Rainy weekend. I spent a good chunk of it counting box tops. You know, those tiny little rectangles that come on products you buy--cereal, soup, baggies, even mac and cheese. They look like unless junk. But you know what? Those tiny rectangles added up to nearly $800 for my youngest daughter's school this year.

Here's an example. Things I collected on my weekly walk around the neighborhood. I admit it: Mondays are my favorite days of the week for collecting these goodies. Looks like a bunch of garbage, right? Right there, my friends, is the equivalent of 65 cents!

Yes, I know we're not talking about earth-shattering amounts of money, but when it comes to free money you find, maybe, just maybe, 65 cents really isn't too bad. Week after week, it really adds up. Plus, I contribute my own box tops, and my daughter's class is suddenly giving $65, even though we're the only ones who bothered collecting them.

To quote a recent episode of my favorite sitcoms, Super Store, you should "always be gathering." These small, otherwise worthless pieces of paper (or plastic in the case of Coke codes) can make a difference if your overall budget, in helping you fill your Mama Money Bags.

Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But, if 22 Coke caps gets you a free AMC movie ticket, large popcorn, and large soda, why yes, it does make a difference. (Offer valid through 7/16/18.)