Dollars and Sense

Tips for Identifying Money

• Coins
  Coins can be distinguished by their size and the texture of their edges. A dime is smaller than a penny and has a rough edge, while a penny's edge is smooth. A nickel is smaller than a quarter and has a smooth edge, while a quarter's edge is rough.
• Paper Money
  Paper money can't be identified by touch, but once you have had someone identify each bill to you, you can keep track of them in your wallet by folding each denomination differently. One option: Keep your $1 bills flat, fold your $5 bills in half, double fold your $10 bills, and fold your $20 bills lengthwise. Another strategy for keeping track of paper money is to put certain bills in certain pockets/slots in your wallet. You be the judge of what system works best for you.

Using Checks

If you prefer to pay your bills or make purchases by check, you can use a check-writing guide to fill out a standard check, or you can have someone fill out the check for you and then you sign using a signature guide. You may also be able to purchase checks with raised lines from your financial institution. Check-writing and signature guides are one example of the helpful tools and devices you can use to make simple adaptations in your daily life.

You can keep track of the checks you write in several ways. Braille is the most efficient. Another alternative is to use a large-print check register available from the Department's Aids and Devices store. Or you can use a cassette recorder to record the responses you get when you call your bank to get your balance or transact other business. Choose the system in which you have the most confidence.