Originally Posted by
BuildingMyBento
For some countries where the bills are easily tattered - anywhere that uses the US dollar, the pound in Egypt and the birr in Ethiopia come to mind - and when the temperature/humidity is high, I keep them in a small plastic bag.
If they are just left to their own devices in my pocket, they'll all but disintegrate.
In countries where the bills get really tattered and dirty, flip through your change. Shopkeepers understandably will try to bury a bill that's on the verge of disintegration in your change.
I've never had pushback when I wordlessly hand the dodgy bill back for a replacement.