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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:
thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 05/02/2019 16:08

I have just sat down and tried to think back to the last time I used cash. I genuinely can't think of a single thing. I live in a city half the week and the other half in the Lake District quite rurally so it's not a matter of that.
I can't think of a single thing I've needed cash for in living memory (almost).

MissMaisel · 05/02/2019 16:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 16:10

Yes I accept that, but that is the case in most major cities surely? And most Icelanders live in the capital.

OP posts:

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General money
adaline · 05/02/2019 16:11

But it does not mean that you can not pay in cash.

Nobody said it did. A cashless society is one where it's possible to go through life without ever using cash. It doesn't mean cash doesn't exist or that you can't use it.

ReflectentMonatomism · 05/02/2019 16:13

Wikipedia is not a guide to fact, but is a guide to common usage. Cashless Society starts "This article is about the concept of a society which no longer uses cash. For the Southern African band, see Cashless Society (band)...However this article discusses and focuses on the term "cashless society" in the sense of a move towards, and implications of, a society where cash is replaced by its digital equivalent - in other words, legal tender (money) exists, is recorded, and is exchanged only in electronic digital form."

You're welcome to use a different definition but you should be aware that many people, from polar ends of the debate, don't think it means what you think it means.

Cashless just means it's possible (and common) to exist without ever using cash. doesn't require you to invoke Iceland. Islington will do just as well. I doubt there is anywhere in the developed world where it is not possible to exist without ever using cash, and then you're just arguing the toss about how common it is. Societies in which it is not possible to function only using cash are much more interesting: the UK isn't there yet. Iceland might be, for all I know, but that's not the point you're making.

redeyetonowheregood · 05/02/2019 16:23

I love cash and use it almost exclusively when shopping, but this is a fairly recent development for me. After YEARS of debt and always using my card, I have finally been able to get on top of my spending and cash is a big part of that for me. I withdraw all the cash I need for the month at the beginning and put it in envelopes. I also save this way.

I realise how old fashioned this is but for me this is a very active and conscious decision. I use online banking though, shop over the internet and of course have direct debits, but in my daily life I hardly ever use my cards.

As an aside, my children's school disco fees have to be paid in cash.

redeyetonowheregood · 05/02/2019 16:27

Oh and the card reader at the train station was malfunctioning recently and I was one of the few people with cash on me to buy my ticket anyway. Everyone else had to travel then buy their tickets when they got off.

I have to say though, it is becoming more and more difficult to live the way I do as an active cash user. My small market town in Norfolk had 7 banks / building societies when we moved here a decade ago. Now there are two left and one of those (mine as it happens) is closing in May. Then there will just be one which I imagine will follow suit before too long. I live in a town of old people and I know many people are still paid weekly in cash around here. The nearest bank is going to be about 20 miles away.

Dowser · 05/02/2019 16:42

I use cash all the time
I have about £300 on me at the moment as I’m away for 4 days

loldolly · 05/02/2019 16:59

@BitOutOfPractice sorry my post made zero sense. I meant I have to spend over £5 to use my card!

BitOutOfPractice · 05/02/2019 17:02

No worries, it just made me smile a bit that you said "never ever, Except..." Smile I knew what you meant really

PatricksRum · 05/02/2019 17:12

The last time I actively paid for something in cash was a year ago almost.
I only carry 2 x £1 coins for the trolleys. I never need cash.

Thirtyrock39 · 05/02/2019 17:27

Tip admin fee thing isn't true ...I worked in a bar/restaurant a couple of years ago and if they leave a tip on the card when you put the amount they want to pay on card you just take the tip as change so if it's £45 bill and they say put £50 on the card you'd put the £50 through as a card payment and it would say £5 change that goes in the tip jar -
No admin fee

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 17:31

It varies. I always ask in a restaurant if I put a tip on the card, do they get it all. Rarely they say yes, then I put it on the card. It is far more common for them to say there is an admin fee.

OP posts:
CiderBrains · 05/02/2019 17:36

The only thing I don't like about your OP is your judgment about "assuming people not buying the Big Issue" if they never use cash. 🙄

Giggage · 05/02/2019 17:36

I only need cash for Ds at £2 once a week for a snack and drink on their weekly walk.

That's it. I don't but the big issue as I'm never in town to buy it from someone and everything else is done by card (shopping, car park)or online (shopping, Ds school stuff, bus fares).

AdoraBell · 05/02/2019 17:41

I use cash when I buy gf bread from local bakery, Big Issue and 1 chocolate bar, that’s when I want chocolate while I’m out rather than buying it for the cupboard at home.

AdoraBell · 05/02/2019 17:42

Pressed post too soon.

I used to use cash at the local veg stall but they’ve moved.

LikeACowsOpinion · 05/02/2019 17:52
  1. At a sweetshop - no card payments under £5
  2. Old-School cafe - no card payments at all
  3. Various different times for parking meters
  4. A local DIY shop - card machine broken
  5. At a self-service checkout in Sainsburys - was a cash only till and the only one without a queue.
  6. A few times for DDs nursery
  7. Window Cleaner
  8. Milkman
  9. Newspaper round
  10. Nails and Beauty - my lady comes to my home and doesn't have card facilities.
  11. Cab fares - small fares. Unfair to pay by card when the driver loses a chunk of it

And I live in the SE.

Cash is king for me. I ensure that I have a fair amount of cash on me at all times and rarely pay for anything by card (except for big money purchases.)

LikeACowsOpinion · 05/02/2019 17:55

Oh I've remembered a few more.

Soft play (entry fee, food&drink and parking)
Local inflatable funfair (again - entry fee, food&drink and parking.)

These are the times that I would've had to use cash as well - not that I chose cash over card.

JoeMaplin · 05/02/2019 17:59

The window cleaner and the Turkish barbers only accept cash! Apart from odd coins for school fundraising, pretty much everything for all my lot's schools are online now, nothing else in cash

JenniferJareau · 05/02/2019 18:44

The people who pay for everything by card, Applepay etc must have bank or credit card statements a mile long.

Not really tbh. Maybe I have a boring life at the moment Grin

Food shop once a week online, top up shop usually once a week by contactless. Take all food and drinks into work so rarely are their trips to Pret or Costa on my card. Occasional purchases online from a department store, Amazon or my fave place for cosmetics. Some purchases for travel (cannot use cash for public transport). Odd taxi fare as I usually use a taxi if I am home late so I am either really tired or had a few drinks and it is far easier to pay by card at the office than fumble for notes later and have to wait for the obligatory change. Nights out on the card and are easy to identify.

proudestofmums · 05/02/2019 19:04

Does the tooth fairy still exist? (DS is 34 so I’m out of touch). If so presumably she only deals in cash?

Giggage · 05/02/2019 19:11

Does the tooth fairy still exist?

Dunno, not seen her for years. May have retired by now, she was only part time when I did need her. Not very reliable as a service in my experience...bit like busses in that way..may turn up, may not, you never know until it's too late, and you begin to panic think of any possible alternatives.

Notmorewashing · 05/02/2019 19:15

I can’t remeber the last time I used cash. I use Apple Pay or card reader if large purchase or online tickets. What a faff!

cushioncuddle · 05/02/2019 19:17

I used a pound in a shopping trolley.