Coins!

It seems like I am almost always carrying around 3 pounds of Euro coins. 

And you can see in this photo that they are mostly 1 cent and 2 cent coins.

I use up the 1 and 2 Euro coins (and the paper money!) quite quickly because in the heat of the moment, it is much easier to throw out a 1 Euro or 2 Euro coin than it is to fumble through the other coins trying to figure out their worth.

And there are a lot of available values in coins here.

I'm determined to leave this country with only paper money - if there is anything left in my pocket.

They want the coins. The French LOVE to get the exact change.  Sometime I just pull out my stash of coins and let them paw through it and take what they want, but I'm trying to get better.  And I have a system.

Every morning before I leave the apartment, I put five 5 cent coins in one pocket and 5 ten cent coins in the other, so I know what I have and where to find them.  And I keep ten 1 cent or 2 cents coins (they are the hardest) in with my 1 and 2 Euro coins.  If I know where I plan to stop for coffee and how much they charge, or if I plan to pick up the paper from a kiosk,  I put the exact amount in a little pocket of my purse.  Yes! I am neurotic! But I am getting better.  Today at Monoprix my purchases came to 44 Euros and 32 cents.  I gave the checker the exact change, including the 2 cent coin!  Whoo Hoo!  We were both happy!