[jackbl]

Don’t give me candies, give me my change
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In the morning, I ride to buy a Tuoi Tre newspaper sold for VND4500 at a newsstand. When I give VND5000 (US 25 cents), the seller hands me the newspaper and a candy, saying he does not have the change. I go to a café to have some coffee and read morning papers. When it comes time to pay, I receive two candies instead of VND1000 in change. Every morning, I receive three unwanted candies.


You may think it is a trivial thing and unnecessary to receive small change back. But if you insist getting back your VND500 (US 2.5 cents) or VND1000 (US 5 cents), sellers will react with grumpiness. To save face, most people will forget about the change to avoid bad comments or stares.

But have you ever thought that if you insist on receiving VND500 after buying a newspaper, you will have exactly VND4500 to pay the next day? And if you refuse two unwanted candies at a café, you will have VND1000 every day?

Many foreigners in Vietnam ask for change and do not hesitate to wait for VND500 from sellers. You may find this strange, wondering why foreigners are so stingy. However, the more you think about it, the more you will realize that it is an interesting way to save money for one’s self and society, as small change will add up to big surplus.

Just a simple calculation: if 10,000 shoppers do not care about VND500 change for a month, the shop will automatically gain VND5 million (US$250) for doing nothing.

Let’s adopt this saving behavior by saying: “Don’t give me candies, give me my change.”