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Leftover Foreign Currency – What can you do with it?
If you’re a traveler chances are you have a bag at home of leftover coins and bills from foreign countries – many of which you’ll never set foot in again.
Leftover foreign money
I counted my money this morning and this is what I have.
***using the xe currency converter website***
- 150 Kenyan shillings = $Cdn 1.82
- 80 Venezuelan bolivares = $Cdn 18.34
- 2000 Chilean pesos = $Cdn 4.16
- 90 Mexican pesos = $Cdn 7.34
- 90 Peruvean soles = $Cdn 32.06
- 3000 Costa Rican colones = $Cdn 5.95
- 100 Thai bhat = $Cdn 3.22
- 6 Nicaraguan cordobas = SCdn 0.27
- 64 Papua New Guinea Kina = $Cdn 24
- 727 Chinese yuan = $Cdn 108
- a mess of change
If I take the Chinese money out of the equation then I almost have $100, not including coins, that is of no value to me whatsoever. I do try to spend my money before leaving a country but still I discover bills in the odd pocket since I hide money that even I can’t find till I get home.
So what’s a person to do with this foreign currency?
I looked online and I found a Unicef site called Change for Good. They have partnered with the airline industry (though not with any airlines I fly on) and ask passengers to donate their leftover money into specially provided envelopes. Over $70 million dollars has been raised so far which is a terrific. But it doesn’t help me clean out my drawers. I know there’s advice out there to spend the money at the airport or to put it in the giant money banks you see at some airports. Does that money go to a charitable cause in the end? I don’t know. What happens if you’re leaving a country by bus?
What can you do with leftover foreign currency? Ideas anyone?
I’m looking for ideas and would be interested to hear suggestions from other travelers. I’d be more than happy to donate my leftover currency to a fellow traveler if there was an easy way to do it. I’ll be at TBEX 2011 in Vancouver and don’t mind handing out bills to people going to the countries I’ve listed.
Could travelers join together and pick a charity or support a cause like the Mongol Rally?
What would you do? Please contact me if I can help you out.
Leigh McAdam
www.hikebiketravel.com
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14 Responses to Leftover Foreign Currency – What can you do with it?
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About
I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
Feel free to email me at
leighmcadamtravels@gmail.com
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We have been on a couple of flight now that promote change for good, it is an excellent idea. We are always so good at getting rid of our money that we haven’t had that problem yet:) We are taking part in the Mongol Rally, but I don’t know what someone could do with the different currencies from South America. Hmm, it is quite a dilema.
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Funky cash from another country can make a cool gift for people who don’t travel or kids.
Dustin Main – Skinny Backpacker recently posted..Photo Essay- Unreal Antarctica
Those are both great ideas – and I have given change to my niece. I just wish there was an easy way to put the money to a good cause
I think I’m good at getting rid of money ..until I come home and empty the pockets. John, my husband, has traveled to unusual places on business & thinks he’ll return – and then it doesn’t always happen so that’s another way we’ve built up our currency reserves. I know I’m not alone with leftover foreign money so will try to come up with a creative solution that will benefit others.
You could always keep the good clean bills and coins and frame them. Have a dedicated wall…Because one day everything will be plastic…
) If you paint you can always incorporate them on your canvas…
Hi there! There are many ways what you could do with the money. 1. you can keep it and start collecting it
2. you can surely go to some bank and exchange it, 3. if some money “doesn’t exists” any more, you can surely exchange it at some numismatic shop, perhaps you get some money for it (maybe not the whole value), but still – and you make some other collector happy when some money comes to those numismatic stores 
@marc – brilliant idea. You must be an artist.
@tina – I might be able to exchange amounts if there dollar value is over $10. The numismatic store idea is a new one one me and an excellent idea.
We do the same thing as Dustin and give some of our change to our nephew. Alternatively, the next time you take an international flight, there is usually a UNICEF bin right outside the customs area where you can dump extra money and they take every denomination. We usually drop a few dollars into it when we leave a country.
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I’ve never seen a UNICEF bin but often that’s not what I’m looking for either. That’s a terrific suggestion & I’ll keep my eyes open for one.
I always keep any leftover change I have as a souvenir or in case there is too much left I give it to any kids I find in the family or neighbourhood as a toy. UNICEF bin sounds awesome, though I haven’t ever seen one. There should definitely be more of them.
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It would appear that lots of people do the souvenir thing. I should ty mounting some of the coins or bills worth next to nothing.
I can attest to the souvenirs idea but sometimes the money is kind of dirty so some parents don’t like the idea of kids playing with it. For now I’m just holding onto mine though but I found this site which may be of some interest once it starts going (if it does)… http://www.unexchange.net
@Jim Love the idea of being able to convert small amounts. Thanks for the recommendation.