Okay, this isn’t going to make you a fortune, but some people base their summer holidays around it.

The Bank Of England estimate that over £5 Million in currency is lost each year. The combination of sand and shorts means that a fair proportion of that is lost on beaches, particularly in summer. Experience beachcombers say they can make over £50 a day on a busy beach.

I can’t say it’s how I’d want to spend my spare time, but I don’t suppose keeping an eye to the ground hurts. And it does lead to a wider question – are there other situations in which people lose, waste or give away things that you could capitalise on?

When I was a kid I used to make money selling lost golf balls. I’ve heard of  businesses that make money by taking waste/rejected  food and turning it into soups and broth. And plenty of people make money selling stuff on eBay they got for free on freecycle or by raiding skips.

Hardly the top of the money making food chain today, but this might spark off an idea in someone.