Okay, so I wanted to talk about this little thing I started doing, called it my ‘growth plan silver piggy bank’ project. Wasn’t anything too complicated, really. Just felt like I needed a simple, visible way to track saving some extra cash.
Getting Started
First thing, I actually went out and got a piggy bank. Found this decent-looking silver one, nothing fancy, but it felt kinda solid, you know? Like putting money in it meant something. Didn’t want a plastic one, the silver just seemed more… permanent, I guess. Put it right there on my desk where I’d see it every day.
Making the Plan (Super Simple)
Then I had to figure out the ‘growth plan’ part. Honestly, I kept it really basic. Didn’t want rules so complicated I’d just give up. I decided on two things:
- Pocket Change: Every single evening, whatever coins were jingling in my pocket? Straight into the piggy bank. No exceptions. Didn’t matter if it was just a few pennies or a couple of quarters.
- The Five Dollar Bill Rule: This was the slightly tougher one. Every time I got a five-dollar bill back as change, it had to go in the bank. Sometimes that stung a little, especially if I’d just broken a twenty, but I stuck to it.
That was it. No complex spreadsheets, no apps. Just those two simple rules.
Doing the Thing
So, I just started doing it. Day one, emptied my pockets, chucked the coins in. Felt kinda silly at first. But then, day two, day three… it became a routine. The sound of the coins clinking inside was satisfying. The five-dollar bills were less frequent, but when one went in, it felt like a bigger step.
There were definitely days I’d forget until right before bed, scrambling to find my change. And yeah, sometimes I’d get a five back and think, “Ugh, really?” But seeing the piggy bank sitting there reminded me. It got noticeably heavier faster than I expected. I’d pick it up sometimes, give it a shake. That physical weight was proof something was happening.
Watching it Grow
Didn’t open it for ages. Part of the ‘plan’ was just letting it accumulate. Maybe six months passed? I could barely lift the thing easily anymore. It wasn’t about needing the money right then, it was more about the discipline and seeing that tangible result of sticking to a small habit. It felt good. It showed me that small, consistent actions really do add up.
The Payoff
Eventually, I decided it was time. Getting the money out was actually a bit of a job, had to pry the bottom open carefully. Laid it all out on the table. Honestly, I was surprised how much was there just from loose change and fives. It wasn’t a fortune, but it was definitely a nice bonus amount I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Used it for a weekend trip, something fun.
So yeah, that was my ‘growth plan silver piggy bank’ experiment. Simple, kinda old-school, but it worked for me. Made saving feel real, not just numbers on a screen. Might even start it up again.
