Using SMALL change for a change

When I was leaving for my holiday I decided to look for any type of foreign currency stored in the umpteen number of purses/handbags/wallets Ive bought over the years. The only currency I found was of the smallest kind. The nickels and pennies of the world aka the rupees and fivers of India. And not a few, each bag was full of such change. And all of a sudden, I had an idea. An idea to utilise all that change and check for survival days. But my idea had to wait till I came back from the holiday. So once I got back, I decided to empty all my bags and gather all the change defined as -Any Indian currency in circulation under/equal to Rs 50. After I'd emptied 5 bags I realised there was so much that I needed another empty bag to store it. So i stopped searching for them and started my experiment. Starting 10th June, I decided to survive on small change and see till when I last. But since i couldn't empty all the bags at the time. I decided to start with my 5 bag load of change and put the firm foot forward of 'Survival on change'.

Day One- June 10th was the first day we came back from the holiday. I was armed with one full wallet of Rupee 1, Re 2, 5,10 coins and around 50 notes of Rs 10 and another similar amount of Rs 20 and some 10 notes of Rs 50. I didnt have the time to check how much money in all I had but it seemed a lot for the day. In the morning itself, my maid informed me that the kids toothpaste was missing so I got the opportunity to spend the first money out of my change. So i happily called for the toothpaste with some change. In the afternoon I paid off the Press wala with the change too. Some Rs 5 and the others 10. The challenge came when the washing machine repairman came. He asked for Rs 400. I looked up my pink bag of change and decided to spare him the horror. Out came the Rs 50 notes. Soon I was left with more coins and lesser note. Thats when I decided to give a heart attack to the fruit seller. I bought our weekly dose of mangoes, Anar and apples in coins. Since I knew the fruit guy so he only laughed when I did this. He said he will give all of it during Ramadan. So all for a holy cause. In the evening, I was still left with some change which I decided to carry forward.

Day 2- I looked for 4 more purses and got armed with another big fat pink wallet. This one had a huge wad of crisp Rs 50 notes. That's because I emptied two formal clutches which I'd have used during Diwali card parties. Wise sense prevailed when I kept this in the back pocket for a rainy day. The days expenses went on as usual. The pizza guy at the end of the Friday wasn't too happy to receive Rs 485 in change. He counted it twice. I didn't give him any coins of course. And yes, there was also the grocery staples like milk, bread etc being paid on each days in coins. Somehow, no one seemed to mind it too much. Maybe they all wanted the change. In fact, the Amul milk stall guy asked for more. I told him to wait another day.

Day 3- Is just about finishing up as I write this. And I did have the cherry on the cake today. I went shopping for the kids. Had to buy good night suits for them since we leave for Nani house soon. And I cannot have them wear old boring tees clubbed with tracks there. Nani was always particular about her kids wearing prim and proper night wear. She'd be heartbroken if i didnt keep up the tradition. So i went shopping, like I've just mentioned. And thanks to my smartness yesterday of saving the Rs 50 notes. I paid off Rs 2500 in Rs 50 and 20 notes. And again the teller didnt even blink an eye. He also counted twice but not a word. I almost thought maybe he gets such crazy people everyday. Then came the problem. The real problem. How to pay for the popcorn during the night movie we just watched? So I made the prime sacrifice. Ditch the popcorn for a night. Let the husband pay and the others feast. Then its technically not my direct expense. So call it some arm twisting but I did survive the 3rd day.

12 June will be the last day of the experiment and post that we shall take a break. Not because I will run out of change or because the expenses will be high enough to not survive the change. But because we are off to Mom's and that's one place we pay for in hugs and kisses.

So more on my experiment once I am back. I hope to survive at least 7 days on change. And if I get the time I will also try to budget out how much the total expenses were during these 'changed' days. It will give an insight to all of us on how much change we pile up.