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Original poster

Times I have needed cash this fortnight

353 replies

marymarkle · 04/02/2019 23:48

I know there are some on here who say they never ever use cash. I don't know how they manage. Like most people I use a mixture of bards and cash.
So in the fortnight the times I have had to use cash are as follows.

Buying the Big Issue. I assume those who never use cash never buy the Big Issue.
Paying for drinks at a cash bar at a wedding. Very posh venue, but cash bar only, no cards.
Getting the bus into town. I live in a City where the buses only take cash or a bought bus card. I hardly ever use the bus, so no point buying a bus pass, so I used cash. You can not use a card.
Went to a local vintage fair today. This is a small fair and the best stalls are always some people who do this as a hobby/to make a bit of extra money, and none of them take cards. I assume because of the cost of taking cards.
Paid a tip by cash in a restaurant. I always pay tips in cash so servers get the whole amount. Even the best places take an admin fee.

By refusing to use cash I would have negatively affected my life this fortnight and not supported someone who is homeless.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 05/02/2019 13:51

Do you not ever go away from the area where you live? Have you never gone to another town or attraction for a day out and found that the parking meter takes cash only, or the shop or cafe doesn't want to take your card for a £4 transaction?

You must move in very small circles to never come across a cash only business.

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 13:52

Maisel My comment was not about you. As I said the comments you quoted that people had made were in response to other posters being superior, patronising and aggressive. The hipster one that someone else wrote being a classic. Personally I don't understand the level of aggression by some who say they only ever use cash.

I don't honestly know how you can write what you have?? I don't care how anyone pays for anything and have said that many times. Like most people I largely used cards. I simply did not understand how anyone who has children could physically never have to use cash.

OP posts:
Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 13:53

Personally I don't understand the level of aggression by some who say they never use cash.

OP posts:

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General money
Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 05/02/2019 13:58

It depends where you are. I live in the south in a city and its rare somewhere doesn't take card. Even popup bars have card machines now.

On a visit to our friends in Yorkshire, I was shocked at how many independent shops didn't take card! It's never been an issue where I am so never crossed my mind it would be there.

ChesterGreySideboard · 05/02/2019 13:59

Personally I don't understand the level of aggression by some who say they never use cash.

Well I don't like being told that I'm lying and am a 'virtue signally' trendy.

MissMaisel · 05/02/2019 13:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ChesterGreySideboard · 05/02/2019 14:01

I simply did not understand how anyone who has children could physically never have to use cash.

You didn't say anything about children in your opening post and none of the occasions where you mentioned using cash were specific to having children, unlike some of the other occasions mentioned up thread.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 05/02/2019 14:02

What's having children got to do with using cash?

My daughters school and lots of other primary and secondary schools here take card and can pay online even. For charity days.

As for pocket money, again we use go Henry online via card.

Bumblebee39 · 05/02/2019 14:04

I carry a small amount of change for bus fares, incidentals (school tuck shop etc.), tips and taxis. I like to have a few quid handy for shops with a card limit, also.
I could probably do without cash entirely but find life is easier with both card and cash.
There are some things you need a card for now (booking a hotel etc. Even if you pay in cash) and some things which you still need cash for but the need for cash is shrinking.
There are so many digital payment methods. Some schools have them, and things traditionally paid for in cash (cleaners, babysitting etc.) you can often pay for by PayPal, or to their account.
I think people who use mainly cash will gradually be further and further in the minority as other methods continue to be developed and be better utilised. A few years ago I did most things in cash, now I mostly use card. I have seen a massive shift in a short time. I don't think this is slowing down.

ChesterGreySideboard · 05/02/2019 14:04

What's having children got to do with using cash?

Some people were saying that they use cash for school bake sales, pocket money, paying subs for Brownies etc.

Amibeingnaive · 05/02/2019 14:07

I live in London. I have very little occasion to use cash. Mostly I just use Apple Pay on my phone, so not even a card transaction.

Public transport is cashless more or less now.
Parking all done by app
Even school clubs/cubs all pay online

The only time I ever need cash is at the school fair tbh.

MissMaisel · 05/02/2019 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GhostsToMonsoon · 05/02/2019 14:14

I use cash for the following:

  • daughter's tuck money at school
  • children's pocket money
  • school fairs and discos
  • a barber for my son that doesn't take cards
  • my swimming club.
  • funfairs and similar in the summer.
  • money for a Cubs trip.
  • sometimes paying tax-averse tradesmen.

Most of my spending is on cards. I don't donate to homeless people in the street anymore but donate to several charities by direct debit.

GhostsToMonsoon · 05/02/2019 14:15

Forgot parking meters! I haven't got round to setting that up on my phone, but some of them only take cash.

se22mother · 05/02/2019 14:17

I live in London. Transport is contactless. School clubs etc you pay online. Even the coffee vans take card, same with the farmers markets

WidowTwonky · 05/02/2019 14:18

2 kids here OP and no need for cash. You keep saying that people with kids MUST use cash but why? My kids are only 8 and 10 so don't ask for money, so do you mean older kids?

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 14:22

I have never said that people with kids MUST use cash. I have said I don't understand how you can have kids and not have to use card.
But I also said on the thread when people were talking about using apple ipay, that they probably use that at times when I have to use cash. I do not and will never have an iphone. I do have an android phone.

OP posts:
ChesterGreySideboard · 05/02/2019 14:24

But I also said on the thread when people were talking about using apple ipay, that they probably use that at times when I have to use cash.

Apple Pay is just contactless. If you can use Apple Pay then you can use a contactless card. Apple Pay just uses the details from your cards.

DGRossetti · 05/02/2019 14:25

Forgot parking meters! I haven't got round to setting that up on my phone, but some of them only take cash.

and the "right kind" of cash at that. Little tip is to carry a pot of various coins in your car. Make sure it requires a lot of faffing about to get a decent horde with £2 coins as well as £1, 50p, 20,10 and 5ps. Obviously it needs to be kept out of sight.

The more effort you put into that, the less likely you are to need it. In the 3 years since we did that, I've only used it once Grin. RingGo and ParkMobile have taken over ...

adaline · 05/02/2019 14:27

I do not and will never have an iphone. I do have an android phone.

But you can only use ApplePay in situations where you can use a card anyway. It's just a quick way of paying without having to carry all your bank cards around.

And you can get AndroidPay too.

WidowTwonky · 05/02/2019 14:28

I simply did not understand how anyone who has children could physically never have to use cash People are telling you that this is the case so what can you not understand? Can you explain what you think we are spending cash on for the kids?

caoraich · 05/02/2019 14:30

Hmm
I don't really care what other people do, but the only thing I've used cash for this year so far is tips.

Charity - standing order
Big issue - PayPal reader thing
Parking - Ringo
Public transport - smartcard
Window cleaner / milkman / cat sitter - PayPal
Craft fair - PayPal reader
Piano lessons- bank transfer
Coffees - app

I'm still working off the same £20 I took out at the start of January. I bought a freddo so I'd get £19.80 in change to use for tips when I eat out.

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 14:37

adaline I did not know that.

Widow If people re telling me that, then I assume they are not lying. I know that as a family it would really affect what we could do if we had no cash at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 14:38

caoirach I can never get ringgo to work. I have tried it a few times and given up in frustration.

OP posts:
PhilomenaButterfly · 05/02/2019 14:46

My friend Big Issue Man bought his own card reader. He can afford it because of the amount of money he makes. He's not homeless because he's skint, but because of other issues.