#spendapenny

I was looking in my rucksack this morning and noticed that in the front pocket was a load of 1p and 2p coins. It was the same in my wallet and in at least 3 places at home too. All of this roaming currency weighing me down and cluttering up the place. 

Now I know that if you 'watch the pennies the pounds will take care of themselves' but vending machines rarely take anything less than 5p and some won't even take those. I guess you can use them in shops but it's awkward for everyone involved. You counting out the money, the shop assistant reciting ohms as their patience is put to the test. Whoops! miscounted. Better start again. Not good all round.

So, what if we just got rid of them?

I know a lot of items are priced at £2.99 or £29.99 etc... and £2.99 is more attractive than £3.00 and £29.99 looks better than £30.00 so the pennies will stay where pricing is concerned. 

So, what if we get rid of tangible pennies?

How would this work? You can't just get rid of pennies. They're an institution. Penny sweets, penny farthings, Penny from Big Bang Theory. Well, how about we get rid of the coins themselves but keep the concept of a penny.

What is the concept of a penny?

Well, the concept of a penny is our lowest denomination of currency. No half-pennies these days. A penny won't get you very far. We all know what it means to 'spend a penny' and that is pretty much what you're doing if you're leaving it around to gather dust. May as well throw it down the drain in a perfect light-catching arc. So, what if we change the concept of a penny?

The new concept of a penny

What if the penny became something more than just our lowest means of exchange for goods and services? What if it became a noble thank you? A little nod of gratitude for the fact that we can afford whatever it is we're buying. Whether a can of coke or a new ipad. What if every little penny was automatically donated to those less fortunate? Then that little penny becomes something more. 

Spend a penny

Now, if this was the case then every purchase you make you'd spend an extra penny and yes overtime those little pennies would equate to lots of little pennies. In the moment though, for you, it would just be a penny - not too painful. If we were all spending a penny that's a lot of pennies. All those little pennies from all those purchases would make so many pennies that they would turn into lots of pounds and lots of pounds can make a real difference.

So, what I'm really saying is that maybe we should all put our hands up and ask the grown ups if we can all spend a penny. Think how nice that might be. Plus, no more carrying around all those pennies.