I have checking accounts at 4 of the big banks with balances of $25, just so I can say "yes" when they ask me if I'm a customer because they don't feel like picking up a few racks of coins. works pretty well actually!
Maybe you could start by cashing in a $20 bill for coins. 1 roll quarters =$10 and the rest for dimes, nickles & pennies.
In my opinion, it depends on how much you spend. I'm on my 6th week of being a new CRH for varieties & errors and still can't decide if the coin in front of me is an actual variety or if it was caused post mint. At first, I was searching through pennies but have switched to halves this past week because they're a lot easier to examine under the magnifier. I finally found my first 1974 Kennedy variety!!! I'm going to sign up for online seminars and continue to participate in this forum because there is a lot to learn and a lot of coins to collect.
i just say my nephew is a coin collecting animal, and they find that cute. I tee-hee with them and head nod and leave.