Are you throwing your money away?

I went to the supermarket and the bill came up to $68.98. I paid with $100 and was given $30.00 change. With 5 customers in line behind me, I politely protested to the cashier, “This change isn’t correct”. 

He turned to me with a most confused look.

I then continued, “You have two cents for me still”.

He shook his head with a grin and delivered the balance of my change. Yes there were smirks and mumbling in the line but should that hinder me from requesting two cents of MY money?

How many times have you left without full change? Leaving 2, 3, 5 even 10 or 25 cents on the counter adds up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time. Even if the change is given, a lot of us just leave it behind.

“Give me a dinner mint with the change nah”, a famous request at the cashier’s counter.

Cents add up and can make a tremendous difference in the long run, even 1 and 5 cent pieces. When battling difficult economic times, every little counts. Make an effort to ask for your correct change and if you are uncomfortable doing that, then only buy where exact change is given. There are businesses that deliver exact change, choose them once possible.

Don’t underestimate the power of coins. Don’t squander them. My dad had a saying, “drop by drop does full the bucket”. Keep that in mind.

How much money have you thrown away over the years?