Coins - where to get them?

[Hottoffeesauce]

Whereabouts can I get coins now? I used to go to my bank and get £100 of £1 coins and 50p pieces for my children (I like them to actually 'use' money as they are young). All our bank branches have now closed down and I have quite a trip to the next branch. Is there any other way I can get bags of coins nowadays without having to have a day trip to the nearest (not very near to me!) branch?

You can get cash back at a post office and ask for coins instead. We do this when doing a car boot sale.

You can try the post office but they are being strict about how much you can take out. I used to take out £50 in 20p (school bus fares) now they only allow £10-20 (depending on staff member) which is a pain as it's £16 a week I need.

Post office is your best bet. Depending on who you bank with, you can use your debit card at a Post Office counter to draw out cash and then just ask for it in 50ps or whatever.
Or ask a small shop near you if they can change a fiver for 50ps / £1 coins. Some will snap your hand off, others need the small change themselves; it just depends on the type of transactions they do themselves.

If I need change I buy milk with £10 at the self serve machine in a supermarket (so you don't feel embarrassed handing it over). I know it's not the same but easy to do regularly rather than having £100 in coins sat around.

This is also a good way to get rid of change. Just pour your bag of coins into the machine and it'll count it and often give you any change in larger coins.

Amusement arcade

When we run out of change after bank closing which is 2pm I nip into the bookies, they are always happy to exchange some for me.

Thanks everyone for some really useful and helpful replies. I'm going to try my local post office first of all but lots of other great ideas too!

Thanks everyone. I went into the Post Office and used my bank debit card to withdraw money in coins.

Or ask a small shop near you if they can change a fiver for 50ps / £1 coins. Some will snap your hand off, others need the small change themselves; it just depends on the type of transactions they do themselves.

If you do this, go in shortly before closing. Then they won't be risking leaving themselves short of change for the rest of the day.