Just enough change in your purse

[Pacion]

Have you ever experienced having to pay for something or give someone some money and found that you had just enough change in your purse? I mean mostly change, not necessarily notes?

That happened to me twice today - not quite sure how it happened second time round as I thought I didn't have any coins left. I was in the petrol station on my own, and a guy came up to me saying that he was homeless and £1 short of the money needed to go and stay in a hostel tonight, which also happens to be a cold night.

I told him I didn't have any change. I did have some notes but didn't want to start devlving - for all I knew, he could have been looking for an opportunity to mug me! I told him I didn't have any change, thinking that I had used it up this morning. Got in the car, locked the doors of course and thought, let me have a look anyway and saw a few coins. Whilst I was counting them out, I could see the guy looking in the drains (either for cigarette stubs or coins... I wasn't going to ask!) and pulling/rummaging in his pockets.

I finished counting my coins and realised that I had something like £1.02 in coins! (Of course, there were no coins in the car... had a quick look.) I counted again just to make sure and then took the £1 and gave it to the guy, of course, locking the car as soon as I got out. Either he was a good actor or genuine, but he seemed very grateful. As I got back into the car and again, locking the door straight away (!) I saw him pick up a bag he had, walk towards the street, giving me a wave/nod as he went.

I had a laugh with myself that I should have almost exactly what this guy asked for.

I also plan to google to see if there are any hostels for the homeless in the vicinity ;)

[Spitfire]

Pacion, when I was in London twenty years ago some guy approached me and asks "have you a place for a cup of tea?". Not sure what he meant, my guess is either he wanted me to buy him a cup of tea or give him money for one.

As far as change goes I accumulated pocket change very quickly there and more of a variety of it then in our US currency.

[Peaches]

Have you ever experienced having to pay for something or give someone some money and found that you had just enough change in your purse? I mean mostly change, not necessarily notes?

No, can't say as I have. Whenever I get coin change from a (very rare cash) purchase, I dump it in my desk at work. Sometimes I use it, mostly I try to remember to keep some with me for the homeless people, or just save for holiday charity donation stuff. (We do a "penny war" so it all comes in very handy.)

Either he was a good actor or genuine, but he seemed very grateful. There are a decent number of homeless people where I walk from the train station to work--maybe a half dozen or so when it's warm, in a 1 block stretch. I didn't used to carry change--too jaded, I guess. But then one time I guy asked me for money, I said I didn't have any, but I did. I honestly didn't think he was homeless. ...and then I turned around for some reason or another and saw him pick up some pieces of bread people were feeding to the pigeons--and eat it. I just felt absolutely horrible.

I try to remember to carry some change now to give to whoever asks. I know all the arguments--I used to work with shelters in college, and telling people that seems to give license to hear diatribes about homeless people. But, honestly, I just don't care. I'm fortunate, and <$1 in change doesn't make a huge difference to me...but who knows what it means to someone with nothing.

[ccc]

Have you ever experienced having to pay for something or give someone some money and found that you had just enough change in your purse? I mean mostly change, not necessarily notes?

My kids seem to always want exactly what I have on me.
I often refer to myself as an ATM.
Does that count? :)

[fascination]

I guess since I don't really do purses, I have the corollary, which is that I always have just enough change in the car for the toll road and starbucks

[samina]

yep, has happened many times. also, having the exact amount of coinage i require for tolls when in the car. those moments are serendipitous! <"whew!">

[tj]

I guess since I don't really do purses,

Me, too!

;):rolleyes: