Let's talk money and travel. How do you use up the local currency before coming home? 

Here’s how my husband and I differ regarding the currency part of our travels: he always wants to use up the local money we have before we leave the country. This often means every last penny! Me? Well, I don’t mind spending money, of course, especially on souvenirs (and tips) at the airport. But I always seem to come home with more international currency than I remembered having leftover. Our passport drawer has currency from a variety of countries. I like to think that it’s a guarantee I’ll go back, but Ed grumbles about losing money…because it's useless to him. 

Do you, too, have a jar full of foreign coins on your dresser, or tucked in a tin somewhere? Or perhaps your travel wallet is full of a variety of global bills? Do you find coins in the cracks of your suitcases or in the bottom of your makeup/medicine bag? Nice!

I found a reliable, trustworthy source to exchange our old currency, called Leftover Currency. 

Based in the UK, this team has years of experience trading international currencies – to our benefit.

If you’re looking to earn some cash from your cash, here’s how:

* Head to the site and discover which currencies you can exchange, and what the rates are. 
* Sort your currency (or not – they take it unsorted).
* Fill out the form in the online wallet on the site (or print the form). 
* Mail in your money. Be sure to get tracking!
* Get paid within 5 working days (or donate the revenue to charity).

I looked around in a few drawers and old purses and came up with more global money than I expected to find. But for research purposes, I went old school…and looked to exchange Japanese Yen. I lived in Japan in 1989, working for an international student exchange company and doing an independent study abroad program. So when I found some Japanese Yen (both coins and paper bills), I wondered how much I could make. All of the paper money I had was withdrawn in 2004 and is now unusable, but Leftover Currency takes those! So YES, I have obsolete Japanese yen, and yes, I can earn usable cash for them. Excellent news. It is a lovely souvenir, but... photos will also do, if I can have more cash in hand.

Guess what? I’m a millionaire in old Turkish lira… 

What kind of international currency is in your suitcases, junk drawers, and old purses? Maybe enough to travel more? I’m in!