How to Open a Ceramic Piggy Bank

Piggy banks are great for saving up decent amounts of money, but most everyone needs to access those coins or cash at some point. To aid in temptation prevention (taking out the money too soon), there are "must break to open" piggy banks available. With these banks, you cannot have access to what is inside unless you smash the whole thing. The idea of breaking open the bank does serve as a good deterrent for many people. For many traditional ceramic piggy banks, the opening may be a bit easier.

The original piggy banks from hundreds of years ago were made from an orange-colored clay called "pygg," but today's are made from other materials like ceramic, glass or plastic. Many of these were "must break to open" piggy banks because they did not have openings on the bottoms. The only way to get the money out was to smash them open. There are now piggy banks designed for adults that are must break to open, and they are specifically designed to help people save money.

Pigs have continued to be associated with saving money and many people feel that pigs symbolize wealth, luck and prosperity. It is believed that German immigrants were the ones who originally brought pig-shaped money boxes into the U.S., as they had been using these for centuries. Nowadays, piggy banks are common household items.

Many ceramic piggy banks have holes on the bottoms with removable stoppers, which makes it easy to get out the money. If it does not have an opening, you may be able to wiggle some dollar bills out of the entrance slot with a butter knife. You can also hold the knife in the slot and turn the bank upside down. Jiggle it around a bit, and the coins should start to slide out. Some may get stuck and remain inside, but with the right knife width, you should be able to get most of them out.

If this does not work, you will have no other choice but to break the bank. Since this can result in some sharp broken pieces, it is best to first wrap up the piggy bank in a towel. Next, set it on top of a table and get a hammer; hit the bank once and if you do it right, you won't have to strike it again. Wear protective gloves to protect your hands from the shards, open the towel and remove the money. Carefully dispose of the broken pieces.

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These kinds of piggy banks are helpful for people who have a hard time saving money. They are also good for children because they teach them discipline. Besides all that, breaking the bank can be a fun family tradition as long as the right safety precautions are followed. The entire family can contribute to the bank over time, smash it on a certain date and use the money for a treat like a nice dinner or a new television set.

Not all of these banks are shaped like pigs, though. You can find ones with simple designs that can go in any room of the house. Others can be personalized with stickers and words that can be quite inspiring — you can write things like "for our future" or "open on your 18^th birthday."

​Consider Also:​ Piggy Bank Tricks