Why UK Households Are Sitting on £2 Billion in Leftover Holiday Currency (and How to Turn It into Cash)

The Post-Holiday Habit That’s Costing Us Billions

Every year, millions of UK travellers come back from holidays abroad with pockets, purses, and bags filled with leftover coins and notes from overseas. These bits of foreign trips often end up hidden in drawers, jars, or piggy banks—forgotten and unused.

But the scale of this forgotten currency is much larger than most people realise. Recent estimates suggest that UK households are collectively sitting on over £2 billion in leftover holiday money.

And most of it remains completely unused.

In this guide, we’ll explore how so much currency goes unused—and more importantly, how you can exchange your leftover coins and notes into real, spendable cash.

Why So Much Currency Goes Unused

The reasons are simple—and familiar to anyone who travels:

• You don’t want to queue at the exchange desk on your last day

• Banks and exchange counters often won’t accept coins

• You forget to exchange your notes before they’re withdrawn

• You tell yourself you’ll use it “next time”—but never do

As a result, that small pile of coins and notes increases year after year. Now, multiply that by over 27 million UK households, and it’s clear how we’ve accumulated £2 billion in dormant currency.

What Types of Currency Are Usually Left Behind?

Leftover holiday money can come in many forms:

• Modern foreign coins and notes (Euros, US Dollars, Yen, Baht, etc.)

• Pre-Euro coins (like German Marks, French Francs, Spanish Pesetas)

• Demonetised banknotes (e.g. old Swiss Francs, Irish Punts)

• Damaged or worn currency

• Old British and Irish coins no longer accepted by banks

High street banks won’t accept coins, and travel money providers only deal in current notes in pristine condition. That means most leftover holiday currency is effectively locked away—unless you know where to go.

How to Turn Leftover Currency into Cash

The easiest and most effective way to cash in your old travel money is to use a specialist currency exchange service like Cash4Coins.

Unlike banks and travel counters, they:

• Accept foreign coins and banknotes

• Process old, demonetised, and pre-Euro currency

• Handle bulk, unsorted coins

• Offer freepost or courier collection

• Pay you direct to your bank account

Whether it’s 500 grams or 500 kilograms of mixed coins, Cash4Coins can process it all—with no need to sort or count anything yourself.

Step-by-Step: How It Works

1. Gather your currency: No need to separate or organise it—just include anything that looks like money.

2. Weigh and package: You can use standard packaging or request a Freepost envelope.

3. Send it in: Post it to Cash4Coins, or arrange a courier if you’ve got more than 5kg.

4. Get paid: Once your currency is processed, you’ll receive a payment direct to your bank.

You can also choose to donate the value to one of their partnered charities if you’d prefer to support a good cause.

Real Examples of What Leftover Foreign Currency Is Worth

People are often surprised by how much their forgotten coins and notes add up to, especially if there are a lot of Euro €1 and €2 coins:

Weight of Currency	Estimated Value	Notes
500g of mixed coins	£5–£7	Common after 1 trip
2kg of coins and notes	£20–£40	Typical for families over a few years
5kg collection	£45–£90	Includes higher-value notes or pre-Euro coins

Even a small bag of change can be worth enough to treat yourself—or go towards your next holiday.

Where You Can’t  Exchange Leftover Foreign Currency

It’s important to note that the following places typically do not accept coins or obsolete currency:

• High street banks

• The Post Office

• Travel money kiosks at airports or supermarkets

• Most currency bureaus

These services only deal in current, circulating notes, and even then, usually in large denominations.

That’s why a specialist service like Cash4Coins is the best option for most people.

How Charities Are Cashing In Too

It’s not just households who are sitting on a goldmine. Many charities have started running foreign coin donation campaigns, often raising hundreds or thousands of pounds from unwanted holiday currency.

If you’d prefer to donate your leftover coins rather than cash them in, you can:

• Drop them at a collection tube in a local shop or pub

• Post them directly to a charity

• Use the Cash4Coins service to donate your exchange value to a partnered cause

This is a powerful way to turn clutter into real-world impact.

Final Thoughts: Time to Empty the Drawer

We all have that drawer. The one with old holiday coins, faded notes, and good intentions.

But now you know: there’s real value in that pile. Whether it’s a few Euros, a stack of old French Francs, or mixed coins from your last five trips, you can turn it into cash, a donation, or a gift.

And with a service like Cash4Coins, the process couldn’t be easier.

Don’t let your leftover holiday money go to waste—exchange it, donate it, or spend it.

Ready to Turn Your Currency into Cash?

Click below to get started with the UK’s trusted exchange service: