There’s a new policy at McDonald’s that may let you keep more of your money, but there’s a catch. The fast-food chain is introducing a policy that changes how it calculates the total cost of your order. Now, your total will be rounded up or down to the nearest 5¢. So, if your total ends in 1¢ or 2¢, McDonald’s will round it down to zero cents. Let’s say your order comes to $6.82. Under the new policy, you’ll pay $6.80. Now for the not-so-good news. If your total ends in 3¢ or 4¢, it will be rounded up to the nearest 5¢. So, if your total is $7.43, you’ll be asked to pay $7.45. That’s all well and good if you’re saving a couple of cents, but it’s not so great if you’re being charged more. Fortunately, the chain is posting signs to make the rounding situation very clear. Why is McDonald’s doing this? It has to do with the humble penny — it’s disappearance, to be exact. The U.S. government is expected to stop producing new pennies for circulation by early 2026. As a result some McDonald’s locations are experiencing a shortage of pennies, so handing out exact change isn’t an option. The solution: rounding to the nearest 5¢. Naturally, customers are feeling a little skeptical about this rounding business. Thankfully, the policy won’t impact all customers — only those who are paying with cash. If you’re paying with a credit or debit card, your total will remain the same.
