Superstitions, quirks, obsessive-compulsive traits. We all have them — right?
Especially when it comes to money.
View some of my dad’s handiwork to the left. One of his personal finance quirks has to do with coins. His kitchen table (which he uses as a desk) has stacks of coins on it. Once the stacks are completed, he’ll roll up the change in coin wrappers. Seems innocent enough.
Except that there is a method to his madness. Each column that is “complete” (a stack of 10 coins) must be topped with a coin of that denomination that has the “heads” side facing up. Incomplete stacks are topped with coins with the “tails” side up. (See the photo for examples).
I will pick up loose change (even much-maligned pennies) whenever I see it on the ground. Anywhere. Outside, in the bathroom (to be followed by a thorough hand-washing and dollop of hand sanitizer, of course). My husband alternates between laughing at my folly and telling me I’m a cheapskate.
My most neurotic personal finance quirk is that I absolutely have to use a BLUE-INK PEN to write out checks and record entries in my checkbook register. I have no clue why, but it’s become some sort of superstition I must follow.
Are there any personal finance-related quirks or superstitions that you follow? Share them in the comments section!
I really try to not carry cash on me. I don’t have a good reason, I just prefer to have it in the bank where I won’t spend it on a candy bar or something small I won’t need.
I guess I consider it clutter, but it’s definitely a quirk 🙂
My husband and I will pick up loose change from anywhere too.
He likes to pour out his jug-o-change and count it sometimes for no reason…he doesn’t wrap it or anything…just puts it back for later. He also always ends at 50 cents or an even dollar amount when he fills up his car. Oh, and all his cash has to be in his wallet a certain way.
I leave tips at restaurants to even the bill out to an even dollar amount or 50 cent mark as well. I shoot for 15% and round up to the next 50 cent mark. I also compartamentalize a ton of ING accounts for budgeting purposes.
@BITFS: Yes, I forgot about the bills in the wallet! They absolutely must all face the same direction and be arranged by denomination (from $1 and up, of course). Tips, I round to the nearest dollar.
I have a few quirks:
I check online banking close to 4 or 5 times a day (no clue why). I have to walk my mortgage check in every month. I am sure there are others
I can’t explain them lol
I understand completely. I only use black ink. 🙂
Ok, the cheque one is weird!!! I don’t actually think I have any weird quirks but I will have to ask my partner, she will probably tell me 20 things!
@Forest: I have no idea how the blue ink thing began, but I know in everyday life I prefer blue pens. I’m pretty sure I picked it up from my dad, who also prefers blue ink!
Picking up coins might be quirky, but your dad can take the rolled-up coins to the bank and exchange them for cash!
I also pick up coins but don’t think to wash my hands afterward. I think I’m just used to germy kids ;). I love watching my coins pile up in my mason jar, it’s exhilarating to think how much it’s worth!
I pick up coins, too, but I don’t wash my hands thoroughly afterwards. I do wash my hands when I count my coins to deposit the money periodically, because I know in what nasty places I picked up a few of the coins in the jar. If you think about it, this quirk is kind of gross, isn’t it? All for a few pennies…..
@Ctreit: Yeah, it can be a bit much for a low payoff. Every once in a while, I find a dollar bill (or more) on the street, and it makes it all worthwhile, haha.
Hm… I guess the only quirk I can see myself having is picking up change off the floor (ditto on washing my hands thoroughly after), and having an obsession with tracking my expenses in my budgeting sheet.
Like.. seriously tracking them.
@FB: I’ve never gotten into tracking my expenses — I started a spreadsheet a few years ago and never stuck with it.
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