Javascript number counter animation

gistfile1.js

// Instantiate global variable to house timeout object
var animationTimeout;

function recalculateDiscount() {
    // Get previous discount
    var previousDiscount = parseInt(totalDiscount);
    // Get current discount
    totalDiscount = parseInt(calculateDiscount());
    // If previous and current differ, update
    if (previousDiscount != totalDiscount) {
        // Clear any existing animation
        clearTimeout(animationTimeout);
        // Update with new value
        updateDiscount(totalDiscount);
    }
}

function updateDiscount(newValue) {
    // Get current value from HTML
    var currentValue = parseInt($(".totalSavingsHeader").html().replace("$", ""));
    // If current value matches new value, exit and clear animation
    if (parseInt(currentValue) === parseInt(newValue)) {
        clearTimeout(animationTimeout);
        return;
    }
    // Work out whether to increase or decrease
    var direction = (currentValue < newValue) ? "up" : "down";
    // Get new value
    var htmlValue = direction === "up" ? (currentValue + 1) : (currentValue - 1);
    // Update HTML with new value
    $(".totalSavingsHeader").html("$" + htmlValue);
    // Animate recursively
    animationTimeout = setTimeout(function () { updateDiscount(newValue); }, 5);
}