Handling and Identifying Your Money

Identifying bills and coins can pose a problem for visually impaired people. But, there are strategies that can help. If your vision is unstable and fluctuates, or is only functional with good lighting, or is reduced to the point of not being able to identify the currency, fold the bills in various ways so you can identify them by touch.

For example:

• $1 dollar bills can be placed in your wallet flat and unfolded;
• $5 bills can be folded in half, making a perfect square;
• $10 bills can be folded once to make a long and thin rectangle;
• $20 bills can be folded twice, long and thin like the $10, then in half, to make a small rectangle.

This allows you to determine what bills you have by feeling them with your fingers. How you fold your currency can be modified. What is important is that you are consistent about folding each bill as you receive it and about where you place the bills. For example, always fold each $5 bill the same.

For those with good vision, it's possible to identify money by the particular visual characteristics. Each bill has the number written differently for that denomination and the heads of each president have different shapes and shading. These differences can make it easier to identify the bills. You can also purchase wallets that have bill separators.

Coin identification is simple when you learn their varying characteristics. Each coin is different in size and texture. By skimming your fingernail along the outside of each coin you should notice that the dime and quarter have a serrated edge. The penny and nickel have a smooth edge. Although the nickel and quarter are similar in size, they can be easily identified by their outside edges. It's helpful to remove excess change from your pocket or purse to reduce the search time. You can also purchase a coin purse that separates each coin.

It's important to have a system that's consistent, reliable and realistic. If your method meets these criteria, then you should begin to feel confident about money. When you present your payment with confidence, the receiver may question how you know what you are using but they will never question your ability to handle yourself.

Last Updated: Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 06:28:45