Yeah as much as I wouldn’t pick up most money off a street, the whole “time is money” argument makes no sense to me unless you are taking time off or time is cutting into a pursuit that is actually making you money.
Two bits is 25 cents, so they got all that entertainment for a penny-one cent.
6 of something at $1.99 each rounded to $4.90. Now that’s a place I’d love to shop at!
Most of the time was an exaggeration. Sorry about that. But it’s happened several times in the last few years and I don’t pay with cash very often. I’m sure fewer than 20 times a year.
Even if it’s not cutting into a pursuit that’s making you money, it’s presumably cutting into a pursuit that gives you more enjoyment than picking things up off the sidewalk.
While I don’t pick up pennies, (or anything under a dollar) I can certainly see how it could bring enjoyment to people who do. Let’s say I’m walking from the car to the grocery store door. I’m not exactly having the time of my life, or a relaxing stroll on the beach. Picking up a penny might bring a smile to someone’s face.
Exactly. What enjoyment I get walking across the quad is only added to by picking up dropped change along the way. Probably adds to my overall health as well.
I enjoy bending over to pick up pennies and other coins but also rocks that catch my eye. One of life’s little momentary pleasures.
The Master Speaks: Is it worth it to pick up a penny?
Cecil replies:
“Let’s not make this any more complicated than we have to. The Scientific Research Team here at Straight Dope HQ has proven that a proficient penny-picker upper can probably pick up a particular penny in five seconds. On an hourly basis this works out to $7.20 per hour.”
Contemplating the leaves of the tree I was walking past? Enjoying the stretch of the muscles in my legs as I walked? How about enjoying the stretch of the muscles in my legs and back as I bend to pick up the penny?
And what’s the cost of whatever else you could have been doing in the time it took you to make that post?
I missed that entirely!
Nope, not missing it at all. The Canadian penny was abolished 12 years ago. The pandemic-era move to get everyone using The Tap to pay with their cards instead of cash killed off a lot of the remaining coin usage.
That being said, it’s always a good idea to keep some cash on hand in case the debit machines go down…
Last time I was in Canada I went to a convenience store in downtown Moncton to grab a soda. There were signs everywhere about them only accepting cash, decrying the loss or privacy and complaining about the overreaction of tobacco and alcohol. And against a (proposed?) tax on sugary drinks.
Turned out that their product line leaned heavily toward tobacco.
They had surveillance cameras EVERYWHERE.
The picking up found pennies does remind me of sometimes where I’ll spot one on the ground at a cashier right at the moment I was hoping to find one in my pocket.
My dignity? Self consciousness? Backaches? currently stops me from picking it up most of the time. But I feel that discipline(?) slipping and might give in now and then. It’s not the money I like, it’s the math, the satisfaction.
I live in Moncton! Must have been a long time ago or a very obscure location. I can’t remember the last time I was somewhere in town that didn’t take debit.
Right on the Main Street in downtown.
The fire academy has gumball machine; 6 Skittles for a penny. There’s a little condiment-dipping-sized plastic container glued to the side to hold some pennies.
When I went to the store yesterday I got a nickel in change, I gave it back to the cashier & asked for 5 pennies. I bought some for myself & left the rest to buy a couple of rounds for the next people.
Might as well just swipe the bag from whoever is filling it and save everyone the penny hassle.
Too many security cams
It’s also the joint emergency services academy. I’m guessing it’s filled during the day, when the police academy might be in session; don’t want to give them extra practice in how to subdue & arrest someone with me as the demonstratee
The UK still has 1p and 20 copper coins. There have been several proposals to do away with them but there are always protests:
This is from 2018.
The government has been warned it risks harming charities, damaging people’s savings and even “ruining fun” if it goes ahead with proposals to scrap copper coins.
There are plans to consider phasing out 1p and 2p coins, as well as £50 notes, because they aren’t used enough.
My family rarely, if ever, use cash. I pay for most things with a contactless swipe of a credit card, but at smaller independent places, I will often use a debit card.
I do have a couple of £1 coins in the car as there are still a very few car parks that don’t allow card or phone payment.
Finally.
