Something Stupid From The Past

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@LadyDuck (482410)

Italy

August 24, 2016 11:47am CST

While I was sorting my shoes, it came to my mind something that happened some years ago. I had the habit to hide cash inside my boots, to avoid to be robbed, when we were traveling. When we moved from France to Switzerland, I have put away the shoes and boots that I used less, in big boxes that I in the basement here in Switzerland. Two years ago, I decided to get out my old boots because I had to go outside to shovel the snow. When I wore the boots I felt they were not comfortable, something was inside. I checked, there were the equivalent of about $75.00, but in "Italian Lira" and now this currency does not exist anymore, it has been replaced by Euro. I felt so silly, I had completely forgot that I have put money there. Have you ever forget money inside jars, drawers, sockets or shoes?

87 people like this

102 responses

@much2say (57790)

• Los Angeles, California

24 Aug 16

This reminds me of the time when my sister and I were kids. She found one of my old pencil cases - shaped like a big pencil . . . I didn't want it and told her she could have it. She opened it up and found some dollar bills rolled up inside - obvious it was mine!! Well, we argued over it and my mom decided we should split it in half

. I can't remember exactly how much it was - but you know to a kid any amount is big!!

6 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

Well, the money was yours and I think you had nothing to split with your sister. Moms sometimes are partial.

3 people like this

@much2say (57790)

• Los Angeles, California

24 Aug 16

@LadyDuck I think so too

.

3 people like this

sowmya nagaraja

@sosapanla (55)

• Bangalore, India

25 Aug 16

@LadyDuck haha, moms are not partial, but that was the safest way to resolve the problem!

4 people like this

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@jaboUK (64350)

• United Kingdom

25 Aug 16

Oh yes, I put money in all sorts of odd places and often forget where I've put it. I found quite a bit one day, and the currency was all out of date, but the bank paid me the face value.

6 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

I found the Italian Lira two months after the date to exchange them at the Bank had expired. Yesterday I checked online and it seems that the collectors pay more than their face value. I am going to sell them.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

@vickyrose It was a shame to throw the money. Now I check if I can sell also all the leftover currencies from our travels around Europe before the Euro.

2 people like this

@vickyrose (2236)

• Cooma, Australia

25 Aug 16

@LadyDuck I'm glad you found somewhere to sell them.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39504)

• United States

24 Aug 16

i used to be really bad 'bout stickin' money 'nside 'f books. there's jars all o'er the place with coins. don't reckon i've e'er put some'n my shoes?? oh, yep i did! used to carry an emergency quarter 'n my boot :)

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

I also had two emergency quarters hidden inside my handbag. When we traveled in the United States I needed the quarter for the cart in the airport.

1 person likes this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39504)

• United States

25 Aug 16

@LadyDuck when i cleared out lots 'f my books, i went through e'ery single one. came out with a tidy sum 'fore takin' 'em to the library to be donated, lol. 'tis a shame that those quarters'll not e'en fetch ya a piece 'f bubble gum these days, eh?

1 person likes this

@vickyrose (2236)

• Cooma, Australia

25 Aug 16

I do stick some bills in books or diaries too and forget all about them..Ahh ageing is such a challenging process.

3 people like this

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@pgntwo (22408)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

24 Aug 16

I had an aunt who used to do that - you'd sit on her sofa, and hear a rustle as you moved a pillow or cushion out of the way to get comfortable... and inside would be a banknote or two... "in case someone broke into the apartment" she would say.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

At least I am not the only one. My husband said that he is going through all my shoes. Good luck to him.

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

@pgntwo I wonder if someone would be interested in old Italian lira banknotes. I am going to ask to some local antique dealers.

2 people like this

@pgntwo (22408)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

24 Aug 16

@LadyDuck The eBay idea is not a bad one - I have sold a good quality note and received more than half again its original worth, many years ago now though.

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@TheHorse (229914)

• Walnut Creek, California

24 Aug 16

Is one less likely to be robbed in Switzerland than in France? I have some useless Italian Lira and French Francs here. I keep them as souvenirs.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

I still have some French Francs and now those Italian Lira. Switzerland is surely safer than France. We were robbed many years ago in a hotel in the French Riviera.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

29 Aug 16

@TheHorse The entered inside our room while we were sleeping, they sprayed an anesthetic gas or something similar. Remember I saw the curtains move, a shadow coming toward me and then I remember nothing. In the morning we had a bad headache and our money had disappeared. I do not believe they ever catch the bad guys, but also the Miami police did never catch the three who attacked me and stole my purse.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (229914)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Aug 16

@LadyDuck Did they ever catch the bad guys? Did they burglarize your room? Or did they rob you in person?

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@JudyEv (361838)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Aug 16

I'm not sure if you read my post where I hid money in the freezer when we were in Vienna then accidentally threw it out. That was pretty stupid. Luckily we found it in the rubbish bin later. What a shame the currency no longer existed.

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

@JudyEv The first place where burglars search is inside the safe and if they want to open it, they will succeed. It's much better to be creative than to have a big safe.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

I remember your post Judy. I have never thought to hide the money in the freezer, my boots were my favorite place. I think I can sell the bills to coin collectors.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (361838)

• Rockingham, Australia

26 Aug 16

@LadyDuck That would be a good idea when we're away too - to hide it in our shoes.

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@Hatley (163772)

• Garden Grove, California

24 Aug 16

I found twenty dollars in the pocket of an old jacket and guess I had planned to go shopping and never did. I seldom do that, keeping my money in m y billfold.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

It's great to find money if it still has value and we can use it.

2 people like this

@suziecat7 (3349)

• Asheville, North Carolina

24 Aug 16

I once bought a book at the thrift shop and months later when I finally got around to reading it, I found a $50 bill in its pages. You should be able to sell that lira, I would think.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

Yes, you are right. I checked online and the Lira have some value for the collectors.

1 person likes this

@rebelann (114488)

• El Paso, Texas

25 Aug 16

I have pennies in different containers around the house which I think I probably should try to spend. I don't know exactly where all the containers are but I will eventually find them.

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@rebelann (114488)

• El Paso, Texas

25 Aug 16

That's a shame @LadyDuck but I suppose your mom meant well

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@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

@rebelann Yes, she thought it was better to get rid of all the lira until it was possible to convert them. She forgot that the coins I had in my jar were silver coins.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

I had Italian coins in a jar. I had kept them because I knew they had collector value. When Italy switched from Lira to Euro my Mom got my coins and she changed them at the bank

What a bummer! They had much more value than the face value.

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@Hate2Iron (15726)

• Canada

24 Aug 16

I do have a jar full of coins that are here somewhere. I really should look lol!

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

I had a jar full of coins, my niece asked to have them. What to do? I gave her.

@marlina (154117)

• Canada

24 Aug 16

Cute story. Yes, I found 2 bills of $50.00 Canadian money that I had hidden in a tiny box in one of my drawers.

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@marlina (154117)

• Canada

26 Aug 16

@LadyDuck Pity that the currency was changed.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

27 Aug 16

@marlina It surely is a pity because the Euro brought only problems and high inflation to Italy, people were surely more happy and rich with the ancient Lira.

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@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

At least you did not change the currency. If I had found the money only two months before I was still in time to exchange them.

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@amadeo (111938)

• United States

24 Aug 16

I sure did.In my inside suit jacket.I put an 100 dollar bill.Never missed it.Not sure how long it was there. But a very nice surprise

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

At least the dollar bills were still good to be used. I have my Lira as a memory of a stupid thing I did.

1 person likes this

@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

25 Aug 16

Interesting Anna. I have old coins for hobby. But never keep money in that way. Bank or shelf.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

I keep some bills in the house, just in case I need cash when the Bank is closed. I was robbed in the past and I do not want to keep the money in places where burglars can find the bills easily.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

@shshiju There are burglars in every country of the world. The past few months, many illegal immigrants entered in Switzerland, we must be vigilant.

1 person likes this

@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

26 Aug 16

@LadyDuck Did you have burglars there?

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• Richland, Washington

24 Aug 16

I've forgotten money in old cases or purses. I go to give them away, and discover I left some in there!

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

You are lucky that you checked before giving away. Now I check every pockets and the shoes before I put them in their boxes.

@infatuatedbby (94910)

• United States

24 Aug 16

Can you redeem the money though? I sometimes forget my money is in the zipper of my purse or like in the car or something but usually just spare bills.

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@infatuatedbby (94910)

• United States

25 Aug 16

Aw shucks! Hope it's worth more now that it's vintage and a collectors item right? :)@LadyDuck

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

@infatuatedbby It seems that it's worth more than the face value. In this case I have been lucky to forget the money.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

No, I can no more redeem the money, it's too late. I am going to sell them to a collector.

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@cherriefic (10399)

• Philippines

25 Aug 16

Oh my...You might be able to sell it online though.

2 people like this

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@cherriefic (10399)

• Philippines

26 Aug 16

@LadyDuck See. It's still cool you have them stashed!

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

You are right, I have checked and there are collectors ready to pay for the bills.

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

@cherriefic I say everyday that this site is wonderful and useful.

@Juliaacv (54577)

• Canada

25 Aug 16

We stuffed a bag with hundreds and placed it between the mattress and box spring in preparation for the Y2K, remember that? I was so afraid of losing the money that we had in the bank. The larger sums I obviously couldn't stuff there, but enough to last a week or so I did stuff. I only kept it there for a short time. But we've always kept money in the house in one spot or another.

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@Juliaacv (54577)

• Canada

25 Aug 16

@LadyDuck We are very creative in the spots that we stash ours. So creative that we forget about it until we go to renovate (hidden above ceiling tiles) or in boots like you have or a thousand other spots.

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@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

@Juliaacv I am also very creative, but aging my memory is not always so good and sometimes I forget where I have put the bills.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

This is the same reason why I kept some money in the house. You can never know what happens, but I do not want to leave the money in a place where anybody can find it.

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@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

24 Aug 16

so can you turn it in to the bank, or is it now a memento only? I love finding a twenty in a pocket of a coat first wear of the year and stuff.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

24 Aug 16

The Italian Lira has no more face value and it's too late to exchange against the Euro.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

@Jessicalynnt I was checking the coin collecting sites and I have found several shops in Milan (Italy) that buy the old Lira. It seems that my banknotes have more value than the face value. I am going to ask in person when I go to visit my Mom.

1 person likes this

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

25 Aug 16

@LadyDuck ah well can always save it for the fact it's neat looking, frame it, turn it into a ornament for the christmas tree, something

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@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

25 Aug 16

there are places you can exchange those Lira - my dad used to hide cash all over the house. I just have a beautiful old Tin I use to store a few rands cash for the rainy days. otherwise all is in the bank

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@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

I cannot exchange the Lira, but I can sell the bills to a collector or to a coin shop, I think I will even get more than the face value.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

26 Aug 16

@Inlemay It is incredible, I never thought to check if they had some value for the collectors until I wrote this discussion.

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@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

26 Aug 16

@LadyDuck well there you have it - you can make some other money from the money

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@miniam (9151)

• Bern, Switzerland

24 Aug 16

Maybe next time you go to Italy,you can takr the Lira to the bank, not sure if they will take it but they might take it.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

No, not even the Bank of Italy takes them back now, the expiry date was 28th February 2012. Anyway I made a search yesterday and now the collectors are interested to buy them. I can get even more than their real value.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (482410)

• Italy

25 Aug 16

@miniam There are several coin shops not far from the house of my mother, I am going to ask if they are interested to buy my banknotes.

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@miniam (9151)

• Bern, Switzerland

25 Aug 16

@LadyDuck Then you should find a collector and sell them

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