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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:
Celebelly · 05/02/2019 00:26

I don't really understand why people get so oddly upset that some people don't use cash. There seems to be an air of weird defensiveness and judgement about it. If you need to carry cash and use it for your lifestyle, great. What does it matter if others don't? Confused

And no, I don't give to beggars or carry money for that purpose. I have direct debits set up to charities that are close to my heart and donate throughout the year using my bank card!

Twotabbycats · 05/02/2019 00:29

I keep a small amount of cash in my purse. I actually find it more annoying to have to check loads of tiny transactions on my bank statement.

I use cash:
In the local shop if I'm spending less than 10 €
Ditto chemist
To pay my cleaner
To buy a coffee and cake if I'm out (rarely!)
To buy a ticket for the tram, which I only use occasionally (don't think it takes cards)
And most frequently for me...parking! Usually hospital parking, or parking to get the tram to the Big Hospital!
I have to carry 2 currencies to boot.

BramRang · 05/02/2019 00:29

I live in rural Shropshire with crappy internet. The only time I have used cash in the last fortnight was yesterday at a coffee shop, and even they took card but had a £5 minimum spend. I was genuinely shocked that they didn't accept card, too! My nail technician (mobile!) takes card, my spit and sawdust old man local pub takes card and even a lot of the market traders take card.

The last time I was in London, the coffee shop ONLY took card. That was a shock to the system (and apparently very normal), but great!

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General money
IdleBetty · 05/02/2019 00:30

Celebelly

Exactly!

LittleDoritt · 05/02/2019 00:30

90% of the cash I need is for school related things - tuck shop, cake sale, no uniform day, donations to charities. I've always got a little pot of change on the go.

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 00:30

Also there is a brilliant Korean restaurant in my City that only takes cash. Only place I eat out that is like that.

celebelly I just don't understand how people can manage without any cash at all. Especially if they have kids. There are lots of things we could not do if we never ever used cash. You can manage with very little cash, but some is necessary.

OP posts:
kindlyplay · 05/02/2019 00:32

Do none of you ever give to people begging?

Never, but that's a whole other thread!

I use cash daily, I get paid in cash so spend cash the majority of the time. I have the opposite problem where it is a pain in the tits to get cash into my bank!

BackforGood · 05/02/2019 00:33

If you need to carry cash and use it for your lifestyle, great. What does it matter if others don't?

Well, in my case because my (adult) dc will say "I haven't got any cash" on every occasion they need it.......

IdleBetty · 05/02/2019 00:34

I have adult DC so I'm a lot better off now. Gone are the days when had to find pounds every day for one thing or another.

Original poster
marymarkle · 05/02/2019 00:35

Yes if you are one of those people who don't carry cash but expect others to give you cash when it is needed, then you are a pain.
Also card transactions have went down 3 times in the last year and were cash only. I was in a shop when one happened and could still pay for my stuff with cash.

OP posts:
IdleBetty · 05/02/2019 00:37

My DD never asks for cash. She's good with money, thankfully.

ilovesooty · 05/02/2019 00:37

Shared meal with a friend - she paid by card and I paid her in cash and left a cash tip.
Two local minicabs.
Two lots of raffle tickets.
Meal with a friend that she paid for and I left a cash tip.
Money for milk delivery.

I rarely actually withdraw cash. Some of my clients pay me in cash.

IdleBetty · 05/02/2019 00:49

I've never bummed cash off anybody.
I would leg it to the cash machine or do without.

More often than not I'll jump in and pay before anybody can get their purse out.

I would cringe having to ask for money.

halfwitpicker · 05/02/2019 00:50

Reminds me I need to draw out cash. Use it for coffees etc on the go, donuts for DC'S etc.

YeahSorryBoutThat · 05/02/2019 00:53

I live in a large town. The last week only:
Taxi to work because of bad weather.
Small purchases under £2 I don't like to put on card
I think that's all, though. But I much prefer cash to budget with. I draw ou x amount per week for "stuff" and when it's gone, it's gone.

YeahSorryBoutThat · 05/02/2019 00:55

I haven't been shopping this week but I always pay cash in Tesco/asda for similar budgeting reasons- can't spend money you don't have!

Cailleach · 05/02/2019 05:21

Why capitalise "city"? It doesn't need a capital letter.

/Off topic
/As you were

WreckTangled · 05/02/2019 05:32

I haven't used cash at all in the last month. No public transport where I live, no beggars, can't afford to go to a restaurant...not sure what I would need cash for? The only time I get it out is if there's a school fair/own clothes day and then it's a pain having to break a note for change. I can't afford any extras though so maybe that's why?

proudestofmums · 05/02/2019 07:53

I’ve been using contactless a lot recently so haven’t had much cash. However, this was a problem last week when visiting DH in hospital as the hospital car parks don’t take cards, only cash! I resorted to buying a paper in one shop, a bar of chocolate in another and something else (can’t remember what) costing around £1, all,with notes, to get some change. Oh and DH needed a couple,of pounds each day to buy a newspaper.

Neverunderfed · 05/02/2019 07:54

Haven't done any of those things of late. But if I was going to a wedding, fair etc I would get cash out.

Only time we needed cash lately was dh buying something off Facebook

Iruka · 05/02/2019 08:03

I don't know anyone who claims to 'never, ever' use cash, that sounds like an exaggeration by people who like to criticise people who don't use much cash.

Buying the Big Issue. - Haven't seen a Big Issue seller for years around here
Paying for drinks at a cash bar at a wedding. - This is a special event and I would get cash out.
Getting the bus into town. - Its less than 2 miles into town, I would walk or ride my bike. Going any further would involve at least three buses so I would drive.
Went to a local vintage fair today. - Another special event
Paid a tip by cash in a restaurant. - I pay tips by card

None of your examples seem good enough to change to using more cash. I have also seen the 'but you have to use cash to budget' cry often, I have no problems budgeting using cards. You shouldn't generalise so much, you may understand people better.

Or maybe you should just understand that people live different lives.

Ragwort · 05/02/2019 08:04

I read somewhere that even buskers at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival have set up with card machines as so few people carry cash Grin. Our local Poppy Appeal stand had a card machine this year as well.

I live in a fairly rural market town and cash is regularly needed, our market stalls don’t take cards, we have a couple of really good independent restaurants that don’t take cards. What about charity collections? The sort where you put a few coins in the bucket? I frequently give to them. Non school uniform days, school lunches etc - yes I would set up a contactless system but my DS sometimes has lunch at school but more often goes to the local supermarket or KFC so it is easier to give him £10 a week & then he can decide how to budget rather than everything going on ‘account’.

I personally find it much easier to carry cash for car parks etc than worry about working out how to pay via mobile, not everyone is tech savvy.

MissMaisel · 05/02/2019 08:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JenniferJareau · 05/02/2019 08:08

I rarely use cash although I carry some notes for emergencies. My credit card gives me vouchers depending on what I spend so a majority of my spend goes on that card. I will pay by cash if I need change for something I.e. Going on a long train journey and you usually have to pay to have a pee at the station 🙄 or its cold and I want to give to the homeless.

Whitelisbon · 05/02/2019 08:21

I don't use cash much other than for the dc. Dance class, scouts, cadets, brownies, all need cash every week.
Eldest dc gets money transferred to her account monthly for lunches, younger dc get free school dinners.
Both schools have an online system for paying for trips/dinners/whatever.
The window cleaner takes card, the milkman is direct debit. Car parking is paid by phone, and I couldn't tell you the last time I got on a bus (but dd says you can pay by card anyway). Couldn't tell you the last time I saw a big issue seller, and don't give to beggars.
If it wasn't for the kids clubs I would never need cash!