Coinstar

I keep all my lose change in an IKEA jar on my desk. There's been massive overflow, and I relented today and looked up my local Coinstar. Up the block on 6th and W4th street, excellent.

I put all my coins into Ziploc bags, and headed up to Duane Reade. I'm given the choice of getting cash back, and sacrificing 9% of my loot, or choosing between an Amazon.com, iTunes, Old Navy etc. gift card. I opted for Amazon.com. There's something about not knowing how much money is in there that makes you want to spend it as quickly as possible, in full.

Putting the coins in is so fun. You're in a state of glazed wonder as the ching ching ching is translated into a climbing dollar figure on the kiosk.

We're done - $86.12! My Amazon.com gift code prints out on my receipt.

I ordered Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Wii Game (oh my god!!!), 7mm Gold Ball Earrings, and a Business 2.0 subscription. $3 on my credit card. Go Coinstar.