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Money Matters
Developing systems for identifying and handling money is critical for maintaining an independent lifestyle. While you may wish to devise your own methods, the following tips have helped many people keep track of their finances.
Paper Money
- Sort bills and place them in different sections of your wallet,
and/or fold them according to different denominations. There are
several folding systems. Experiment to see what works best for you. You
might want to try this method to differentiate four denominations of
paper money:
Keep #1 unfolded in your wallet; fold
#2 in half with short ends together; fold
#3 in half with long sides together; fold
#4 in half, and then in half again.
- When you receive bills, fold or otherwise identify them before placing them in your wallet.
- Create sections in your wallet with flexible plastic, or simply purchase a sectioned wallet.
Coins
- Identify coins by touch. Some coins have smooth edges; others have rough edges. Use your fingernail for easier identification.
- Pay attention to coin size to distinguish between coins with similar edges (i.e., smooth or rough). For example, in the United States, with smooth-edged coins, the nickel is larger than the penny; with rough-edged coins, the quarter is larger than the dime.
Banking
- Contact
your local bank for specialized or accessible service options, such as
banking by phone, online banking, accessible ATMs, specially trained
service representatives and more. If you request them, some banks
provide statements in large print, braille or on cassette.
- Find out if your bank offers large-print checks or check styles with raised lines.
- Use commercial check guides -- opaque templates with openings
to match a standard check, which will show you where you need to fill
in standard information (signature, date, amount, etc.). Some banks
will provide check guides as a bank service. Using check guides as a
model, you can create your own templates for deposit and withdrawal
slips out of plastic or cardboard.
- Create your own accessible check register using a three-ring binder, paper and dark pen -- or on a computer. Large-print check registers are also commercially available.
Money Safety
- When making a purchase, try to use bills closest to the amount of
the sale, minimizing the amount of change you'll need to recognize and
sort.
- Tell the cashier which bill denomination you are using to pay, and ask the cashier to state the bills you're receiving as change.
Take Note
- The design of currency is changing. In the United States, for
example, on the back of each newly designed bill, the denomination is
printed -- in large print on a plain background -- in the lower
right-hand corner. In Europe, each new Euro bill has its own unique
size and color for easier identification. Euro coins each have their
own sizes and edging, too.
- ATMs and other banking services vary from location to location
and bank to bank. Some have accessibility features -- braille, audio
output, "talking" features, large-print touch screens, buttons with
raised indicators and assistance via telephone handset at the machine.
- If you use online banking services, you can access your statement and account information in the format that you prefer through assistive technology.