Caxton FX report on £100 million wasted by Brits in unused holiday change - Global Banking & Finance Review
An infographic illustrating Caxton FX's findings about British holidaymakers wasting over £100 million in unused loose change. This image highlights the importance of reusing currency and budgeting for future travel, emphasizing the financial impact of unused currency.
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CAXTON FX FINDS BRITS WASTE OVER £100MILLION IN UNUSED LOOSE CHANGE AFTER A HOLIDAY

Published by Gbaf News

Posted on June 6, 2014

3 min read

· Last updated: March 11, 2019

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Brits Return From Holidays With Unused Cash

Caxton FX has found that British holiday makers waste over £100million by not reusing their loose change once they return from an international trip.

In a survey commissioned by the currency card provider, Caxton FX found that 71.9% of people bring back loose change after their holiday; with nearly 25% of all respondents bringing back between £11 and £20.

Many Holidaymakers Unaware Of Returned Cash Amounts

Shockingly, 21.1% of respondents were clueless as to how much cash they would bring back after a trip, and women in particular are more likely to be unsure of how much they spent.

The data highlights the amount of wasted currency that is sitting dormant in British homes around the country.

Wasted Foreign Currency: Real-World Comparisons

To put that into perspective, over £100million is wasted, that is enough to buy over 87,000 Rolex watches or nearly 250,000 pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes. For the amount wasted on unused currency you could purchase the largest yacht built in the UK and still have over £8million left over or even stay in the Royal Suite within The Ritz for 82 years.*

CAXTON FX Finds Brits Waste Over £100million In Unused Loose Change After A Holiday

CAXTON FX Finds Brits Waste Over £100million In Unused Loose Change After A Holiday

Survey Reveals Habits and Potential Solutions

James Hickman, managing director of Caxton FX said “Our survey showed that 52.4% of the British public take an international holiday each year. Of this population, 15.7% do not reuse their loose change, if people knew how much unused currency they have sitting in their homes which could be spent in future trips they would realise they could get a lot more for their money.

Using a currency card, such as Caxton FX, allows travellers to budget accordingly and reuse and spare change on their next trip. “Currency cards differ from debit or credit cards, as there are no fees for making international transactions. Travellers can load their holiday funds onto their card enabling to them to budget accordingly and travel with large amounts safely and securely.”

Generational Differences In Currency Reuse

The survey also found a generational gap in the approach to reusing currency. It seems that youth travellers (aged between 16 and 24) are the least likely to reuse their loose change on their next holiday compared to the significantly more frugal 55+ group which saw 87.8% claim they save their cash for their next trip.

Key Takeaways

  • British holidaymakers return home with significant unused foreign coins, resulting in over £100 million wasted.
  • 71.9% bring back loose change, and around 25% return with £11–£20 in coins, while 21.1% are unaware of the amount they hold.
  • Younger travellers (16–24) are least likely to reuse leftover cash compared to 55+ who largely save for future trips.
  • Using a currency card helps budget, reuse spare change on subsequent trips, and avoid fees linked to traditional debit/credit cards.
  • Projected purchases with the wasted amount include 87,000 Rolexes, 250,000 pairs of Louboutin shoes, a UK‐built mega‐yacht plus £8 million, or 82 years in the Ritz Royal Suite.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

How much loose change do British travellers waste annually?
Caxton FX estimates over £100 million is wasted in unused foreign loose change returned from holidays.
What proportion of travellers bring back coins and how much?
71.9% bring back loose change; nearly 25% return with £11–£20.
Who is less likely to reuse leftover change?
Youth travellers aged 16–24 are least likely to reuse loose change compared to those aged 55+, of whom 87.8% save it for future trips.
How can travellers avoid wasting loose change?
By using a currency card to budget, preload funds, and reuse leftover foreign currency without fees that come with debit or credit cards.
What illustrative purchases could £100 million cover?
It could buy over 87,000 Rolex watches, nearly 250,000 pairs of Louboutin shoes, a UK‑built mega yacht with £8 million left, or fund 82 years in the Ritz Royal Suite.

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