At the beginning of every New Year, people often reflect on their financial situation. With the wallet-emptying holiday season just past, January is an opportune time to make some solid, money-saving resolutions.

When trying to save money, there are some obvious options (such as getting a free chequing account—sound familiar?).

But today I would prefer to share with you the saving paths less chosen. These options are distinctive, entertaining, and kind of impractical. Coincidentally, most of them originate from Japan.

So ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I give you: Peculiar Piggy-Banks.

 

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Face Bank

by Banpresto

The Face Bank is essentially a colorful wedge with beady little eyes and an animated mouth that gobbles up your spare change. Just watching it in action makes me feel anxious.

The money-saving advantage: I’d be too scared to make a withdrawal.

 

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The Piggy Bank Puzzle

available from Firebox

 

This ceramic piggy bank comes to you in a shattered state; it’s up to you to glue the pieces back together again.

It’s hard to say whether or not this little oinker is genuinely marketed to puzzle-lovers (it might just be a way to make a quick buck from a truckload of broken ceramic dollar store merch).

The money-saving advantage: After spending hours gluing it together, it’s not very likely that you’ll be smashing it open again any time soon.

 

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Jinsei Ginko (Life Bank)

by Takara Tomy

At last! A way to combine the dignity of financial responsibility with the thrill of owning a virtual pet. This bank is essentially a Tamagotchi (suddenly I’m having flashbacks from grade four…) with a coin slot. A little dude lives in a dumpy apartment on the bank’s screen. As you deposit more money into the bank, he upgrades his apartment, buys new clothes, goes on dates, and becomes a rock-star. 

The money-saving advantage: ...I’ll get back to you on this one.

 

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Exploding Bank

by Takara Tomy

This has got to be my favourite.

This hardly unassuming bomb bank ‘explodes’ if you don’t contribute coinage consistently enough, scattering your savings all over your desk (owned!). The skull and crossbones are also a nice touch.

The money-saving advantage: Who wouldn’t deposit money regularly when faced with the fear factor of scattered coins?

 

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As you can see, when it comes to saving, there are endless possibilities. But if you:

• Are easily creeped out by beady eyes,
• Have issues with super-glue,
• Are too negligent to take care of your own digital man-in-a-piggy-bank,
• or are turned off by intrusive toy bomb sounds,

getting a Young & Free account might be the way to go.

Cheers!

Larissa

 

P.S.- Way to go Canadian Juniors! That's the fourth straight gold! Woo hoo!

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Comments

1) Samantha - 01/06/2008
Afraid of beady eyes. Check. Bad with glue. Check. Negligent. Bombs bad. Check. I think I'll opt for the young & free account.

2) Josee - 01/06/2008
I wonder what happens when you take money out of the virtual pet bank.

Does his apartment get progressively worse or does he plateau at rock-star status?

3) Larissa - 01/07/2008
http://www.youngfreealberta.com
Hmm good question. Maybe a little 5-pixel repo man comes in and starts taking all his expensive stuff. Only one way to find out!

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