Howdy,

I feel like I'm giving away my Big Great Secret, but sadly I'll be going in for a hernia surgry next Monday and will not be able to make this trip this year...so without further delay here is my little secret with back story.

When I was young my first real job i.e. W2 Form was enough to get my own account at the bank. When I made my first withdrawl I made a special request.

No matter where I went in town I paid in cash as not many places would take a check from someone my age and ATM cards were just that...ATM/Check cards and not the multipurpose pieces of plastic they are today.

If I returned to a place I had done business before, they remembered me even if it had been months. Places like Circle K where the person behind the counter sees hundereds of people a day.

I started doing what I do for just that reason. People get to notice you and realize you come in and are a regular customer.

What was my special request at the bank? Well, if you're a member of a certain camping/RV club then you may already have an idea, because my mother told me about it and I'm here to tell you it works!!!

I simply asked for $2 bills.

I believe it is Sam's RV Club that has large gatherings with thousands of trailers and campers and on one day during each convention everyone uses $2 bills to show the surrounding community just how much buisness they bring in when they come.

Now, when ever I go someplace and pay with cash I always throw in one $2 bill. Tips to people that are in the service industry remember you and are willing to take that extra step knowing that you are not only a tipper, but tip decent as well. There have been serveral times these people have gone to bat for me when something has been wrong.

Ask at your local bank for $2 bills and pretty soon they will be digging for them when you are waiting in line.

Oh, and if you happen to get handed a $2 bill with red ink on it...you just found a Silver Certificate! You might keep an eye on the tellers when they are counting out your bills. I spotted one the teller skipped when counting out my bills for me one day and simple "Oh, I'll take that one as well." resulted in yet another find.