Introduction: Fix Your Spending and Save Money With a Counting Wallet.
How many times do you open your wallet in a day?
Now you can find out with the counting wallet, keep track of your transactions throughout the day and try and cut down.
It features a on/off reset button and a switch that toggles between counting up and counting down.
These features allow you to set a target and countdown or count up to help you see how many transactions have been completed.
This will help you to fix those finances and maybe even save some of your money.
Please see the video for a demonstration on how it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluYCf06BSo&feature=youtu.be
Please leave some comments it would really help.
Now you can find out with the counting wallet, keep track of your transactions throughout the day and try and cut down.
It features a on/off reset button and a switch that toggles between counting up and counting down.
These features allow you to set a target and countdown or count up to help you see how many transactions have been completed.
This will help you to fix those finances and maybe even save some of your money.
Please see the video for a demonstration on how it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluYCf06BSo&feature=youtu.be
Please leave some comments it would really help.
Step 1: What You Will Need
The good thing about this wallet is that it is basically just a hacked tally counter so all you need is basic solder de-solder knowledge and your away, plus it is cheap.
So what do you need?
- A tally counter (preferably one that counts up and down)
- Stripboard (as close to credit card size as you can get)
- A battery holder for the battery that your tally counter came with
- a rubber band
- a sub miniature single throw switch (this means that you can swap between up and down)
- some wire
- solder
- and of course a wallet (make sure it has a metal on metal connector)
So what do you need?
- A tally counter (preferably one that counts up and down)
- Stripboard (as close to credit card size as you can get)
- A battery holder for the battery that your tally counter came with
- a rubber band
- a sub miniature single throw switch (this means that you can swap between up and down)
- some wire
- solder
- and of course a wallet (make sure it has a metal on metal connector)
Step 2: Hack Into the Tally Counter
So the first step is to open up the bulky case and get the components and the circuit board out, this will look different if you have another model but the premise is the same.
The problem was that I wanted to get rid of the case but the battery and the screen and speaker were all held on by the case, so I had to make a solution.
The speaker was easy it was just a bit of tape to hold it on.
The battery was slightly harder I had to solder two wires from the terminals of the circuit board to the battery holder.
However, the screen was the most complicated, as it had to be held flush against the circuit board, so I cut down the original case to leave a frame for the screen that keeps it flush. (See picture three)
The problem was that I wanted to get rid of the case but the battery and the screen and speaker were all held on by the case, so I had to make a solution.
The speaker was easy it was just a bit of tape to hold it on.
The battery was slightly harder I had to solder two wires from the terminals of the circuit board to the battery holder.
However, the screen was the most complicated, as it had to be held flush against the circuit board, so I cut down the original case to leave a frame for the screen that keeps it flush. (See picture three)
Step 3: Attach to Strip Board
Once you have found a way of mounting the screen to the circuit board you can start attaching the components to the strip board.
The first picture shows the circuit board screwed onto the strip board, If you attach it to the back make sure you put an insulator in between it and the copper.
Then its easy you just solder the various bits on
The battery holder and reset switch are easy just have wires going from the circuit board to the lines that they sit on the stripboard.
Once you have the reset button and battery set up make sure you test it before moving on.
Then tape the speaker onto the strip boards insulated side
Then wire up the slide switch I have included a guide on how to wire it, it is picture 4. The colour of the wires don't mean anything. It is just the position that counts.
Please note the switch on the blue line represents the switch that does the counting, these are the metal connectors on the wallet, so you need to solder each side of the blue line to the wallet clips as in picture six. Make sure that you sand any insulating coating on the metal before you do this.
Once this is wired you can test it by pushing the two clips together, the screen should show a number 9999 or 1 depending on which way you have it switched. If this doesn't happen then check for continuity through the wallet clips. Then if it still doesn't work check your wiring.
You should now have it working which means you can put it in your wallet.
The first picture shows the circuit board screwed onto the strip board, If you attach it to the back make sure you put an insulator in between it and the copper.
Then its easy you just solder the various bits on
The battery holder and reset switch are easy just have wires going from the circuit board to the lines that they sit on the stripboard.
Once you have the reset button and battery set up make sure you test it before moving on.
Then tape the speaker onto the strip boards insulated side
Then wire up the slide switch I have included a guide on how to wire it, it is picture 4. The colour of the wires don't mean anything. It is just the position that counts.
Please note the switch on the blue line represents the switch that does the counting, these are the metal connectors on the wallet, so you need to solder each side of the blue line to the wallet clips as in picture six. Make sure that you sand any insulating coating on the metal before you do this.
Once this is wired you can test it by pushing the two clips together, the screen should show a number 9999 or 1 depending on which way you have it switched. If this doesn't happen then check for continuity through the wallet clips. Then if it still doesn't work check your wiring.
You should now have it working which means you can put it in your wallet.
Step 4: Putting in the Wallet
This is probably the trickiest bit, so take it slow and it should be okay
First you will want to cut along one of the seams of the wallet see picture 1 this allows you to put the stripboard inside the lining of the wallet.
But before you put it in measure the stripboard and where the reset button, slide switch and screen sit. From these measurements you can make yourself a paper template like picture two, then place that on top of the wallet and you can use that as a guide to cut.
Once you have cut your holes wrap a rubber band around the screen as can be seen in picture 4. This helps keep the screen flush against the circuit board and also will give you something to push the flap into when it comes to fitting the wallet.
First you will want to cut along one of the seams of the wallet see picture 1 this allows you to put the stripboard inside the lining of the wallet.
But before you put it in measure the stripboard and where the reset button, slide switch and screen sit. From these measurements you can make yourself a paper template like picture two, then place that on top of the wallet and you can use that as a guide to cut.
Once you have cut your holes wrap a rubber band around the screen as can be seen in picture 4. This helps keep the screen flush against the circuit board and also will give you something to push the flap into when it comes to fitting the wallet.
Step 5: Now Finish Up the Wallet.
Once you have the stripboard into the wallet you can tidy it up I used glue to join the fabric together and tuck it in but
I am sure that you could sew it back together.
Once you have finished the wallet you can go ahead and fix your finances by keeping track of all those times you open your wallet in a day and then try and reduce it.
If you liked this project please vote for me
Thank you very much
I am sure that you could sew it back together.
Once you have finished the wallet you can go ahead and fix your finances by keeping track of all those times you open your wallet in a day and then try and reduce it.
If you liked this project please vote for me
Thank you very much
Participated in the
Fix It Contest
