Money Organization and Paying the Bill

It's your best friend's birthday and you're going out for dinner, so of course, you're picking up the check. But that may be easier said than done. If paying a restaurant bill has been a challenge for you in the past, you're in luck today. Once we're done here, you'll have some helpful tips to make it a smoother and easier process.

So let's say you're going to pay with cash, organize the paper money in your wallet before heading to the restaurant, this way, it will be easier to locate the bills you need quickly. If you haven't already, create a system of folding your bills before putting them in your wallet. For example, you could keep $1 bills flat, fold $5 bills in half lengthwise, $10 bills in half across the width, and $20 bills into fourths.

There are also wallets you can buy that have separate bill sections. Take a look at the resources section of this workshop to find out where you can find wallets, that separate bills and coin purses that keep coins organized. If you get change back after paying with cash, ask the server, cashier, or a friend to name each bill as they hand it to you.

Man: Here's a five, a one, and another one.

Narrator: This way, you'll be able to get them into your wallet into the proper place as soon as possible. And don't worry about any coins you get back, just toss them in your pocket or purse and sort them out later, since each coin is a different size and the edges are either smooth or ridged, you can easily identify them by touch. Now, if you own a smartphone and identifying bills is difficult for you, consider downloading a money reading app.

Virtual Agent: One, Five.

Narrator: You can find out about some of these apps in the resources section of this workshop. Believe it or not, there are talking money identifiers. One of them called iBill is another way to go if you need help identifying your cash. It's free and a good alternative for someone without an iPhone, or for someone not comfortable using their iPhone yet.

iBill: Five.

Narrator: You can learn where to get one of these devices in the resources section of this workshop. Now, if you do use one of these devices, wearing headphones will keep the denominations of your bills private.

Another useful tip is to pay with a combination of bills, so that you only receive $1 bills in return. For example, if your lunch costs $12, pay with a $10 bill and a $5 bill, you'll get three bills back and you won't have to see them to know they're ones.

Now, if you can't read the bill when it arrives, ask your server or someone at the table for your total on the bill. And of course, you want to be sure to ask them if the tip is included in that amount.

And if you have a portable low vision device, like a handheld lighted magnifier, be sure to bring it with you to the restaurant, it'll help you read the bill on your own. Or you can just use the built-in magnifier on your smartphone. There's also a free app called Seeing AI you can use on your smartphone that will help you read the bill yourself.

Seeing AI: Five US dollars.

Narrator: To learn more about Seeing AI, check out our workshop series in the technology section on the Hadley website. Of course, if you have one, use a signature guide to sign the receipt. And if you're not familiar with these handy tools, signature guides are usually made of plastic and are about the size of a credit card. The cutout space in the middle of the card gives you a confined place to write in.

You can find where to purchase a signature guide that best meets your needs in the resources section of this workshop. And our Staying Connected series of workshops includes information about signing your name if you need to practice that skill.

Now, if you're paying by credit or debit card, you can use the edge of the card to help you sign your name too, just ask the server or someone at your table to position the credit card on the signature line of the receipt so the top edge of the card is even with that line, then you just sign your name above the card. If the restaurant accepts apps like Google Pay or Apple Pay, you can pay your bill on your smartphone.

With these apps, your credit card information is stored in your smartphone, so you can pay with just a few tabs. Keep in mind that using your debit card usually means entering your four-digit pin number. So it may be helpful to know that the card reader key pad is set up just like the numeric key pad on your phone. You'll find a raised marker on the center number five. And the Enter key is usually the button in the bottom right-hand corner of the key pad. The Cancel key is typically found in the bottom left-hand corner.

And just remember, you can always reach out to a Hadley learning expert if you have any questions about money organization and paying your bill when you're dining out, or if you have your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice, and you'll get there.