Streets Are Paved With £186 Million

It seems that Britain's streets really are paved with gold...

Most Britons really do think that every penny counts, according to research here at The Fool. TMF's latest survey has revealed that the average person pockets just under £4 (£3.80) a year by picking up loose change in the street. This adds up to a whopping £186 million every year. And it makes you wonder just how much cash is hiding in corners and crevices, still waiting to be found. Over half of Fools (60%) quizzed said it was worth stooping to grab a lone penny. However, 7% had a much more casual attitude to small change - saying they wouldn't bother to stop for anything less than a pound. And when it comes to paper money, most of us want to keep our mitts on the cash. Overall, 69% of respondents said they'd keep any notes they found in the street, rather than giving them to charity or handing them in to the police. Men generally pick up more coppers than women, scooping up £3.88 a year compared to £3.35 for the ladies. Perhaps this is because girls are more reluctant to stoop and scrape the pavements while wearing high heels, short skirts and the like... David Kuo, head of personal finance here at The Fool, says: "It's quite extraordinary that people chuck away £186 million a year through carelessness. It seems that one man's loss can be another man's gain." However, he also points out that there are better ways of making £3.80 than combing the streets for a year. By swopping your usual store-bought lunch for a home-made alternative, you could save an extra £3.80 a day. And the money would grow to £1,429 in a single year if deposited in a high-interest savings account paying 6%. More:How To Find £100 A Month|Six Ways To Spend Less Cash. If you're watching the pennies, try visiting TMF's Living Below Your Means discussion board for some excellent money saving tips.