What the hell is the point of coppers?

[CoughLaughFart]

No, it's not an anti-police thread - I'm talking about the useless low value coins that clutter up the house/my bag/the universe.

I've just bagged up tons of the bloody things to take to the Coinstar at Sainsbury's, and I can't remember the last time that that wasn't what I did with them. Does anyone actually pay for things with them? They cost more to produce than they're worth, I don't know anyone who actually uses them - what's the point?

I know some people worry it would drive prices up, but even if you bought 100 items that used to cost £1.72 and now cost £1.75, you've still only spent an extra £3. I'd be a damn sight more worried about how a post-Brexit pound slump will affect things.

Who agrees with me that it's time to consign coppers to history?

I used to work in a shop and agree with you. The smallest coin should be the 5p.

I disagree - what about the slop machines on holidays

What about ... look after the pennies?

Last time our penny jar had £84 pounds in it

Slot

Bus fare?

Items that are £1.99 for a reason

I'd be happy to stop the use of them. Until such time, I'm the person at the head of the queue painstakingly counting out pennies so they don't build up.

DS likes them because it makes his pocket money pot really heavy.

Pretty annoying for the toy shop though.

Coinstar charge 11%

I hate them and they look really dirty. I hate handling them more than I do the silver ones

Coin star charge 11%? Oh wow! It used to be 4% and I thought that was bad enough!
I get rid of coppers and shrapnel by regularly using the self scanner machines at the supermarket and emptying all my change in. If I don't have enough, I then finish on card but at least my purse is emptied.

I always throw them in when using the self service checkout, even if I put the rest on card. It's an easy way to get rid of them. I always do it so it's never loads.

I'm in NI and we went South on holiday last year and was delighted to discover they had done away with them (where we were anyway) just rounded up or down

Does anyone actually pay for things with them?

Yes! I never get why people use Coinstar - you lose money. Just spend them. It only takes a second to use them in self-service, or count them up and use them when you buy something cheap.

Mission they're no dirtier than the notes and pound coins that have already exchanged several unknown hands a thousand times or more.

Arcades

I save them for children in need day when school collect them and use them to make a coin Pudsey in the playground.

Other than that, no, they are pretty useless.

Booo!! I love the 2p slots!

And look what saving pennies and tuppences turns into?!

I've got about £30 saved up in them this year. Will pay them alongside the rest of the change into my bank. I always pick them up too but drop those ones in charity collections.

Empty them into charity collections if they bother you that much.

I use them on the self service tills...
We save some and then deposit in the bank for holiday spending money...

Had over £70 last time I emptied mine. Brilliant!

Items that are £1.99 for a reason

What's the reason they couldn't be £2?

We got rid of ours in australia, lowest coin is 5 cents. We round up to 5 cents if nythimg ends in a 3 or 5 cent value, and round down for 2 or 1 cents.

Definitely need them for the 2p machines on holiday. They last much longer than the 5/10/20p machines!

It's never a problem for me. I keep them in my wallet and use them when I can when paying for things like coffee.
The cashier usually appreciates it.

In Ireland we're phasing out 1 and 2 cents. The shops are rounding up or down, it's so much handier.

Canada has got rid of them too - same as above. Rounded up or down! A bit strange but people have adapted.

We take our penny jar to our local Post Office. They are glad of the change and the kids get nice crisp notes. They have a machine to count the pennies, so it's not like we are making anyone count out endless amounts of them or anything.