Can you solve this without using algebra?

Once we learn algebra, we develop a dependency on it for solving certain types of problems, even if you do not care particularly for math. As an illustration I offer the following problem.

Suppose, perhaps unrealistically, that you find something you want to purchase that costs less than a dollar. You have sufficient change in coins to buy the item in addition to various dollar denominations including a one dollar bill. How much more money in coins will you have if you pay using the dollar bill than if you paid using the coins? A little experimentation shows that the amount is always the same. Why is this so? No x or y terms allowed.