Using the Penny Tray

Everyone has had a time when they have wanted to grab a penny or two from the handy "take-a-penny, leave-a-penny" trays at convenience stores. What surprises me is the incessant mis-use, or even worse, the unnecessary and akward hesitation towards using the penny tray. After evaluating the subject for far longer than I should have, I came up with the following "Rules for Using the Penny Tray."

Rules for Using the Penny Tray:

1. Be prepared... if you approach the cashier not already knowing you might want to use change from the penny tray, you are not allowed to do so.


2. Be confident... do not ask the cashier, the next customer in line behind you, or your schleprock buddy "if you can snag a penny," just do it.


3. Be bold... if in your wallet you are holding one $1bill, and one $20bill, and you have a quarter in your pocket, but your Super Big Gulp Slurpee comes to $1.42 and there is enough change in the penny tray, by all means, save the $20!


4. Be even... If you have taken $0.03 each of your last three visits, bring a quarter and drop the $0.22 in the penny tray. Trust me, if you attempt to stay roughly even, you will come out ahead.

Follow these four simple rules, and you should have no problems using the penny tray to its maximum benefit.