How Much Money Before You Stop To Pick It Up?

[kilcher]

I just got done reading this blog entry...

Paying bills, finding pennies, just scraping by...: Nomorecredit's Personal Finance Blog

...and the author talked about how she stopped to pick up 15 pennies off the ground. Her husband said he would not have.

I won't stop to pick up pennies (I think part of it is the color - they seem dirtier than other coins ) but I will stop to pick up silver coins and bills (only been that lucky a couple times).

So it got me thinking, how much money does it take for you to stop and pick it up?

[kilapapipa]

Our family of 5 picks up pennies and we have a penny jar that we just took to the bank recently after about 2 yrs. It was $30 and we had a family fun day from it. Also, before the bank our kids 11, 8, 6 yrs had fun counting them and putting them in piles.

[aida2003]

I pick up a penny and make a wish

[PrincessPerky]

I put I pick up pennies, but I actually have the kids do it...if I have no kid able I prolly am pregnant and can't get back up from stooping or have a baby in a sling..and can't get back up from stopping...so kids pick it all up..and their fingers are already dirty!

[disneysteve]

As long as it doesn't look really cruddy or is sitting in mud, I'll pick it up. If DD is with me, I'll point it out to her and let her keep it. I want her to grow up knowing that she isn't above picking up a penny off the ground.

[CouponAddict]

I pick up anything. Found money is found money. I wonder if there is a link between people who clip coupons and people who will pick up a penny.

To me both answers show you understand small amounts can build up.

[Aleta]

When I was a little kid, I was told it was lucky to find a penny, so I have always just instinctively picked them up. Sometimes people will look you and I say LUCKY PENNY. I go on.

With the price of copper, those pennies are looking better and better all the time. It's probably only time before they call them in and remake them maybe in another metal.

[disneysteve]

When I was a little kid, I was told it was lucky to find a penny, so I have always just instinctively picked them up. Sometimes people will look you and I say LUCKY PENNY. I go on.

With the price of copper, those pennies are looking better and better all the time. It's probably only time before they call them in and remake them maybe in another metal.

When I was a kid, I was obsessive about finding change. I would check the coin returns on every payphone and vending machine I passed. And I found a relatively large amount of money. A few times, I really hit the jackpot and hit the coin return lever only to have multiple coins come out, sometimes a dollar or more, and I'm talking about 30+ years ago.

As for pennies, forget it. They aren't made out of copper anymore. They are made of zinc with just a thin coating of copper.

[Aleta]

Steve: Yes, they are making them with less copper, but if you check out the older pennies, there's a big difference alone in the weight. I definitely would keep the older ones. I used to take them to the bank and now, I just save them.

[disneysteve]

Older pennies are also best for penny presses at amusement parks, zoos and other tourist attractions. Most people try and use a shiny new penny, but then the zince shows through when you run it through the press. Much better to gather some old copper pennies, clean them with lemon juice or vinegar and use those when you visit those places.

[Thrif-t]

I pick up the penny and always recite in my head, "Find a penny pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck"

[disneysteve]

I pick up the penny and always recite in my head, "Find a penny pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck"

I think that only counts if it is heads up, though, or is that a different superstition?

[FrugalFish]

I'll pick up pennies. Our 2 y.o. loves to "feed her pig" (bank) so pennies are still really cool to her. If I'm crossing the drive in a parking lot and see a penny there, I'll stoop down and postpone traffic for an extra few second- that drives DH nuts.

I love penny superstition too- if I pick up a penny, I use the edge to "draw" a cross on the ground where it was- old habit that I never really question, it's just what you do! I know some people who will only pick up a penny if it is heads up- they think tails up is bad luck.

[Spud]

Find a penny,
Pick it up
All day long
You'll have good luck!

I always pick up pennies -- especially if they are face up; that is extra good luck.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I'll pick up pretty much anything as long as it isn't too dirty looking. Sometimes I'll pass on pennies, though. Depends on how I feel, what I'm up to at the moment.