card. I think he thought it was like a credit card.
My husband loves coinstar!
We have rolled coins before but I’ve never used coinstar.
I love the idea of using coin star for a money activity! You have the best ideas!!
I don’t care how old I get, I still think using the CoinStar is super fun! LOL
CoinStar is fun! My husband almost went to work for them once but decided not to. Seems like they have done well…
And a good teaching tool, too!
=)
So cute! My 5 year old just asked about the machine in our grocery yesterday. I promised her a trip soon 🙂
Oh my goodness! He is so sweet heading off with his cart and his own money. I love it!!!
I agree! What a dapper and savvy little shopper! I love how you turned this trip into a learning opportunity!
I love that it puts all that loose change to good use.
i am sure yall loved that…
i haven’t used it yet, as i am not paying a fee (no bi-lo here) and broxton saves all the coins in his buddy bank