The 10 Best Adult Piggy Banks
Special Honors
Fredson Vintage Radio Replica Piggy Bank Modeled after a brown 1960s tube radio, this bank will provide a walk down memory lane every time you insert your loose change. It features a slot wide enough to deposit several coins at once, and a stopper on bottom for easy release when you’re ready to count or spend what you’ve collected. It’s hand-painted with lead-free materials and is easy to wipe clean with a dry cloth. It weighs two pounds when empty and measures six inches in height by 10 inches in width. wayfair.com
Money Maker Created by artists and metalworkers Malcolm and Mary Ann Owen, who operate a studio in the foothills of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, this whimsical piece makes saving money fun. The miniature cast sterling silver figurines are frozen in time, carrying money of their own toward the top metal slot. The bank itself is made of copper, while the tiny ladder is made of sterling silver. The entire piece is immersed in a liquid sulfurated potash solution to form an attractive dark patina, while it’s also covered in wax. The slot can accommodate both coins and bills, and a removable cover plate lets you access your cash. wingedcamel.com
Editor's Notes
March 15, 2020:
We added the Americanflat Vacation Fund in this update, which makes it fun to save up for your next trip as you watch your dollars and coins add up through the clear glass panel. It features the words “Vacation Fund” on the front, with an attractive, removable picture of a beach scene on the back panel. It’s made of a sturdy wooden construction and can stand independently on a desktop, mantle, etc. or be hung on a wall with the hardware that’s included.
In the top spot on our list is the Tooarts Owl – which incidentally is also is available in cat and puppy motifs – which is a handmade metal sculpture that features a mesh design. It’s easy to see your dollars and change as they’re adding up. This whimsical piece makes for a fun addition to any shelf or desktop in your den, family room, or office. Another option you can’t go wrong with is the Coca-Cola Bottle, which is a replica of the brand’s real glass bottle, with its name embossed in its signature script on the sides. At 22 inches tall, it can hold a large quantity. It’s available in green, red, and colorless options, all of which are see-through.
Leaving the list is the Rainbow Cowboy Boot, which is unavailable at this time. For more options, see our list of best piggy banks suitable for either kids or adults, or our rankings of the best ceramic piggy banks. A word to the wise: No matter which one you buy, be sure to check the dimensions ahead of time, as a common complaint among buyers for any given bank is it’s smaller or larger than they expected.
Why You Need An Adult Piggy Bank
With one of these containers, you might even discover that you're better at saving money than you once thought.
Most of us remember using piggy banks as kids, but they can actually help adults save money, too. With a piggy bank, you will be motivated to deposit your change immediately each time you get home, rather than allowing it to get lost in the shuffle.
Adult piggy banks give grown-ups the chance to hoard their change in a way that's fun and engaging. These containers are great for keeping organized. Instead of throwing loose change into the glove compartment of your car or some random drawer in your home, put it in the piggy bank. This way, you will always be able to account for your cash down to the last penny.
Piggy banks can also add flair to your home. Most guests won't expect to find a grown-up piggy bank in your living area, but they will be delighted when they do. Whether you have a contemporary interior design scheme or traditional decor, a cool product like this is sure to bring personality to your space.
Another reason you might want to invest in an adult piggy bank is to teach your child by example how to make the most of a dollar. If you buy your child a piggy bank, as well, they can insert change into their new toy whenever they see you doing so. It's a simple way to illustrate to your child how they can put money away without exerting much effort at all. Additionally, it will teach them to be responsible and to plan for the future, which are good skills to develop early on in life.
In short, adult piggy banks offer a painless way to store loose change that doesn't require any complicated strategies or planning. With one of these containers, you might even discover that you're better at saving money than you once thought.
How To Choose An Adult Piggy Bank
There are tons of different adult piggy banks on the market, so to find the perfect one, you have to think about which features will best suit your needs. Here are a few factors that may impact your decision.
Consider the piggy bank's appearance. These products come in an incredible number of shapes, so you'll want to keep the look of your home's interior in mind as you shop. If you're looking for an accent piece for your man cave, there are lots of tongue-in-cheek shapes that will give your guests a good laugh when they visit. Other designs are sleek and minimalist, and will nicely complement modern furniture and appliances.
There are tons of different adult piggy banks on the market, so to find the perfect one, you have to think about which features will best suit your needs.
If function is a priority for you, opt for a model that comes with a digital display to show you exactly how much change has been deposited. A display will make it so that you don't have to go through the time-consuming process of counting the coins yourself once the bank is full.
In terms of construction, most piggy banks are made from plastic, though there are models made from wood, metal, porcelain, and other materials. Those who are looking to save more than just change should search for an option with a slot large enough to accommodate bills as well as coins.
Before you pick a piggy bank, think about whether you want to be able to visually track your progress. Some containers are clear, which means you will always be able to see just how far along you are on your saving journey. Other banks are opaque, which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your preferences.
Finally, take into account how accessible you want your change to be. If you would appreciate being able to grab a coin or two when you need it, go for a bank that has an opening without any fancy locks. On the other hand, individuals who need to be saved from themselves when it comes to spending might choose a piggy bank that has to be smashed and destroyed in order to claim its shiny contents.
A Brief History Of The Piggy Bank
The piggy bank has been around for longer than you might have guessed. Pig-shaped banks date back as early as the 1300s, though humans have been keeping valuables, including currency, in personal bank boxes for thousands of years.
The term piggy wasn't inspired by the shape of the pots, but vice versa. In the Middle Ages, a type of clay called pygg was commonly used to make pots. Given the fact pygg and pig are homophones, it was only natural that artisans began modeling their pots after the porcine beasts.
Given the fact pygg and pig are homophones, it was only natural that artisans began modeling their pots after the porcine beasts.
Money boxes have been found in ancient Greece that mimic the appearance of Grecian structures. Residents of Rome were also known to store their spare change in personal containers, though no pig-shaped pots have been discovered in that particular region so far. In Indonesia, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that piggy banks have been relatively commonplace since at least the 15th century.
Back then, piggy banks served an important purpose. Since, in many areas, cohesive banking networks did not exist, it was up to individuals to come up with systems for storing extra cash. The most obvious way to keep spare change collected in one spot was by putting it into a container. By making the pots difficult to open, or by making the change accessible only by destroying the pot itself, people were more likely to save up than to spend their extra money.
Today, the piggy bank's primary function is to teach children the value of a dollar and the basics of banking and money management. It's easy to see how families can turn the act of penny-pinching into a game. Kids are happy to deposit their tooth-fairy winnings into their piggy banks to spend at a later date on something indulgent, like a toy or treat.
Though we mostly associate piggy banks with kids, there's no reason grown-ups have to miss out on the action. An adult piggy bank gives you the opportunity to express your personal taste and can even inspire you to save more money.