The Penny Shortages Have Begun

Earlier this year, they went and killed the United States penny--they being the Trump administration via telling the Treasury to quit making pennies. Production has already been winding down, and there is no legislation about how stores should handle things when they lack pennies, so it is a little bit of mayhem. Do we round down to a nickel? Up a dime? There are no guidelines, and it is up to a business to decide what can be done, as they are literally left short-changed. When you suddenly make a proclamation like, "No more pennies!" without a plan in place, this is what happens. 

I'm not surprised a mess is forming because when has a Donald Trump Presidency ever had much of a plan in place as opposed to making decisions in a manner akin to throwing darts at various ideas and seeing what sticks? It isn't like Congress can even do much about this coin-based madness, as there is currently a Government shutdown--again, thanks to Donald Trump (with heavy sarcasm intended). For now, try to pay a business with the proper change, use a credit/debit card, or don't plan on getting the exact coinage you're due back--maybe more (snazzy) or less (meh). Just be patient with businesses as they're trying to figure this lunacy out as well.

They Went and Killed the U.S. Penny

The United States Treasury unveiled its plans today to commit murder. The victim is over two centuries old, made of copper, and known as the penny. Yes, the Treasury confirmed plans to stop making our one-cent coins and effectively kill the penny. It's been talked about for years, even though we lose more money making nickels than pennies, and has been one of those pet obsessions of Donald Trump. 

The penny won't disappear right away, but eventually, any businesses engaging in cash transactions may need to round down or up. We also need to make nickels cheaper to produce--this has to be implemented, or else this cost-saving measure of getting rid of the penny could be messy because of how that will now be the lowest denomination coin and therefore may be the most-produced as the penny currently is/was. Many people don't use cash that much or put a particular, "Value," on the penny, often leaving them in little change trays at locations. I'm not going to argue that pennies are especially important to our economy and have to still exist, but I will miss them when they do mostly disappear from our currency exchanges in due time. At least ol' Abraham Lincoln still will get to enjoy appearing on the five-dollar bill.