Carry Some Readily Available Change
October 30, 2006 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Travel Tips
It seems like I’m always rummaging in my purse or pockets for change. I have lots of it, but somehow I don’t always seem to have the right amount. And who wants to worry about getting change for your change.
Whether it’s fare for a local bus, making a small purchase, or tossing a few coins in a fountain, it’s always good to keep a little change handy when you travel. It will save you from pulling out bills for small purchases, and reduces the chance of losing money or having it stolen.
All Things Marked came up with a clever way to make sure you always have the right amount of change. Here then is the magic combination of coins:
3 quarters
1 dime
2 nickels
4 pennies
This combination of 10 coins, for a total of 99 cents, will allow you to make any change combination.
Not convinced? Try a few combinations.
88 cents. Three quarters, one dime and three pennies. 31 cents. One quarter, one nickel and a penny.
See? It works.
Hello Mary Jo,
Two years in a row I was in Canada on my motorcyle from Los Angeles, CA. This year we rode the mountain highways of BC, Canada on our way to Alaska. Anyways, the Canadian coins is just a joy to jingle in your pocket. Pennies to Loonies to 2 CDN dollar coins, My Jacket pockets were busting loose with Canadian coins. I pay with dollar bills for gas and food and I get coins for change no matter how big the dollar bill is. You hand a 20 canadian dollar bill for a 5 dollar purchase and you get coins for change. I guess the confusion and ignorance with the different size coins and bills anywhere in the world is the same for any visitor unfamiliar with the local currency.
This is terrific advice, and I agree. I carry a small change purse with me during my travels, and I’m happy to provide merchants with correct change. They’re also happy to receive it.
My mom has a coin purse that separates each denomination. People rave about it when she begins selecting her coins.
If more people thought about carrying change, as All Things Marked suggests, perhaps I wouldn’t find so many coins on the street.