Money, along with Public Restrooms, is one of the most feared things in the universe. Follow these rules to avoid contact with the foul objects as frequently as possible.
Use a Card: This is your best bet as you have complete control over a credit card’s sanitation. Try not to hand the card to a clerk, but when it’s unavoidable, it is easily cleaned with a sanitary wipe.
Fresh Bills: Banks often carry freshly minted cash. Obtaining it is usually a matter of asking the teller. ATMs should be avoided for this reason.
Don’t Pick it Up: Few sums of money are worth picking up off of a dirty street. My personal threshold is < 50 cents, and anything slightly above that requires intense debate before going through with it. Pennies? I throw away pennies!
Use Electronic Toll Tags: I can’t count how many times, while at a toll booth, I have been handed limp, crumbled, grimy old bills in return for my freshly-minted $20. Services like Fastrak in California and E-Z Pass on the East Coast [full list] make it easy to cut cash out of the toll crossing process.
Buy Online: This is a great idea because not only do you avoid contact with money, but you will stay away from dirty stores, people with Swine Flu, and a potential trip to a public restroom. There’s nothing like opening up a packaged box of freshly manufactured product, knowing that the contents have not been groped by the general public at the mall.
Use Gloves: Another great way of handling money and remaining incognito is by wearing gloves. Do this the second it becomes slightly cold enough not to be weird. Leather gloves are preferred as these sanitize easily, but anything is better than nothing.
