(NEXSTAR) — A penny shortage was expected, but not for a few more months. Now, businesses have found themselves asking customers not to pay with cash or otherwise prepare to receive incorrect change in return.

Some companies have even asked their customers to exchange pennies for freebies.

With the holiday shopping season ramping up, you may find yourself on the receiving end of these new policies — here’s a look at what to expect.

Why is there a penny shortage?

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump called on the Treasury Department to stop minting new one-cent coins, calling them “wasteful.” A few months later, the Treasury confirmed it would stop putting new pennies into circulation in early 2026, with a spokesperson telling the Wall Street Journal in May that the final order of

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