Free Change: Always Check the Coin Return

There's one rule that every payphone user knew by heart, a habit that could occasionally net you a surprising bonus: always, always check the coin return! My aunt was a fanatic about this. She wouldn't pass a payphone or phonebooth without checking for change.

It might sound obvious now, in an age where physical change is becoming less common, but there was a time when that little metal slot below the coin entry was a veritable treasure chest. It was the forgotten pocket of the payphone, often holding the discarded remnants of someone else's unfinished call or perhaps a coin that simply didn't register.

Think about it: someone's call got cut short. They fumbled with the receiver, in a hurry, and just walked away, leaving their unused quarter or dime to clink silently back into the return. Or maybe a coin jammed momentarily, only to drop free moments after the previous user had given up in frustration.

Many a childhood ice cream, a last-minute bus fare, or even just the satisfying jingle of unexpected extra change was discovered in that little slot. It was the payphone's way of giving back, a small, often overlooked dividend for those who took the extra second to glance.

So, while payphones may be a rare sight these days let this serve as a nostalgic reminder. It’s a testament to the little quirks of technology past, and a good lesson for life: sometimes, the most overlooked places hold the most unexpected rewards.