It’s also worth having a place to store your found money at home, like a piggy bank or something equivalent.

Whether or not using your bank to exchange your coins for cash is your best option depends on a few factors. Some banks have coin counting machines and some don’t. Of the ones that do, some require a fee to use and some don’t. Some banks will provide you with coin roll paper for free and some don’t. Keep in mind that while Coinstar is the most convenient method, they also take 8 to 10 percent of your profit for their services. This can be avoided though, if you use their gift card program instead of turning in the voucher for cold hard cash.

Another idea of what to do with this money is to save up for something unnecessary but fun, like a bike or a gaming console. Having a concrete goal that you’re working towards when finding money will make you more motivated and make it more like a game.

Don’t forget about your washing machine and dryer. People often leave money in their clothes on accident and then wash them, leaving coins and cash in and around the washing machine and dryer. [5] X Research source

Be careful to not pick up money that was just dropped. You might find a stray dollar in the corner of a bar, but if it was just dropped by someone, return it them if they’re not picking it up themselves. The goal is to collect money left behind, not steal. Pay careful attention to sides and corners, where coins can easily roll out of sight and out of the way.

Whenever you need to go to a store, park far from the store, so you can search for money on the ground as you walk. [10] X Research source Pay extra attention to self-pay parking lots and drive-throughs. People will reach from their car window to pay, and often drop coins to the ground. Most people won’t bother to get out of their car to collect this change. [11] X Research source