I grocery shop at Aldi. It has a good produce selection and most of the food I typically eat. If you have shopped at Aldi’s before, you know you need a quarter to get a cart. Shoppers then get their quarter back when they return their cart. This way, Aldi doesn’t have to hire workers to retrieve the carts from the parking lot.
I keep a quarter in my wallet to quickly get a cart. When I have a surplus of quarters, I will return my cart but leave my quarter. This will be a pleasant surprise for the next person who can use a cart without needing their own quarter.
I initiated this habit for two reasons. First, my grandparents shopped at Aldi. My grandpa would give his cart to others who needed it and not take their quarter. It’s common for a shopper coming in from the parking lot to exchange their quarter for the cart of a shopper loading their groceries into their car. The cart gets returned, and no one has to fumble with the cart locking mechanism. My grandpa’s habit of giving away his cart and quarter drove my grandma nuts. She didn’t like losing the quarter.
I don’t know precisely why he did this, but I have a hypothesis. I think it’s because he was at a point in his life where he didn’t need the quarter returned, so he paid it forward to someone else who maybe really needed it. There was a time in his life when a quarter would have been a gift. He was generous with his time and resources. Always willing to help someone. So I honor his memory by leaving my quarter to help someone who needs it.
Second, this act is also a way of paying it forward. Either people will leave the quarter, and several shoppers get a simple surprise of an available cart, or someone will eventually take the quarter. I assume that person who takes the quarter really needs the money.
Both of these reasons bring me a little joy. I hope my practice removes a minor annoyance (needing a quarter for a cart) from a person’s life. I know minor problems and inconveniences have a more considerable impact on me than the more significant troubles of life. I don’t think I am the only one.
Finding a quarter in a cart may take a little off someone’s shoulders. It may make their day a little easier, bring a smile to their face, and warm their heart a little.
It’s a simple form of kindness that can impact anyone who finds the cart.
And it just cost $0.25.