Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cash - am I out of touch?

291 replies

Anewuser · 20/04/2024 08:49

AIBU thinking I should still be able to use cash?

I accept that most places, and people, find it easier using cards but shouldn’t you still be able to use cash occasionally?

Went out for lunch the other day. The bill came to over £100 but as it was something planned, I had cash. The pub said whilst they can take cash, they don’t give change. Since when was this a thing.

At work, when people get married/have babies/leave etc, we do a collection. You always used to stick your contribution in a pot or envelope but now you have to do it online. Not everyone gives now because it’s obvious how much they’ve contributed.

AINBU, that I should still occasionally be able to use cash or AIBU cash has had its day.

OP posts:
wintersgold · 20/04/2024 22:03

I can't remember the last time I had cash on hand (other than abroad in contries eg. Italy where cash still seems to be commonly used), I honestly wouldn't assume that a place accepts cash if it isn't explicit. Just my experience

IAmGrey · 20/04/2024 21:59

At Dalby Forest visitor's centre they came under fire for throwing a child's treat (an ice cream iirc) in the bin after they refusd payment as the mum only had cash to pay for it. Now that's bat-shit.

Original poster
Anewuser · 20/04/2024 21:59

BitOutOfPractice · 20/04/2024 21:37

Since when was this a thing.

about 4 years. Have you only just noticed?

Obviously, otherwise I would have posted 4 years ago.

OP posts:
greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 21:54

@MereDintofPandiculation In that case I’d probably just take turns.

BitOutOfPractice · 20/04/2024 21:37

Since when was this a thing.

about 4 years. Have you only just noticed?

NoisySnail · 20/04/2024 21:35

I largely see well off people paying with their phone.

Icantbedoingwithit · 20/04/2024 21:23

Most of the takeaways around here are cash only.

AngelinaFibres · 20/04/2024 21:18

Octavia64 · 20/04/2024 09:49

Nearly everyone went cashless during Covid and most businesses found it easier. So lots didn't go back.

We volunteer at our community shop in the village. During Covid we went cashless. We haven't gone back. Cashing up at the end of the day was a pain and cash is absolutely filthy. Your hands are black when you've emptied the till, put it in the counting machine and then bagged it. Our last local bank closed 6 months ago. Its a 12 mile round trip now to bank cash. Our treasurer has to drive there,pay to park and walk through town to the bank to pay it in.That is risky for him and a huge drain on his time. The old and vulnerable were so terrified of catching covid they all magically produced bank cards they didn't want to use before. We love being cash free. A huge number of our customers pay with their phones

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/04/2024 21:06

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:59

I mean if you were on your way somewhere together and drove me I would buy your drink or lunch when we arrive which saves you money to use filling your car. This doesn’t really happen as I’ll drive myself or get a cab/ tube.

Edited

No opportunity to buy lunch, drink etc. We're sharing partly on ecological grounds. No point in driving two cars up there when one will do.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 20/04/2024 21:01

The idea that it’s better not to carry cash so you won’t lose it if you lose your bag doesn’t really work with tap and go payments - if you lose your card, you can easily lose a couple of hundred quid with pin-less payment limits of £50 being put through. I know someone who had several payments put through on their lost card before they could cancel it.

(I believe credit card fraud is treated differently and usually you’ve not got to pay that bill, whereas debit card transactions your money is gone).

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:59

I mean if you were on your way somewhere together and drove me I would buy your drink or lunch when we arrive which saves you money to use filling your car. This doesn’t really happen as I’ll drive myself or get a cab/ tube.

shoppingshamed · 20/04/2024 19:54

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:51

@MereDintofPandiculation i would buy them a drink/ coffee/ lunch or whatever is equivalent.

I would rather you paid me cash, I can't fill up my car with a drink or lunch that I'd never have bought myself, sounds a complicated way to reimburse someone

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:51

@MereDintofPandiculation i would buy them a drink/ coffee/ lunch or whatever is equivalent.

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/04/2024 19:50

Tomorrow I have been offered a lift. I will of course offer petrol money. It will be a lot easier to persuade her to accept if I shove cash in her hand than if I have to ask her bank details

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:48

Hahaha oh right, my kind? What exactly is my kind?

NoisySnail · 20/04/2024 19:47

@greengreyblue I would not worry. I do not think they are aimed at your kind.

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:45

@NoisySnail you were talking about cash only cafes. I can’t use them if I don’t carry cash. I don’t want lots of cash on me, it’s a security risk.

Librarybooker · 20/04/2024 19:36

It’s made a bit of a comeback in some places. We haven’t yet done anything other than cash collections at work yet.

NoisySnail · 20/04/2024 19:36

@greengreyblue who is asking you to pay by cash?
I assume you don't live in an area of the country with poor wifi connectivity as you would already carry cash.

greengreyblue · 20/04/2024 19:32

@NoisySnail if I don’t carry cash how do I pay with cash? 🤔

Mary46 · 20/04/2024 19:24

Cash going out here. Local cafes here are card. Cinema signs up card only. When I had cash for coffee she said no change in till lol. So out came my card.

BeretRaspberry · 20/04/2024 19:23

SocksAndTheCity · 20/04/2024 19:20

Or that different people have different circumstances and preferences, and work in different ways?

Therefore it's surely best to keep as many options open as possible so that everybody can freely make the choices which suit them, rather than needlessly take those choices away.

Show quote history

Or that different people have different circumstances and preferences, and work in different ways?

Pretty much what I said. And I also never said we should remove cash completely.

SocksAndTheCity · 20/04/2024 19:20

BeretRaspberry · 20/04/2024 19:03

And others say the opposite. I suppose that boils down to preference. It would seem neither option is better than the other.

Show quote history

Or that different people have different circumstances and preferences, and work in different ways?

Therefore it's surely best to keep as many options open as possible so that everybody can freely make the choices which suit them, rather than needlessly take those choices away.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 20/04/2024 19:13

NoisySnail · 20/04/2024 17:56

I am seeing more places encouraging cash.
I also go places that struggle with wi fi connectivity. You can't always manage to pay by card anyway. One place the woman said to me they had tried everything to boost their signal but still struggle.

Absolutely, my business involves rural visits and I certainly could not get a signal for a card machine. Let alone want to pass on the charges associated with it now.
We should definitely usecash or loose it.

marylou25 · 20/04/2024 19:13

I use all cash except for online purchases obviously. I was on holidays in another country in Europe recently and as an experiment every time I bought something or had a meal I asked did they prefer cash or card. Every single one preferred the cash, I only had to use a card once in the hotel in a small poolside bar when most of customers were actually all inclusive so not paying anything.