I bought an old vending machine at a yard sale.
I recently bought an old vending machine at a yard sale. The homeowner, that hosted the sale, had been in the vending business for years. He was retired, and he had one vending machine left, so he put it in his yard for sale, along with a number of household items that he no longer planned to use. I saw the vending machine and had an idea. It wasn't a vending machine that you buy soda or snacks out of. It was a bulk vending machine that gumballs or toys is dispensed from. The machine was still in very good condition and in proper working order. I was in the process of trying to come up with a rewards system for my children. I was attempting to teach them responsibility and get them to do chores around the house. They love frequenting machines like this when we go to the grocery store, so I knew my plan would be successful. I took the machine home and filled it with little treats and trinkets. If the kids did their homework, they got a quarter to use in the machine, and if they did all of their designated chores, they got another. The system is working well, and the kids just love being able to earn quarters to use in the machine.