{"id":568192,"date":"2026-03-27T17:07:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/568192\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T17:07:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:07:10","slug":"what-to-do-with-pennies-7-ways-to-use-save-and-spend-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/568192\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do With Pennies: 7 Ways to Use, Save and Spend Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The penny is officially on its way out. The U.S. Mint stopped producing<\/a> new 1-cent coins in November 2025, ending a long-running debate driven largely by negative seigniorage (a fancy phrase for the fact that it cost more<\/a> to make a penny than the 1 cent that the coin is worth).<\/p>\n

While existing pennies remain legal tender, millions are sitting unused in jars, drawers and cup holders across the country. If you\u2019ve got a stash, now is a good time to decide what to do with it.<\/p>\n

Cash in your pennies<\/p>\n

If counting and rolling pennies feels like more trouble than it\u2019s worth, you\u2019re not alone. Many people avoid using them for that exact reason.<\/p>\n

But those coins still add up. Taking your pennies to a bank or a coin-counting machine is one of the fastest ways to convert spare change into usable cash. Even a small jar can total more than you expect, making this a simple way to reclaim money that would otherwise go unused.<\/p>\n

Spend them while they\u2019re still accepted<\/p>\n

Even though production has stopped, pennies are still legal tender and can be used in everyday transactions. If you want to get rid of them without extra effort, start spending them gradually.<\/p>\n

Because many consumers and businesses already avoid pennies<\/a>, you may find fewer opportunities to use them, but it\u2019s still a practical way to reduce your stash over time.<\/p>\n

Save your pennies for the future<\/p>\n

With no new pennies being minted, some people are choosing to hold onto their coins in case they become more collectible over time. While most pennies won\u2019t dramatically increase in value, certain coins \u2014 such as those with errors or unique mint marks \u2014 may appeal to collectors.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested, exploring coin collecting can turn a pile of spare change into a fun and potentially rewarding hobby.<\/p>\n

Put them toward savings or investing<\/p>\n

Pennies can also help you build better financial habits. Saving loose change in a jar may seem old-fashioned, but it\u2019s an easy, low-effort way to grow your savings<\/a> over time.<\/p>\n

You can also take a modern approach by using apps that round up purchases and invest the spare change automatically, turning even the smallest amounts into long-term growth.<\/p>\n

Donate your pennies<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d rather not deal with pennies at all, donating them is a great alternative. Many charities accept spare change, and even modest contributions can make a difference when combined with others.<\/p>\n

A single jar of pennies might not seem like much, but it can still support meaningful causes.<\/p>\n

Get creative with practical uses<\/p>\n

Pennies can be surprisingly useful beyond spending. Around the house, they can stabilize a wobbly table, act as a makeshift screwdriver or help you check your tire tread. They\u2019re also popular in DIY projects, from coasters and countertops to wall art and home d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n

You can even use pennies in small home improvement tasks, like tile spacing or adding weight to curtains. These creative uses won\u2019t replace the coin\u2019s monetary value, but they can save money and reduce waste.<\/p>\n

Hold onto your pennies for nostalgia<\/p>\n

For many people, pennies are more than just currency; they\u2019re part of American history. With production now halted, they may become less common in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Keeping a small collection as a keepsake can preserve that history and offer a tangible reminder of a coin that\u2019s been in circulation for generations.<\/p>\n

Pennies may no longer be produced, but they\u2019re far from useless. Whether you cash them in, spend them, save them or repurpose them, the key is to make a conscious decision instead of letting them pile up.<\/p>\n

With billions of dollars in loose change sitting idle, taking action with your pennies is a small move that can still pay off.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":568193,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[64,63,99,186,44,184,185],"class_list":{"0":"post-568192","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-business","11":"tag-finance","12":"tag-news","13":"tag-personal-finance","14":"tag-personalfinance"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=568192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568192\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/568193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=568192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=568192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=568192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}