the sara ochs blog

Yesterday I was out with my moms for some girl time. After pedicures and lunch and some shopping we were in need of some caffeinated refreshment. Because we were already at the Target, Starbucks coffee was the obvious choice. Obviously. I think I have expressed my general dislike of Starbucks (overpriced and usually gross) already, but our choices were limited and my moms is a fan of the cinnamon dolce latte and what mama wants mama gets. So I ordered our drinks and paid with cash. I was owed $3.01 in change but was only given the three dollars. I kinda dismissed it at the time, but can I tell you that it has bothered me since? I mean I know that it was JUST a penny, but it was my penny and the cashier should have given it to me. I SHOULD have said something then but I did not.

I think what upsets me about the situation is that if I had OWED a penny that same cashier would have stood there with an outstretched hand for as long as it took for me to find a penny from the bowels of my purse. I KNOW this is true because just before I ordered our drinks from Starbucks I bought something from the actual Target. The woman in front of me in line paid with cash and misunderstood the coinage she owed. She was counting out coins and gave the cashier what she thought was the exact change. The Target cashier rudely and impatiently told her she owed three more cents. The woman started to riffle through her purse for more change but I offered her a nickel. I know, I am awesome. But really I was kind of in a hurry and I hate nickels so it was a win win situation.

All of that attitude was for three cents that was owed and just a Georgia minute later I was cheated out of a single penny. I think it was the assumption that I would not care about a lonesome penny that got me riled up. I do care. We budget every single dollar we spend. We plan and save and spend so carefully. Anyway. It was just a penny, but it only takes a hundred pennies to make a dollar (Anderson just now reminded me of that) and I can do a lot with a dollar.

So I lost a penny yesterday but gained an attitude. That is all I have to say about that.