On vacation in Ocean City a few years ago, Adriana Torres accidentally broke a $100 bill while buying a pack of gum. Before she knew it, the more than $95 she received in change was gone.
"With a big bill, it's like you have something valuable," Torres said. "My change was still worth almost $100, but it just wasn't the same. I was so mad I broke the $100 bill so soon in the trip. When you're breaking a big bill it feels like you're losing more money."
The phenomenon Torres, a junior journalism major, experienced was recently diagnosed by a university professor, whose research shows people are more likely to hesitate to make a purchase when using large bills rather than smaller ones.
