Did you know that in airports all across the world travelers leave behind loose change because they are in a hurry to not miss their flights? I understand that some of these travelers need to go in a rush to the airport gate, but this is why planning beforehand is important for your financial future and for many areas of life. The amount of loose change left every year is staggering, and it gives evidence to the wastefulness of certain people. Do you value your loose change? I hope you do because every coin you keep and save will provide you with dollars in terms of compound interest. How hard is it for a traveler to inspect their pockets before reaching the TSA station, and easily transfer any coins from pockets to their on board bags. If they don’t have a bag, then just take 5 seconds to place the coins back in your pocket. Do you really think that in 5 seconds you will miss your flight?
I will provide you all the evidence for the biggest offenders in the Airport loose change travesty. Obviously the people who are traveling are the offenders, but you can clearly see that the first two airports are the party destination locations. I wonder who travels to these airports the most? I will assume it is young people and people working in the entertainment industry, who travel the most to these destinations. One segment of the travelers is too young and careless to care about loose change, and the other segment of the travelers is making so much money that the change might be a way for them to give back to society. (Insert Sarcasm)
Do you Value your Loose Change?:
1) Miami International – $39,613
2) McCarran International (Las Vegas) – $26,900
3) O’Hare International (Chicago) – $22,116
4) Los Angeles International – $21,916
5) John F. Kennedy International – $21,201
6) Dallas/Fort worth International – $20,190
7) San Francisco International – $19,874
8) Washington Dulles International – $16,537
9) Logan International (Boston) – $16,406
10) George Bush Intercontinental (Houston) – $16,082
Throughout 2012, the TSA collected more than $531,000 in change, and the figure will be about the same in 2013. Half a million dollars that will now go to who knows where. Some reports say to military members while another says to charities. I hope now some of you will place your coins in your bag before you go through the TSA scanners in the airport. It will set you apart from the norm and you will be richer in life by being better prepared. See below for the articles where this story was originally published.
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Do you value your loose change? Comment to let the readers know how you do?
Rich Uncle EL
Pic provided by Free Digital Photos / Graeme Weatherston
I began using a change pouch when living in Japan. Their currency has coins up to 500 yen (~$5), so you can end up with significant coins in your pocket. I continued this habit after moving back to Canada and I find that I constantly use these coins for small purchases. The result is that I no longer have a collection of metal in my pocket or in a jar at home or in my bureau drawer, or in……
That is very smart Doug, you can save dollars when you use the change in your pockets to pay for things, Thanks for the comment.
I've heard about the amount of loose change that accumulates at airports! Insane! I don't generally carry any change and usually pay by credit card. I have a jar of loose change which I tell myself I'll roll up and bring to the bank or bring to coinstar but the jar is still there.
IT is a hassel to roll up coins, but if you oepn a TD bank account, you will get free coin counting for being a customer. Not a promo for TD, but its a great $$ and time saving service. Thanks for the comment.
I love my loose change. We have a giant old stein that we got from some Oktoberfest that we now keep all of our change in, until we take it to the bank. Our local bank has one of those coin-star type machines, only they don't charge anything to use it!
Nice way to display coins in the house. Yes I have the same service at my bank. I turn in the coins once a year to use for something fun.