Each year, from March to March, I toss loose change and the occasional $1 bill into a vase—a tradition that began back when the men’s basketball tournament was held in Vegas. Back then, the jar served as a little fund for blackjack. This year, I noticed the jar wasn’t as full, and it struck me that this was because we’re no longer attending the tournament in Vegas.
So, my husband and I decided to turn this into something new and meaningful. We’ll cash out the vase and ask for the money in $1 bills. Then, we’ll split it in half and, during the holiday season, each of us will use it to spread kindness in small but meaningful ways. Maybe we’ll drop it in the Salvation Army bucket, buy lunch for someone in need, give a little extra at church, treat the person behind us in the drive-thru to coffee, or find other ways to brighten someone’s day.
This new tradition is about doing good, sharing, and being kind—simple acts that remind us how easy it can be to help others and make someone smile.
As my mom always said when I left the house as a little girl “make somebody happy today.”
What do you do with your extra change?
