Using cash - how often?

[sleep envy]

I hate not having cash on me, other than the weekly shop I pay everything in cash - makes it easier to track how much money I spend.

[JackP1]

I'll use card day to day for shopping and stuff, cash for small items. I never use card when getting a drink from a bar, really annoying when someone now has to barge in front of you to get to the machine as they couldn't be bothered to get cash out in the first place.

[D1ckie]

Interesting as was sent this link today and how the USA will be a cashless society in the not too distant future

http://pro.oxfordclub.com/MONEYCM49BRKIUP/LOXFQ227...

[Accelebrate]

We were caught out by this in Cornwall recently, went for a meal in Polperro, the restaurant was also a B+B so you'd think they'd be used to handling reasonably large transactions. Nope, no cards, cash only (didn't think to mention that when we booked the table over the phone), only one cash point nearby in a pub and that's probably empty (it was). They were quite happy for us to pop in the next day with the cash without leaving behind any details though.

[C&C]

I'll use cash for the vast majority of spending at shops.

Certainly at bars, it's really annoying when people buy a small round of drinks then get the card out - cash is much quicker.

The reason I use cash for most other stuff is that there have been verified issues with some chip and pin machines being compromised (some even being fitted with GSM modules by dodgy workers in the factory). The card details and PIN are then recorded and sent to the criminals via a mobile signal.

Whilst banks will generally refund any card fraud where a shop has accepted a signature (as the shop will end up paying for it), they will often take a much harder line if the PIN has been used - basically saying that the card owner must have given out/written down/not shielded their PIN.

My rationale for using cash is that I'll get a bunch out from an ATM that I trust/am familiar with (so will notice if a dodgy card reader has been fitted), and I massively reduce the exposure to potentially dodgy card readers in lots of small shops/supermarkets etc.

Maybe I'm just a bit paranoid, but it works for me....

[SebastienClement]

P-Jay said:

Most EPOS stuff is on a % basis now rather than a fixed price per transaction so most have lifted the 'minimum spend to use a card' rules.

Still doesn't mean the charge doesn't equal the store's margin on the product, or more...

[Cotty]

I use cash about once a week, usually in a pub. Train is a season ticket, cashless restaurant at work, supermarket food shopping done on card, Kindle books via Amazon, the odd takeaway via Just Eat, films via LoveFilm, all bills via direct debit etc.

[Du1point8]

kiethton said:

Boydie88 said:

kiethton said:

That's the thing, the man behind the bar/counter even takes my card based tokens so don't even need them then!

Few things worse than card wkers when waiting at the bar.

hahaha true, I do use the contactless payment when offered though...

Day to day the average transaction put on my Amex is comfortably under £5, hell even today's lunch (costing 50p) was put on the card...

Nearly everything that I pay for with card in the supermarkets and at my boozers is done on contactless, so its actually quicker then those cash wkers that I have to wait for.

[droopsnoot]

I tend to use cash for smaller stuff - buying drinks I'd always use it, and that kind of amount. I always imagine that if it's a small purchase, and a small business, that the person behind the counter is cursing me for wanting to use a card and take some of their profit out - I know they're probably not, but I think I would be if the positions were reversed, so project that.

That said, I'm in the sticks up here, not in a City-centre environment and I'm sure it's quite different.

[oyster]

I have a £20 in my wallet I withdrew from an ATM in January. I never use cash unless a place won't take cards. And even then I'll think before visiting that retailer/pub/restaurant.

To those saying cash allows them to keep a track of spend? How? Unless you write down everything you buy. With a credit card you can check online what you've spent.

[BrabusMog]

oyster said:

I have a £20 in my wallet I withdrew from an ATM in January. I never use cash unless a place won't take cards. And even then I'll think before visiting that retailer/pub/restaurant.

To those saying cash allows them to keep a track of spend? How? Unless you write down everything you buy. With a credit card you can check online what you've spent.

For me, it's not what I spend but how much I spend that my mainly cash system tells me. Say my budget is £150 spending a week, I can tell in my pocket how much I have left by counting a few notes. Plus the cash leaves me instantly, not after a couple of days as it would if I paid on debit card. My girlfriend spends everything on her card pretty much and she never really knows how much cash she has in the bank.

I also hate carrying a wallet, my cash can just stay folded in my pocket and I generally tend to just have my Oyster card holder in a jacket pocket.

[RizzoTheRat]

oyster said:

To those saying cash allows them to keep a track of spend? How? Unless you write down everything you buy. With a credit card you can check online what you've spent.

But with cash they don't need to check online, they can just check in their pocket. No need to write anything down if they withdraw a certain amount a week. Makes a lot of sense if you're on a budget.

[kiethton]

I'll go against the grain somewhat and say that it helps me to budget and smooth cashier doing it the way I do (CC), wages come in one month and sit in my account untouched barring DD's, all spending goes in the Amex/egg (places which don't accept amex) an then it's paid a few weeks after my next pay cheque...

I can then see how much I've spent that period, having texts weekly, and can just be tough on myself without having to worry about putting £20 in the car one week and £10 the next, I can just fill the tank knowing it lasts the month (well 2 weeks ATM) and not have to worry...

[rehab71]

I use cash all the time.

I get so annoyed standing behind people who are paying for a newspaper and a stick of gum with a bloody card!

[BoRED S2upid]

Cash is still king over here usually have 50-100 on me a lot of places don't take a card I wouldn't dream on buying something for a few quid on a card.

[RizzoTheRat]

Went on holiday to Iceland last year, they're in to cards in a big way. Vending machines take cards for a chocolate bar, we even paid our dive guide by card in his van in a car park miles from the nearest building. We managed the whole trip with no cash. I could get used to a cashless society.

[winshent]

Soon cards will be a thing of the past. Once you get a digital wallet installed on your phone, you'll just leave the house carrying your phone and thats it.

clicky

[Odie]

I use cash most of the time,

I find it easier to manage my finances on a week to week basis, only taking out what i've budgeted for that week.

Also supermarkets use your card to keep track of what your buying for various marketing reasons.

[BlackLabel]

I use cash 70% of the time.

[HonestIago]

I use cash for all day to day stuff and use card for larger purchases. Cash leaves no trace, I don't like the idea of the bank and whoever else they give details away to knowing exactly how I lead my life!