Money Management Techniques for the Visually Impaired:
Last Updated March 25th, 2026. Included in this website page are the following sections. Money Management Techniques. Online Resources About Money Management Techniques. U.S. Paper Currency Identification Techniques. U.S. Paper Currency Folding Techniques. Paper Currency Organizational Techniques. U.S. Coins Identification Techniques. Writing Checks or Money Orders Techniques. Tap to Pay Techniques. Adaptive Calculator Apps. Adapting Cards. Recording Card Information. End of list.
Money Management Techniques for the Visually Impaired:
Use Paper Currency Identification Techniques.
Use Paper Currency Folding Techniques.
Use Paper Currency Organizational Techniques.
Use Coin Identification Techniques.
Use Writing Checks or Money Orders Techniques.
Use Tap to Pay Techniques.
Use Adaptive Calculator Apps.
Adapt Cards with Labels.
Record Information in an Accessible Format.
Online Resources About Money Management for the Visually Impaired:
Hadley Money Organization and Paying the Bill Information website page link.
VisionAware Managing Finances and Taxes When Blind or Low Vision website page link.
Adaptive Money Management Products for the Visually Impaired Google Doc link.
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Handling Money website page link.
U.S. Paper Currency Identification Techniques:
Use a magnification device, magnification app, or magnification software.
Use apps that identify currency such as the EyeNote App and the SeeingAI App currency feature.
Use the iBill U.S. currency reader device.
U.S. Paper Currency Folding Techniques:
A one dollar bill is kept unfolded.
A five dollar bill is folded side-to-side.
A ten dollar bill is folded top-to-bottom.
A twenty dollar bill is folded side-to-side then top-to-bottom.
Paper Currency Organizational Techniques:
Keep bills of the same amount together.
Organize bills regularly.
Keep bills in the wallet in different places.
Add a paperclip, rubber band, or binder clip to feel for the difference between the bills.
Keep bills of the same amount together in different envelopes or ziploc bags.
U.S. Coins Identification Techniques:
Feel the difference in size, weight, and use your fingertips or fingernails to feel the edges of the coins.
Quarters are the biggest of the commonly used coins with ridges on the edges. Nickels are the next size down with smooth edges. Pennies are the next size down, are a different color, and have smooth edges. Dimes are the smallest and have ridges on the edges.
Writing Checks or Money Orders Techniques:
Use a check writing guide.
Use a large print check register.
Ask your bank if they offer large print checks.
Tap to Pay Techniques:
When you need to scan a card or phone to pay, feel for the card scanner to know where to place the card or your phone.
When using tap to pay when checking out with a cashier, ask the cashier where the tap to pay scanner is on the check out device. For example, ask: what part of the machine do I tap my card to pay?
Adaptive Calculator Apps:
For Apple devices there is the Big Calculator app, the Voice Calculator - Human speak app, the Simple Voice Calculator app, and the Big Calculator Low Vision app which is not free to download.
For Android devices there is the Talking Calculator Vision+ app, the Voice Calculator Pro app, and the Low Vision Tip Calculator app.
Recording Information:
It’s important to record card information in an accessible format so that you can have access to the information on the card.
Examples include an audio recording app, an audio recording device, a notetaking app, written in marker on paper, written in braille, and an audio label sticker put on the card.