Do you go to the market or restaurant, and frequently receive a large number of coins and small bills, but wish you knew the trick to receive larger denominations of both? I remember as a youth watching my mom and dad make purchases at the market and be able to adjust the amount they received in change, quickly knowing how to make an adjustment to the amount they gave the cashier to pay for their groceries.
In my adult life, I have been instructed by a cashier from time to time that it was too late to make an adjustment to the amount that he/she had expected to receive from me, primarily in the form of a whole dollar bill, perhaps a $5, $10, or $20. I have been told by cashiers also, that they have been advised to provide the exact amount of change that the 'computer told them to give' and to not deviate from it. The trick and very first step is being confident and ready and to not show the cashier the amount you are paying until he/she is ready to receive your payment.
Let's take a look at a real-world example and see how you can adjust the amount of change you receive.
You are at Dave's Deli and have purchased a turkey sandwich and a large drink. The total due is $7.36, and you are paying cash for your purchase. Let's assume you have a $20 bill, a $10 bill, and (3) $1 bills, and the following coins: (3) Quarters, (1) Dime, and (4) Pennies. There is more than one solution to the amount that you may give Sondra, the deli's ace cashier.
Knowing that you don't have the exact change to give, here are some possible scenarios:
a.) Simply give her a $10 bill, forgetting that you have several coins in your pocket, and expect to receive $2.64 in change from Sondra.
b.) You remember that in addition to the $20, $10 and few $1 bills, you have several coins in your pocket. You quickly decide to pay her $10.36 and she returns $3 in one dollar bills.
c.) Sondra sees that you have some pennies in your hand, and she asks you to give her one penny in addition to the $10, making the total amount received $10.01. You are thinking to yourself, "Why is she asking me for an extra penny, when $10 is more than enough to cover your sandwich and drink?"
Sondra, seeing the confused look on your face, quickly explains that instead of returning $2 and $0.64 in coins, by giving her the extra penny, she now owes you change of $2.65 which simplifies the Math, saves her 4 pennies for the next customer, and you don't have to carry around extra coins in your pocket.
d.) While you were in line to pay for your sandwich and drink, you just remembered that you hadn't purchased gifts for your 5 year old twin nephews' birthday party later in the afternoon. Not having time to purchase a gift, you decide to give each twin $10 in cash. How will you handle this transaction? You're now having one of those "Aha Moments" and know exactly how to masterfully receive the perfect amount of change, to make life simple for Sondra, to decrease the amount of coins in your pocket, and to have enough cash for your birthday gifts.
* Give Sondra your $20 and (2) $1 in addition to (1) Quarter, (1) Dime, and (1) Penny, which is a total of $22.36.
* Sondra is impressed with your astute Mathematics computation, and she returns a $10 and a $5 bill to you!
You win! Congratulations! You have successfully decreased the amount of coins in your pocket, and have made life easy for Sondra, and were able to place $10 in each birthday card for your twin nephews!
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