When I was a little girl I always checked the coin return at the pay phones in front of stores or wherever we were. Mom would get tickled, because I would often walk away with a dime. That was a nice find for a little girl. That was also when penny candy was a penny. So you know what that meant. Ten wonder pieces of candy at the U totem store. That was the name of the little convenient store.
Pay phones are almost impossible to find now days, but I do not hesitate to pick up a coin off the ground. It seems like I can spot a coin a mile away. Ok…well maybe not really a mile away….but I always keep my eyes peeled.
I really get amazed when I see someone drop a coin….and they know it….and they just walk off. I am in shock…..why not pick it up?
I decided about a year or so ago to start saving the money I find on the street and or parking lots and see how much I accumulate.
This is the label that I put on my used Cranberry juice bottle. I try to keep the change I find in my pocket until I get home and put it in the bottle.
This is $14.33 so far. Not too shabby.
The ten dollar bill you see there was a “REAL” find. The first week I decided to start my little adventure I found this ten dollar bill in a Lowes Parking lot.
That however, is not the norm. It is usually pennies. I am alright with that. I still get excited when I see one on the ground!
Billy thinks I am just a little nutso. I am and I am not ashamed to admit it. One day I was so excited I was finding a quarter here and dime there every few feet while we were taking a walk. Now I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I did figure that one out…..Billy was dropping them without me seeing…just to watch me get all excited.
Well…I had to laugh….that was a pretty good one. But I did not put that money in my jar. I am trying real hard to be as accurate as I can…so I can just see how much I accumulate strictly from what is laying around.
Most of the time the money is really banged up. This is a penny…but it sure has a lot of dents and dings.
Sometimes you can’t tell what it is until you feel the weight or wipe it off a little.
On occasion I find a nickel or a quarter, but a lot of people will pick up a quarter they drop.
I was at a drive through restaurant window the other day. The cashier gave me back my change. You know most people do not count back your change anymore like they used to. So she hands me the change inside the folded bills. Since I was in a car, she tilted her hand down towards the car and the change went on the ground between my car and the building. Oh….sorry she says, and hands me my food. She just expected me to drive away I guess.
Bless her heart, she didn’t know I was a nutso….so I put the car in park…opened my car door and picked up my change. Besides it was more than just a penny.
So this weekend I found .51 cents and tonight I found another penny. Which I deposited into my street money jar.
For a grand total of $14.85.
Some days I find more than others, but hey….every penny adds up.
I've Gone Country 
Posted by Aunt Janet on June 4, 2012 at 8:00 am
Your grandmother always said it was bad luck if you didn’t pick up the money! I don’t believe that but I always pick it up too! One person’s trash is another persons treasure!
Aunt Janet
Posted by Debbie on June 4, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Last summer our last day in New York city we were coming out of subway tunnel & I spotted a folded piece of paper. Inside the 3×3 paper was a $100.00 bill. The note had a hotel listed with its address & a girls name. I got on my cell phone & called the hotel. It was a Spanish name & my fear was something had happened to a little girl. The hotel confirmed they were guest but they were not in the room & we were leaving in 1/2 hour. The next morning I called & spoke with the mom. She had put this address in her little girls pocket in case she was separated from family. She could get anywhere in city with $100! In broken English I discovered she used the same bank I do. I was able to got to a local branch & deposit money in her account.
Posted by Charlotte on June 12, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Hey Sonya, I just saw a post on Facebook where someone made a new kitchen floor out of pennies. They laminated the top. It was gorgeous. I think Billy should look into this for us. Maybe we could have a new money maker!