Survival Arts

Many banks will cash in your change for free. I just take my change can into my local branch when it gets full and they run it through their machine for no charge.

Alternatively, of course, one could spend one's change so that it doesn't pile up.

I make enough money that there's a serious opportunity cost consequent to fishing for change to spend it piecemeal. It makes better sense for me to throw it in a jar at the end of the day, forget about it for weeks on end, then convert it all in one very short transaction.

Of course, you could just have your bank sort coins for free.

"A few days ago, I noticed that one of the options on the Coinstar machine allowed for a conversion of my coins to stored value on an anonymous Starbuck's card... with 0% commission. Since I regularly drink Starbuck's coffee - when a Peet's is not convenient - I found this a rather good deal."

In my very humble opinion, it's time for you to discover quality coffee (feel free to disagree). In San Francisco, Cafe Organica on Central Ave is the best espresso joint in town, and Ritual Coffee Roasters on Valencia and Blue Bottle Coffee Roasters on Linden are worth visiting two. If you ever make it down to Santa Clara/San Jose check out Barefoot Coffee Roasters, my work...

(Again, in my humble opinion, *$ sux)