I would argue that the majority of people will not even stop to pick a penny up off the ground. It’s not worth the effort or time.
Funny you should say that - I pick them up, lots of them, at the market - along with dimes and nickles that people literally toss on the floor after taking them out of the change hopper.
In a typical week I pocket a several dollars that I only have to pick up off the floor, the sidewalk and the parking lots.
I always pick up pennys.
Last week I picked up a dollar
The fallacy is that money is now electronic zaps. Everyone should be have a card. A debit card from bank or a credit card or a Walmart card or one of those welfare cards.
Deposits are made to the card. Then there is very little need for money
I rely on cards entirely and about the only money I spend is paying for my haircut.
Well, you've just guilted me into picking up a penny that has been sitting between a couple pieces of equipment in my office for the past week.
At four seconds of my time to bend over, pick it up and pocket it, picking up pennies equates to $9/hr in untraceable/untaxed income.
Keep encouraging others not to pick them up. I use them for the self-checkout register.