Closing Out the Old, Welcoming the New

Here it is. The end of 2016. This has been a year of changes for me and for many. Lots of our movie and television friends have died and some have lost people they actually know. This is always a hard thing to deal with and I'm hoping 2017 brings good changes for us all. (But on many fronts, I'm not holding my breath.)

So, since I last posted here I've found $1.04 plus a Canadian quarter and dime. This brings my 2016 found money grand total to....... drum roll please.......... $39.64. Not that great but not bad, I guess. It certainly didn't come close to my last year's total (over $100).

Here's a nice 2017 calendar to usher in the new year.



Have you found any money lately? I hope so and here's hoping we all find plenty of whatever it is we need in the new year.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  14 pennies, 1 nickel, 6 dimes, 1 quarter and 2 foreign coins 
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $39.64

Found a Jackpot at the Grocery Store with Lots of Foreign Coins

Today I ran some errands and at the grocery store there was a jackpot in the chain tray of the coin machine. No one was around so I scooped it up. I found $2+, including a 1940 Wheat penny. There were also quite a few foreign coins:

• a quarter from Canada
• a $1 coin from Hong Kong
• one $10, two $5, two $1, and one 50 cent Mexican coins

So with today haul and what I had found previously, I found $2.41 plus those foreign coins and a play penny. Yee haw!

Here's a cool gift idea for a coin collector.



Have you found any money lately?

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  16 pennies, 1 nickel, 12 dimes, 6 quarters and 8 foreign coins and play money (a penny)
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $38.60

Finding Money Is Easy If You're Paying Attention (and Looking Down!)

So, today I ran a few errands and parked at one end of the parking lot. The store I needed to go to was at the other end. Hey, whatever it takes to get a little walk in, I say!

So, on the way, nothing, nothing, nothing. Went to the store, made a payment. Nothing. Went to the grocery store, walked around, got my groceries. Nothing. Till I was in line and there on the floor was a dime! It looked extra tiny to me so I guess I can understand why people walked right over it. But I grabbed it and it still looked little, but sitting next to the other two dimes I'd found since I last posted, I realized it's a regular dime. It's cool.

Then on the way back to my car, I spotted a penny in the parking lot. Like the heading says, it's easy to find money if you're paying attention. It really blended in and I'm surprised I saw it. 

I've found $1.72 since December 1. Not bad but not great, but I'll take it!

And since then, I've added a couple of more classes on Skillshare. You can sign up to take unlimited classes for just $.99 right now. Woo hoo. That's what I did and I'm enjoying the variety of classes they offer.  

If you'd like to check out one (or both) of my classes for free, here are links good for a few free enrollments:

How to Make a Chalkboard (image below... I used a piece of wood to make that chalkboard)
How to Make Bath Salts (image to the right... I used a vintage salt shaker for this recycled jar)

Enjoy! These free links are good through Friday, December 16 at midnight.They are easy and fun recycling craft projects. And would make great gifts that you or the kids can make. Perfect for giving to teachers or just about anyone!

Are you finding lots of money? I hope so!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  12 pennies, 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 5 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $36.19

Finding Money Here, There, and Everywhere

Late this afternoon I found some money at a grocery store (3 pennies) then later at a high school parking lot (a dime, a nickel, and a penny). So, that made 19 cents found today. I just love finding money!

Since I last posted, I've found 90 cents total. Better than a kick in the you-know-what.

Oh! I recently published a class on Skillshare called How to Make a Tin Can Man. Like that guy, right there.

If you'd like to check out my class, I have a few coupons for free enrollment. Just click this link: How to Make a Tin Can Man. But hurry, it expires tomorrow (Friday). This is an easy and fun recycle craft project.

How is everyone doing? Great, I hope. And I hope you're finding lots of money!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  25 pennies, 3 nickels, 5 dimes
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $34.47

Found Money in the Street - Two dollars and change

So, I hope everyone is holding up. What with the election, Leonard Cohen dying, and a super moon tonight things have been, well, let's just say, weird.

Since I last posted I found $2.33. Not bad but not great. I won't hit the $100 mark for the year like I did last year since I've now found just $33.57. Oh well. 

I did find a Canadian penny though so that's good.

How about you? Have you found any money lately?

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  33 pennies, 2 nickels, 4 dimes, 6 quarters, 1 Canadian coin
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $33.57

Found Money Blog: October Finders Keepers

So, I didn't realize it had been nearly a month since I last posted. My apologies! I've been busy and my found money pile didn't seem especially big so I kept delaying posting, I guess.

Any hoo, since September 20 I've found $2.53. Not great, but not bad. Better than nuttin' honey.

So, take a look at the photo to the right. See anything good there? Yep, a quarter! It was stuck on this little cover. I couldn't pry it up even using my car key. Dang. I really hate to find money and not be able to get it.

How about you? Did you beat me? Did you find a lot of money in the past month? I really hope so!

Oh, I also found several oddities with the coins I found:

• a wheat penny, a 1939 penny!  
• a folded over penny
• a play coin, again, a penny
• a carwash token
• a Canadian 5 cent coin

I do love find this oddball stuff!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  33 pennies, 9 nickels, 11 dimes, 2 quarters, 1 Canadian coin, 1 play money penny, and a carwash token
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $31.24

Finding Money: $1.89 Plus Two Foreign Coins and a Game Token

Well, it's been awhile since I posted. In the three weeks, or thereabouts, I've found $1.89 in coins. Mostly pennies but some nickels, dimes, and quarters. 

I also found these two foreign coins and a game tokens:

• a $2 Mexican coin
• a 5 colones coin from Costa Rica
• a Peter Piper Pizza game token

Not bad. 

How about you? Have you found any money lately?

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  44 pennies, 4 nickels, 5 dimes, 3 quarters, 1 Mexican coin, 1 Costa Rica coin, and a game token
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $28.71

Found $1.61 and a 5 Cent Canadian Coin

Money, money, money! Yep, this blog is all about finding money. I found $1.61 since I last posted here.

Not a lot but better than a kick in the butt. Oh, and I found a 5-cent Canadian coin.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  26 pennies, 2 nickels, 5 dimes, 3 quarters, 1 Canadian 5-cent coin
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $26.82

Found Money Blog: $2.07, a Pressed Penny, and a Wheat Penny

So, since my last blog post here I've found $2.08. That includes a wheat penny (1949) and a pressed penny (which I don't count in my found money total since I'm pretty sure can't be spent as legal tender since it's been flattened).

The pressed penny is stamped USS Midway CV 41 and features an American flag.

Yesterday I was driving and saw a penny and nickel in the street as I was leaving a shopping center. Instead of slamming on my brakes and getting the coins, I kept driving. Today I went back and darn if they weren't gone! You snooze, you lose, I guess.

This morning I helped with a roadside cleanup and found what I thought were two nickels in the road. NOPE! They were those weird flat batteries. Dang it!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  43 pennies, 4 nickels, 7 dimes, 3 quarters, 1 pressed penny
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $25.21

Tourist Found Money

Lately I've been finding a lot of quarters and more change lying around on the floor of stores. I think it's from tourists in a hurry to beat the heat and go camping or hiking or whatever they're doing as they drive through town.

I've found several quarters  in various vending machines:  water vending machines and newspaper vending machines mostly. I've also found money on the floor of stores and in parking lots, etc. The usual places. 

So, since I last posted, I've found a bunch of change. $3.44 worth! That's pretty good for a couple of weeks' worth. I also found a Rwanda coin marked 50. Cool! This is the first time I've found a coin from that country.

Have you found any coins or bills recently? Do tell!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  9 pennies, 3 nickels, 6 dimes, 10 quarters, 1 Rwanda coin (50)
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $23.13

Whoops, Long Time, No Post!

So, I see that it's been nearly a month since I last posted here. Whoops! I have found money but I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger. Busy with work, busy with friends and family, just plain busy.

Anyway, here's what I've found since my last update:

$2.45 in change. This includes all denominations:  pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. No bills but that's okay. Tonight I took a short walk and found a dime.

I watched a really good movie recently: The Age of Adaline. Have you seen it? What did you think?  

Have you found any money lately? Please leave a comment below and let us know.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  50 pennies, 5 nickels, 12 dimes, 2 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $19.69

Found Money: 58 Cents

Well, it's been somewhat of a dry spell for finding money. In the past few weeks since I last posted here, I've only found 58 cents. Today I found 8 of those cents, 8 pennies on the floor of stores and in a drive through lane.

The other money, a quarter, a dime, and the rest pennies were found in the typical places. 

How about you? Are you finding money these days? Let us know!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  23 pennies, 1 dime, 1 quarter
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $17.24

Found $2.42 in 10 Days

In the past 10 days I found $2.42. Woo hoo! Most of this was in one day when I found six quarters in a change tray of a newspaper vending machine. That same day on a walk I found two dimes and two pennies. The rest has been found in a water vending machine, in parking lots, in a bank drive through lane, at gas stations, on the floor of stores. Really the normal places where I tend to find money.

It never gets old. What do you think? Do you look for money when you're out and about? 

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  27 pennies, 4 dimes, 7 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $16.66

Found 80 Cents Since We Last Spoke

Okay, so we've never actually spoken, but since the last time you read this blog (and I wrote it) I found 80 cents. Ta da!

Today I stuck my finger in a  change slot of a newspaper machine and a nickel fell out and I felt another coin. A dime! 

Last week I drove to Tucson and stopped (a few times to use the little girls' room). In one truck stop place in the middle of no where I found a quarter on the floor. Whoopee!

Oh, for a few weeks now I've been working on this chair. It was an overstuffed chair that I stripped of its stuffing. It is now a proud planter! As the summer progresses and more plants are blooming, I'll post another photo or two. This was a pain the butt, a whole lot of work, but I really like how it looks!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  15 pennies, 2 nickels, 3 dimes, 1 quarter
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $14.24

Found Money Blog: $1.33

Lately I've been finding a penny here, a penny there. Since my last post I found a total of $1.33. I found a dollar bill and a nickel and 28 pennies! See? Lots and lots of pennies. 

Today I found a nickel and a penny in a parking lot. I found the dollar bill aptly on the floor of the dollar store. Otherwise the pennies have mostly been in drive through lanes, in parking lots, on the floor of stores, places like that.

Have you been finding any money? I hope so!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  28 pennies, 1 nickel, 1 dollar bill
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $13.44

Found Money Blog: 48 Cents and a 10 Cent Australia Coin

Today I found 11 cents and an Australian coin. Score! I spotted these in a change tray of a coin machine at the grocery store. Rejects. The penny was pretty dirt and banged up so was probably rejected for that reason. The dime is domed, yes, curved. And the Australian coin? Well, it's just not American!

So that was 11 cents and I had found another 37 cents here and there so that makes this found money report a total of 48 cents and that foreign coin. 

How about you? Are you finding any money around these days? Oh and if you're interested in learning more about Australian money, here you go.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  13 pennies, 3 nickels, 2 dimes, 1 Australian coin
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $12.11

Found 47 Cents

Well, we're ending up another month so I thought I'd report on my found money. I took a few walks since last time I posted and found 47 cents. Woo hoo! Hey, I'm actually always thrilled to find money. I found these coins (see breakdown below) at a couple of gas stations, in a driveway, at a bowling alley parking lot, and maybe somewhere else. Don't remember now. 

Have you found any money lately? Let us know!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  7 pennies, 3 nickels, 1 quarter
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $11.63

Found Three Dollars, on the money!

Since I last posted, I have found $3.00 even. Two separate days I found over a dollar, which is rare, so this has been an exciting few days! (It doesn't take much, does it?)

Today was doubly exciting because I found a dollar bill! I think this is the first paper money I've found in 2016. 

I walked to Wal-Mart and spotted the dollar shown here next to the curb in the parking lot. It was folded over just sitting there. It's been really windy the past few days so maybe this bill flew from someone's hand and landed there. I don't know. I'm just happy happy happy I found it! 

Other places I found money (the rest was a bunch of coins) was on the floor at Wal-Mart, on the floor at the grocery store, in drive through lanes, in the street, in parking lots, and on top of a newspaper vending machine and in the change tray of another.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  15 pennies, 3 nickels, 7 dimes, 4 quarters, 1 dollar bill
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $11.16

Found $1.30 in Change Here, There, and Everywhere, Well, not everywhere

I've been a slacker. I haven't updated this blog since March 6. What is that? Almost two weeks? Sorry! 

In that time I found $1.30 in change. Just today I found the most of any day in the past two weeks:  57 cents! All dimes and pennies. It's so strange when that happens, but I found five dimes and seven pennies. Today I found the money in drive through lanes, parking lots, and the floor of a couple stores. 

And here's a picture of one of the finished nightstands that I was painting last time I posted. I ended up giving them each a good coat of paint on the flat surfaces (copper on top and blue on the lower surface). I like 'em! I'm using one as a microwave stand and the other in the bathroom. I haven't really stored anything in the bathroom one yet, but plan to keep wash cloths and hand towels in it, I think. And I'll find a pretty to put on top. The tissue box was just handy!

I used this poly sealer to seal the paint once I was done and liked how easy it went on. 

Have you found any money lately? Do share!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  30 pennies, 1 nickel, 7 dimes, 1 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $8.16

Found 95 Cents

Since I last checked in here ( a few weeks, oh my!), I've only found 95 cents. It's better than a kick in the head. Better than nothing. But it's not even a dollar. Oh well.

I haven't been walking as much lately. I did take a walk today and found a whole penny at a gas station! But then I drove to the grocery store and found a quarter in a newspaper vending machine and two pennies on the ground. Yay! This brings my 2016 found money total to $6.86. Not bad, I guess. 

Friday I found some nightstands (free!) and spent yesterday cleaning them up and painting them. I'm not sure I'm done. Here's a photo of how they look (drawers are not in). I painted them a bluish color then brushed a copper color over top. Hmmm. What to do, what to do.

Have you found any money lately? My sister found a five dollar bill in her yard last week. Yay yay! 

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  10 pennies, 1 nickel, 3 dimes, 2 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $6.86

Found Money Blog: $1.20 Found

The past week I found $1.20 in change. The big whoop was finding two quarters in the change return tray of a water machine. They were stuck way at the back. Score!

I think it's funny that I've already passed up my found money total for 2011, when I only found $4.91 all year. Weird. I must have had my eyes closed that year.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  15 pennies, 1 nickel, 5 dimes, 2 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $5.91

60 Cents in Found Money

I'm settling into a new house in a new town, and one thing that's staying the same is I'm finding money. Not a lot, mind you, but in the past 10 days I've found 60 cents. 

I took a walk yesterday and found 8 cents:  a penny in a church parking lot, another penny by a laundromat, a penny at a gas station. and a nickle under a newspaper vending machine. Ta da!

Are you finding money this winter? Let us know, please!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  20 pennies, 2 nickels, 3 dimes
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished 

Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $4.71

Found Money: 67 Cents

Since my last post over a week ago I've only found 67 cents. Not much but better than nothing. I found this money in the typical places:  on the floor at stores, in parking lots, drive through lanes, and even a penny in my driveway!

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  22 pennies, 3 nickels, 3 dimes
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $4.11 

Found $1.00 in Two Weeks

Well, the past two weeks were lackluster for finding money. I only found a dollar in change. I went to Illinois to visit family and it was cold! I mean really cold. A few days it was tolerable then it went downhill fast. Some days the high was just 10 or something ridiculous. Ugh. It reminded me of why I moved!

So, here's what I found on the few days I ventured outside:

January 6:  37 cents
January 9:  42 cents
January 13:  1 cent
January 16:  16 cents
January 20:  4 cents

I found quite a few coins in five airports while traveling. The rest were in the usual places:  on the floor of stores, at a gas station, in parking lots. Often I would just stay in the car though because it was frigid!

I hope you're safe and warm and finding money.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  25 pennies, 1 nickel, 2 dimes, 2 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $3.44

Happy New Year! Found Money So Far in 2016

Happy New Year and I hope you're all finding some money this year. I am!

So far here's what I've found in 2016:

January 1: 62 cents
January 2:  47 cents
January 3:  48 cents
January 4:  49 cents
January 5:  38 cents

No, not 50 cents but I was hoping for a four-day streak! All of the coins were found in the normal places:  parking lots, floor of stores, drive through lanes, and the old standby:  here, there, and everywhere!

I also found a coin from Taiwan! I love finding foreign coins.

Facts About This Found Money
Denomination:  39 pennies, 13 dimes, 3 quarters
Year:  too many to mess with
U.S. Mint:  same
Condition:  shiny to tarnished
Total Found Money in 2016 to Date:  $2.44