Little Bits

Almost every Sunday night I walk with friend KK. Last night she shared some insights she had about little bits of things adding up. I've been thinking a lot about it and so am posting about it.

KK went to a workshop where a woman talked about a practice she observed for three years--saving every $5 bill she received. At the end of the three years, she saved $12,000! Whenever she got a $5 bill in change or found it in her wallet, she would put it aside and not spend it. If she received three $5 bills, she'd save all three. When she reached $50 or $100, she would put the money into a separate savings account. This seems like a really good idea!

KK and I talked about wanting to walk more regularly for exercise. She said she realized after a long day at work, where she stayed at her desk all day, that if she walked every 5 minutes out of an hour, she could accumulate almost an hour of walking!

This goes back to the old axiom of "a penny saved is a penny earned." We dismiss that so often these days, because a penny doesn't amount to much these days. Consistently saving or doing something, even for small periods, adds up.


Just now, when I was talking to husband CB about this, he reminded me of an old story from his childhood. In the 1950's, his dad was a telephone repairman with four children; they had a hard time making ends meet, but managed. One year his dad saved all his dimes in a big jar. At the end of the year, the family spent only that money for a ferry ride from Bellingham, WA to Vancouver Island. CB fondly remembers what fun they had. That was one of the few vacations they had back then.

And Cynthia added this comment:

"During my last year in seminary, I was given the advice that during the last 100 days of school that I should save a dollar a day, then on graduation I would have $100 to spend on whatever to celebrate. Each day I would put a dollar bill into an empty coffee can. I can't remember what I spent it on but it was a wonderful discipline and gift to myself."