If you're using a cash register, returning the correct change is pretty straightforward. Just enter the cost of the item, the amount paid and that's it, the machine tells you how much change you have to give to the customer. However, if the recorder is broken, if you entered the wrong amount or if you don't have this device, you need to know how to calculate the rest yourself. The simplest method is to count from the purchase price up to the one paid.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Give the Rest
Step 1. Make sure that the sum of the change and the price of the item equals the amount paid by the customer
The buyer must leave the shop without having lost anything; the value of your money is covered partly by the product and partly by the rest. It's very simple, for example:
If you received € 20 for a € 5 book, the customer must leave with € 5 of the book, plus € 15 change, for a total value of € 20
Step 2. Count the money received by the customer
Before you can calculate the change, you need to know how much money you have been given. As you count it, put it on the cash register or counter, in front of both of you. Once finished, repeat the amount aloud. This way you will avoid confusion or disagreement about the total paid by the customer.
Step 3. Count from the price of the purchased item up to the amount paid
For example, if you received € 20 for a € 7, € 29 sandwich, start with this amount and start giving the change back, up to € 20.
Step 4. Count out loud to avoid confusion
You don't have to count individual coins, but it's important to remember the total every time you hit a coin denomination, such as ten cents, twenty or fifty. With banknotes, mistakes have a major impact, so it's a good idea to count them all.
- For example, if you received € 10 for a € 6 product, you should:
- Counting one euro coins and then remembering the total: "One, two, three and four make ten".
- Alternatively, you can count to 10 with each coin: "Seven, eight, nine and ten".
Step 5. Start with the coins
Start at 1, 2 and 5 cents, then move on to 10, 20 and 50 cents before you get to the banknotes. Returning the change in reverse is more difficult and the customer may drop the coins because he already has the larger denominations in his hand. If you often have customers drop money, this is probably why.
- In our initial example, the price of the sandwich was € 7.29, so you should return:
- 1 cent ("that's € 7.30")
- 1 twenty cent coin ("€ 7.50")
- 1 fifty cent coin ("€ 8")
- 1 two-euro coin ("10 €")
- Even if the one described is the most efficient combination of coins, the composition of the change does not matter, as long as you manage to reach 10 €.
Step 6. Continue with the bills
Once you reach a round figure, start counting the banknotes until you get to the amount paid. Returning to our example:
- You have reached € 10 and must continue up to € 20, so you should return:
- 2 five-euro bills ("15, 20")
- Or one of ten ("and 10 more make 20")
Step 7. Check your work
You gave the customer 0.01 + 0.020 + 0.50 + 2 = 2.71 € change. Then you added € 10 in banknotes, for a total of € 12.71 change. 7, 59 € + 12, 41 € = 20 €, the amount paid by the customer.
Method 2 of 2: Handle the Most Complex Cases
Step 1. Be prepared for the eventuality of customers handing you an unusual amount, so that you will receive less change or a specific bill
For example, if the total is € 6, a customer could give you € 11, so that you have a single € 5 banknote as change. If he had given you € 10, he would have received coins.
Step 2. Count as you did for simpler transactions
Especially for cases where there is no need to use coins, this is the easiest solution.
- For example, if a customer buys a $ 42 hat for $ 47, you would count:
- 1 five-euro banknote ("Costs 42, plus 5 equals 47")
Step 3. Consider starting with subtraction to make the calculations easier
You may not immediately understand how to get from € 12.78 to € 23.03. In this case, a subtraction can help you:
- Start with the amount paid. Subtract to arrive at a round figure. In this case 23.03 - 0.03 = 23 €.
- Now subtract the same amount from the price: 12.78 - 0.03 = 12.75 €.
- Now it is clear that you have to start with a five cent and a twenty.
- With the two coins you get from 12, 78 € to 13, 03 € ("that's 13, 03 €").
- A ten euro banknote ("plus 10 equals 23.03 €").
Step 4. Return corrected change with confidence on all occasions
As another example of a complex situation, imagine that you are a waiter and you receive 6 bills of 20 euros, one for five cents and one for one cent for a 112.31 € lunch.
- Calculate the amount paid by adding up the money you received as you put it on the table: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and six cents. Repeat to the customer the total: "120, 06 €".
- The customer has given you an unusual amount, so start with a subtraction. 120.06 - 0.06 = 120 € and 112, 31 - 0.06 = 112.25 €. Now the math is easier and you need a fifty, a twenty and a five.
- Start counting from € 112.31 to € 120.06.
- A fifty, a twenty and a five ("we get to 113.06 €"); we calculated this step with our previous subtraction.
- 2 one-euro coins ("114, 115").
- 1 five dollar bill ("and 5 is 120.06").
- Check the calculations: you have delivered 0, 05 + 0, 20 + 0, 50 + 1 + 1 + 5 = 7, 75 €. 7,75 € + 112,31 € = 120,06 € - the amount paid by the customer.
