Comments on: what to do with leftover foreign currency?

Question: what to do with leftover foreign currency?

thumpasor — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:20:24 -0800

What do you do with leftover foreign change?

I found a five-pound note left over from a trip to England about three years ago. I don't think I'll be going there again in the near future (sorry, guys) and I don't know anyone else who is.

This note is worth almost ten bucks! What do you usually do with leftover change / bills when you return home? I'd consider just exchanging it but I'm sure I'll lose a lot on the commission - seems like there should be a better way.

British Airways used to have a great program where you could leave leftover change in an envelope on the plane, and they would get it exchanged at no cost, then donate it ("change for good", I think). Unfortunately I didn't fly BA on the way back last time - but does such a program exist elsewhere? Any other suggestions? What about coins? Thanks!

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:23:37 -0800

I tend to keep mine. I have very little actual change from my own travelling, but got a lot of very funny money bartending. I think it's fun to keep, and it's only a few bucks.

By: dydecker

dydecker — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:31:56 -0800

usually i just put the change in the charity donation box at the money exchange place in the airport.

By: i_am_joe's_spleen

i_am_joe's_spleen — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:33:30 -0800

My local international airport has charity boxes for your foreign coids in the arrivals hall. Maybe yours does too?

Children often appreciate foreign money. Endear yourself to a child you know.

By: Gordion Knott

Gordion Knott — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:33:58 -0800

Throw it out. Yes, throw it the hell away, if it's less than ten dollars, can't be exchanged or given to a charity or needy person.

Ask yourself: Is the time you'll devote to managing this additional aspect of your life worth the money it represents?

What's more, you'll be taking money out of a foreign country's circulation, which can be healthy for nations suffering from high or runaway inflation :)

By: ClarissaWAM

ClarissaWAM — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:37:13 -0800

I keep it too, though I tend to return to most places. Or I give it to whomever I was visiting.

My parents have a box full of the weirdest currencies... probably losing out on a lot, but it's always fun to go through.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:39:23 -0800

Some foreign coins work well in some parking meters.

By: pdb

pdb — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:43:47 -0800

If you know anybody that's traveling soon, give it to them. If not, mail it to Oxfam or another worthy UK charity.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:44:29 -0800

Throw it out. Yes, throw it the hell away, if it's less than ten dollars, can't be exchanged or given to a charity or needy person.

Well, I'm sure a stamp and an envelope are all you need to mail it to someone who would have some use for it.

By: Rash

Rash — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:46:03 -0800

I throw it into the little box of my foreign change. Just prior to any trip abroad, I parse the contents of this box, extracting the coins of the currency I'll be spending again.

By: drstein

drstein — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:57:07 -0800

Just keep it. I have quite a bit of foreign currency in a shoebox. It's currency from places that I've visited and might visit again. It won't hurt to keep it.

Now, what I wish is that I could get rid of all the damn Canadian coinage I get as change. I've tried the "give it back at another store" but they always catch it and reject it. ;)

By: k8t

k8t — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:02:19 -0800

You can send it to me. I'm going to the UK in a few weeks and am currently in the US!

PS, many airlines have little envelopes for charity that you can put any currency in.

PPS, I try to spend my last foreign money on water and stuff in the airport.

By: JMOZ

JMOZ — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:09:13 -0800

water in the airport has to stay in the airport nowadays.

I have three pounds and change (in coins) sitting in my desk drawer. I figure I'll pass through London again at some point.

By: dendrite

dendrite — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:13:16 -0800

Ask your bank if they will accept it as a deposit. (At least in the 1980s when I last checked) Comerica Bank would accept deposits (and withdrawals with enough notice) at the posted rates. Hopefully policies like that are still in place.

By: true

true — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:31:32 -0800

For small change give it to younger kids - the idea of coins from foreign countries is pretty cool for someone who is just learning about money or geography.

By: dmt

dmt — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:32:59 -0800

I throw it into the little box of my foreign change. Just prior to any trip abroad, I parse the contents of this box, extracting the coins of the currency I'll be spending again.

See, I try to do this. Hence I have a bowl in my filled with Lira, Francs and other once proud currencies.

Another vote for airport charitable donations.

By: _zed_

_zed_ — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:36:48 -0800

Give it to one of your nieces/nephews/children? Do kids like foreign money anymore?

By: nathan_teske

nathan_teske — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:10:57 -0800

Some foreign coins work well in some parking meters.

The washers in my old apartment took Filipino Pesos as quarters. Not that I'd do that or anything.

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:38:44 -0800

I give it to my mother, who collects foreign currency. But that probably doesn't help you. Unless you want to send it to my mother.

By: cobaltnine

cobaltnine — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:44:44 -0800

We use it to play poker with, when we don't want to use real money. Value is per number on the coin, no matter the denomination.

By: j

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:10:07 -0800

we give it to our friends' kids, who think it's the coolest thing in the whole world.

By: brandz

brandz — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:22:29 -0800

mine goes to my niece and nephew.

By: jamaro

jamaro — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:23:40 -0800

In a fit of MarthaStewartism, I decopauged a small tray with some foreign folding money (which, for the most part, still remains far more colorful and graphically interesting than USDs). I got that momentary decorating madness out of me but the tray still looks pretty neat.

By: Soliloquy

Soliloquy — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:51:33 -0800

Japanese 5 and 50 yen coins (the ones with the holes in them) make excellent earrings.

By: jengineer

jengineer — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:07:12 -0800

after a 3 month trip to Europe, i found myself with small amounts of several foreign currencies (mostly coins)- i divided it equally and gave it to two of my younger cousins as Christmas gifts. they LOVED it; it was their favorite gift of the year. . .and I didn't have to shop!

By: Quietgal

Quietgal — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:46:34 -0800

Find someone who's going to the UK and trade them your pounds for dollars. You could probably find your traveller through an ad on Craigslist.

By: cowbellemoo

cowbellemoo — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:53:01 -0800

Save it for your kids to find. I remember finding some when I was young and it was an eye-opener to have tangible proof that the world extended beyond elementary school and day care.

By: tommorris

tommorris — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:34:53 -0800

If you've got British currency, you could always send it to me...

By: Iron Rat

Iron Rat — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:38:00 -0800

Another vote for giving it to kids or any dreamers who might find it special. I have a little bowl of change from my parents travels that started with a government paid trip to europe that my dad won in a lottery in the mid forties and that include large and small coinage from so many countries that this homebody will never see.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:27:26 -0800

Watch "The Bourne Identity", when he opens his safe deposit box, and has all those passports and currencies assembled so he's ready to go anywhere at the drop of a hat.

Think "Golly, I should be all prepared like that too!" and put your left-over currency in envelopes in a travel-supplies lock box (oh ok, a shoebox works too :), along with the maps you bought, your passport, etc etc.

Then, next time you're taking a trip, you can pretend to be a superspy-slash-assassin. :-)

Actually, I do find it very useful to have a box of travel stuff. I always find that loose change in a foreign currency is far more useful than expected when I return, because either I'm not carrying cash, and want a bite to eat on my way to finding an ATM, or I am carrying cash, but it's large bills from the ATM, and I need coins for a parking meter or a payphone or something :)

By: superfurry

superfurry — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 03:19:53 -0800

Like you mentioned, Change For Good on BA flights. Virgin Atlantic also have a similar scheme

By: rileyray3000

rileyray3000 — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:30:42 -0800

Look up a random name on the internet in the country you got the money from. Like Joe Smith or something. Put the money in an envelope with a cryptic note to that person like "Because you matter" or "This is how much I care about you" or "I owed you this for that thing you did"

And then for a couple of airmail stamps you've just enhanced the mystery in one person's life.

By: idledebonair

idledebonair — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 17:09:41 -0800

Buy some plain round magnets and glue the coins to them, they look brilliant.