Going abroad means buying currency, but if you return home with some leftover change it can be difficult to get rid of it.
If you've returned home with any foreign banknotes, the good news is you can exchange them back into pounds with ease. Use our currency buyback comparisons to find the best buyback exchange rates in the UK and simply post your currency or exchange it over the counter at your nearest store. However, currency suppliers will usually only buy banknotes, so if you've got coins you won't be able to exchange them in the same way.
Spend your loose change abroad if you can
It sounds obvious, but the best way to get rid of any foreign coins is to spend them before you return home. Familiarise yourself with the local currency beforehand so you don't panic-buy with a large denomination note when you get to the checkout. Most shops are glad of small change and many will even swap some of your change for a banknote if you ask them.
If you've still got loose change kicking around by the time you get to the airport, buy some food and drink with it or spend it at one of the duty free shops. Airports are great places for getting rid of low value coins before you fly home.
Donate leftover coins to charity
If you do bring home some leftover coins, one way to dispose of them is to donate your currency to charity. Some airlines will take them in a collection and many supermarkets will have collection points in their bureaux. You can even donate them in a lot of charity shops if you want to be specific about the charity you choose to donate them to.
Keep your coins for later
If yo're planning to go back to the same country in the near future, you might choose to simply keep your leftover foreign coins for later. Many people keep their spare foreign coins somewhere in a drawer or jar. Just make sure you don’t forget where you put them, so you’ll find them easy next time when you need them!