If you're a panhandler, and you're asking people even for just 25 cents, you're going to have a very tough time getting people to give it to you. It's just a quarter...most people have at least one of those in their pocket or purse at any given time, and few of them would miss a quarter. But asking someone to give it to you is still an uphill battle.

However, ask someone for a minute of their time to do you a small favor and, provided they're not hurrying back to work after their lunch break, they'll probably help you. Most of us are much more willing to give time than money.

As one of my friends once put it: "Money is an energy." People are very funny when it comes to surrendering their cold hard cash, regardless of whether it's for a homeless person or for a local charity.

If I were homeless, I would do what author Dan Ariely suggests and panhandle for something that's "one step away from money": gift cards. Ask people if they have unused Starbucks gift cards burning a hole in their pocket. My guess it that people would be willing to part with gift cards than with money, with the added bonus that a homeless person can't generally use a gift card to buy drugs or alcohol.

Got any leftover gift cards you don't need?