Ten years ago, while attending the same college in Charleston, South Carolina, we did what sisters do best, we piled into a car and road-tripped across the country. Somewhere between gas station snacks and long stretches of open road, we kept coming back to the same conversation: why was it so hard to find jewelry we actually wanted to wear every day?
As two very broke college students, we loved accessories, but we were tired of choosing between pieces that were affordable or meaningful - never both. Most jewelry felt disposable, low quality, and disconnected from real life. It tarnished, broke, and rarely held any story worth keeping. So we decided to create what we couldn’t find.
That summer, in a tiny attic in Charleston, Our Spare Change was born. Danielle was hammering and hand-stamping each piece by hand, while Hillary collected the stories behind every word engraved. From the very beginning, this wasn’t just about jewelry - it was about designing pieces that could hold meaning, memories, and moments you’d want to carry with you.
Over the years - through getting married, cross-country moves, and adding seven little kiddos - Our Spare Change has grown right alongside us. What started as two sisters in an attic has become a family-owned, family-run business rooted in Southern California. Today, our mom serves as our CFO, our brother-in-law is our real estate agent, and our team feels like family in every sense of the word.
Now back in our hometown of San Clemente, CA, our passion remains the same. We design and create everyday, effortless jewelry inspired by our California roots: laid-back, timeless, and meant to be worn on repeat. Most of our pieces are made by hand in our San Clemente workshop, and every order is packaged and polish by our amazing team, because the details matter to us.
We believe jewelry should feel personal, easy, and lived-in. Pieces you throw on without thinking, wear everywhere, and never want to take off. Customizable heirlooms, permanent staples, and meaningful designs that move with you wherever your story leads.
At the heart of it all, we’re still guided by the mission that started everything: to create jewelry that celebrates people, connection, family, friendship, and community. We remind ourselves daily that the moment we stop caring about the stories behind each piece is the moment we stop doing this altogether.
We truly couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for being part of the Our Spare Change family - and for letting us be part of your story.
xoxo,
Danielle + Hillary