Extra Income

I did an experiment all last year. It's something I'd been thinking of doing for a while, but I forgot about it the year before, so I had to wait for January 1 to come around again to implement it.

Basically, starting Janaury 1, 2007, I kept track of how much money I found.

I have a bank that I usually keep my extra change in. It comes in handy every now and then, when I really need some change for a vending machine, or yard sales, or something.

But this year, the only change I put in there was the stuff I would randomly find laying around on the ground.

I first thought of doing this a couple years ago, when it seemed like I was ALWAYS finding money on the ground! I look down a lot when I walk, so if it's there, I'll find it.

Naturally, once I decided to start keeping track, it seemed like I didn't find money as often any more.

But I faithfully put EVERYTHING I found in the bank, even hanging onto coins over the course of an entire vacation. And I took NOTHING out.

I had to find another place to put the extra change I generate during the course of normal life, but I cut down on a lot of that when I started using my debit card for everything.

Anyhow, I'm sure you're DYING to know how much money I found. Keep in mind, I didn't find any folding money (bills) this year - I used to find at least $1 every now and then. I've even found upwards of $20 a few times! Just not this year (because I was keeping track, I suspect).

So, here's the totals:

Quarters - 4

Dimes - 8

Nickels - 2

Pennies - 60

That works out to a grand total of...........$2.50!

I was a little disappointed. I was hoping to average at least a penny a day. I ended up with just under 21 cents a month, or .68 cents a day. I KNEW I shouldn't have pointed out those few pennies to Athena, and let her have them! I could have boosted my totals slightly!

And now I'm left with a dilemma.

Do I do it again this year? I'm curious to see if I'll find more money this year than I did last year. But at the same time, it will take an entire YEAR to find out! Do I really want to devote that kind of time to this experiment?

But if I DON'T do it, every time I find money, I'll wonder how it's comparing to last year's numbers.

And if I DO do it, when does it stop? Knowing that I found more or less money this year, won't I just be curious if I'll find more the NEXT year? Will I spend the rest of my life with a mostly-empty bank and a book full of totals, tracking my progress until the end of time? Is this how my grandchildren will remember me - the crazy lady who hoards coins for a full year, then counts them and writes them in a book? Will they start leaving coins for me to find, so they don't have to witness my crushing dispair when I don't meet last year's total?

And what if instead, I instill a habit into my own children, and THEIR children? And their friends - they might want to try it out too! What if this is the beginning of a wide-spread tradition? What if companies begin manufacturing special banks with time-locks on them, specifically for the practice of keeping your change until the end of the year? Families will gather around the living room at midnight on New Year's Eve, and as soon as the ball drops in Time Square, they all bust open their piggy banks and compare totals! Sibling fighting sibling over a penny in the street, throwing punches and kicks, each trying to be the one to "find" the money!

Clearly, this is an important decision, with far-reaching effects.

I found a penny today. I debated what to do with it for a while. Then I emptied out my bank, and put the single penny inside.

I'm sticking with the program - for now. I can always stop later, if I change my mind. (CHANGE my mind! Get it?!!)

And hopefully, years from now, the collection of coins accumulated in a year will be referred to as "Melanie Money".

Admit it - you're curious now too, aren't you? How much money will YOU find his year?

Just remember - metal detectors are cheating.

Happy hunting!