Here's How to Salvage & Save Your Damaged Money for Free in Boise

Mo Money Mo Problems

Sure, it's cool if you're a Cristal Champagne-poppin' rapper, but money problems for us normal folks aren't quite as glamorous. Here in the real world of bills, mortgages, and debt, some of us have made an art of living paycheck-to-paycheck. When every dollar counts, you literally can't afford to throw money away.

Toddlers Are Criminals

So what do you do when your toddler shreds a Benjamin? Have you ever torn a $20 while pulling it out of your wallet? "Yes" and "yes," if you ask me.

The first time my two-year-old went rogue and hijacked my wallet, I figured the hundo she shredded was rendered valueless. But since I'm not at the level where losing a $100 is a casual thing, I called Idaho Central Credit Union and asked them what I should do.

After she told me about her nine beautiful grandchildren, a teller named Margie directed me to the Federal Reserve Bank. As misfortune would have it, the struggle was real for Margie a time or two courtesy of one of those nine beautiful, but rambunctious grandkids. Solidarity, Margie.

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Damaged Bills

If you find yourself in a situation like mine or Margie's, you can exchange your damaged, defaced, weathered, and torn bills at a Federal Reserve Bank and most other banks.

Banks and Federal Reserve Banks will generally exchange mutilated or damaged currency for a full replacement if they are able to determine the value of the bill and verify that it is genuine. -Banks.org

Banks.org recommends handling mutilated and delicate bills with care to avoid further damage. If you're left with less than one-half of a bill, Federal Reserve Banks have a pretty generous exchange policy. Simply bring the bill into the bank and complete a form that declares the bill's value and a brief summary of how it was damaged. As long as the bill is clearly recognizable, the process should breeze on by!

For a list of Federal Reserve Banks in the Boise-area and greater Treasure Valley, click here!

How Much Money Do You Need to Make to Be Happy in the Pacific Northwest?

These numbers crunched by Go Banking Rates were inspired by a 2018 study performed by Purdue University. Purdue looked to find the number that would make people feel like they reached a level of life evaluation and emotional-well being where they were truly happy.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

How to Recognize Fake Money

If your money says "For Motion Picture Purposes Only", it's obviously fake. But what about when it might not be so obvious? The Secret Service offers these tips for analyzing your $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills to ensure it's real, legal tender.

Gallery Credit: Maria Danise