An Oxford-based charity plans to turn redundant European currencies into funds to help people overseas.
Oxfam has launched its Don't Save It campaign to encourage people to hand in any coins and notes left over from holiday to their nearest Oxfam shop.
While the introduction of the euro will make Spanish pesetas, French francs and German deutschmarks worthless to British holiday-makers after February 28, high street bank HSBC has estimated about £52m could be lying around in people's homes.
According to Oxfam, one franc could buy enough maize to feed a family in Afghanistan for a day and one Irish punt could buy a school book and pencil for a child in Mozambique.
John Whitaker, deputy director of Oxfam, said: "You could make the memories of your holiday last longer by making a real difference to the lives of some of the poorest people in the world."
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