In the big city, it's always nice to find the set of local vendors who know you. Like the fruit stand guy on the corner of 72nd and Columbus.

En route to the gym, before lifting, I always pick up a banana. My loyalty has won me some good deals. One time I didn't have a quarter, only a $20 bill. The guy told me not to worry about it and just gave me the banana, free.

Yesterday, I thought I would get rid of some loose change, and gave the guy a dime, two nickels and five pennies. He gave me back the pennies and said forget it, just take the banana. 20% off, just like that, even though pennies are perfectly liquid.

The corner fruit stand is a great place to get rid of change. I used to rely on Commerce Bank's Penny Arcade to process extra coins, but have since trained myself always to bring some change whenever I go out. Now I rarely have more than $1.50 in change outstanding--in part, thanks to the flexible and familiar fruit stand guy on 72nd and Columbus.