Change

What do you do with all your coins?

Change collects in a pottery bowl with a lid sitting on the kitchen window sill. Quarters usually go towards car washes or vending machine purchases. (Note to moms-to-be: Take change to the hospital. The maternity ward has an ice cream vending machine.)

During the holidays I stock my purse with change so the kids can each put a few coins in every red kettle we see. This is actually pretty fun but this year we didn't shop as much (I tried the "only go to each store once in the month of December" trick) and there was a shortage of kettle-workers (what IS the proper term for that? The kettle guy? Kettlists? Kettlistas?) so we didn't get rid of all the coins. After letting Sweet get filthy playing with all that change (we just call it an educational experience and wash with soap later), I cashed in everything but the quarters at the bank and we spent the $40 on Chinese take out. So much for teaching my kids about donating to the poor... kung pao chicken for everyone.