Maybe poor choosing of words... I don't dislike it per say, its just that it gets out of control over time and I thought its just a matter to find the right and efficient combination and when it comes the time for something then you can be 100% confident you will have the exact amount every time ( If you keep the magic amount of coins replenish at all times)

@IamNobody coin jars do seem to grow exponentially sometimes! ? i have no problem with keeping 50 cent pieces around. The magic bit of always having exactly $1 in change is where I run into problems. ?

That's my thought process, when you say "it didn't always work exactly"... There is a minimun set that always work exactly.

I pay cash at the cafeteria at work for lunch everyday. I don't like to use plastic for small things too often. Stolen identity probability is higher than ever.... Besides, it is an interesting problem to solve and I suspect there may be few clover ways to handle it..... And yes, its American currency

Ha ha ha.. no worries

@IamNobody
Is there a correct answer to the question ?

@VAL3941 not sure, that's what I am trying to find out. I did a little bit of combinations analysis using Excel and my answer is one nickle, two dimes, three quarters and four pennies. With this set of 10 coins it's possible to pay any fraction from 1 to 99 cents, however I believe someone may know about other possibility. We'll see, so far it's been fun !!

@IamNobody
The problem with that is once you have paid out for one item, you have to start all over again ? You can't walk around with sacks full of change ?

@VAL3941 you're absolutely correct. I thought about using this approach at work where I have tons of change at my desk and drives me nuts..... The idea is to grab the same set of coins to lunch and always be ready to pay the exact fraction wherever that may be on any given day. If I am consistent with this method then I can keep the amount of change under control and don't need to grab a random pile of coins hoping it will cut it. I know, it does sound like killing a rabbit with a machine gun but on the other hand, it is interesting to analyze, come up with a plan and then execute to verify it works....perhaps I have too much time on my hands and it all boils down towards I need a girlfriend?? Who knows...

@IamNobody
Good Idea ! Get a girlfreind, give her all the small change. She will know what to do with it ? Betcha ??? Lol

@VAL3941 I knew I was going to get good advice some how !!!!

@IamNobody
Thank you, my 74 years of wisdom coming into play ! Lol

@VAL3941 well my friend you give me hope.... I am 54 and lately I have been feeling that I am closer to being done

@IamNobody
Your best years are still ahead of you.Just keep healthy and fit and don't lose your sense of humour ?

@VAL3941 now thats serious good advice !! Thx

@IamNobody
Start off by changing your Profile name. Make it something positive

@VAL3941 aahhhh no can't do... I do like being nobody

@IamNobody
OK! Thats cool,!