I pick up pennies. And nickles, dimes and quarters. I'd be thrilled to find a five-dollar bill or more, but other than what comes in the mail now and then, I've been out of luck.
Change machines at supermarket, until recent months, have been a bonanza. (Look in the return slot.) If you're flying somewhere, check around your feet at the security line. Couch cushions, washing machines -- you never know where a coin is going to be shining at you. Even parking lots!
So -- what did I collect this past year?
Jan. 0.00 Feb .72 Mar .05 Apr 0.00 May 1.70 June .18 July 1.56 Aug 1.57 Sept .55 Oct 2.03 Nov 2.13 Dec 0.00
...for a total of $10.49 found in 2025.
plus 50 cent and 5 cent Euro coins, found by the Brick in Europe. He enjoys teasing me about my odd hobby -- but he'll look, too.
The found money totals in 2023 and 2022 were far less: $1.54 and $2.32, respectively. But I did very well, at least for me, in 2024: $25.76! And that doesn't count the extras:
50 centavos (Ecuador), 20 cent Euro, a 10 Chinese 'something,' 50 and 20 pence coins (Great Britain), a Canadian quarter, a Russian rouble, a handful of Mexican coins...and 2 antique tokens.
Strange, what people mix in with their coins. Except for the Mexican change (leftovers from a trip years ago), these other coins all came from the return cup on Safeway machines.
I'm not the only one who keeps track of this sort of thing. Katy at the Nonconsumer Advocate is an inspiration; so is Donna Freedman. But I think I would do it, anyway....that's just the Hollander in me.
It will be interesting to see how the increasing lack of pennies affects found money. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking.
