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Original poster

How important is it to have some cash in the house these days?

132 replies

AugustSeptemberOctober · 22/10/2021 08:06

Boring post sorry.

I've always kept £100 cash in the house for emergencies. I had to spend most of it yesterday and now I'm wondering if I should bother replacing it, as it seems that cash is almost being phased out these days. Even tradespeople usually carry a card machine now.

To be honest, it's more that Christmas is coming up and I could do without withdrawing money from my account! But I feel a bit nervous about not having an emergency pot. Maybe I could just keep it to £40 or £50. What do other people do?

OP posts:
Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 22/10/2021 12:18

I like to have at least £100 cash, you just never know... but then I also like to have plenty of firewood, a crate of bottled water, tinned food, and a full tank of gas on the bbq - just in case, zombie apocalypses and all that Grin

MatildaIThink · 22/10/2021 12:26

@Ohsugarhoneyicetea

I like to have at least £100 cash, you just never know... but then I also like to have plenty of firewood, a crate of bottled water, tinned food, and a full tank of gas on the bbq - just in case, zombie apocalypses and all that Grin
I know what you mean, we are in not way preppers but I think we have enough food to get through 2-4 weeks, although it might involve some very dull meals in the latter weeks. Water would be a bigger issue if that got cut off, in terms of drinking water we would be find for 4-5 days, longer if my husband and I drunk all the beer and wine and left the water for the children... We would have to use the BBQ as well, we have an on the go bottle and a replacement bottle so probably enough to cook for a couple of weeks. However if we are talking weeks without gas, water and electricity then society has pretty much collapsed and we are going to have bigger issues!
Pebble21uk · 22/10/2021 12:30

I've heard two sayings... 'Cash is King' and 'Use it or lose it'

We are definitely headed towards a completely cashless society. I'm not sure I want that. I hardly ever use cash and find cards far more convenient, but I do also like to have the option! I always keep some at home.

As a previous poster mentioned - if there's a power cut then you're stuffed without cash... everything relies on electricity and I'm not sure I want my money to as well!

Remember that run on the banks as well!? It only happened 14 years ago... and hadn't happened in 150 years up to that point. Life, as we know all too well, can change very quickly. I think if you can afford it, it's prudent.

HollowTalk · 22/10/2021 12:31

@AutumnAlmanack

I save £2 coins and had managed to amass over £200 but have now paid this into the Building Society. I like to have an amount of cash in the house, even though DH thinks I am being old-fashioned! I once went through all my coat pockets and found nearly £50 - that was fun!

On another note, is it a thing to tip supermarket delivery drivers? I thought this was frowned upon?

I meant I tip the people who deliver a takeaway, not the people who deliver from a supermarket or Amazon or wherever.
MatildaIThink · 22/10/2021 12:41

@Pebble21uk

I've heard two sayings... 'Cash is King' and 'Use it or lose it'

We are definitely headed towards a completely cashless society. I'm not sure I want that. I hardly ever use cash and find cards far more convenient, but I do also like to have the option! I always keep some at home.

As a previous poster mentioned - if there's a power cut then you're stuffed without cash... everything relies on electricity and I'm not sure I want my money to as well!

Remember that run on the banks as well!? It only happened 14 years ago... and hadn't happened in 150 years up to that point. Life, as we know all too well, can change very quickly. I think if you can afford it, it's prudent.

If there is a power cut the the shops shut as well, the won't sell without functioning till systems and in most cases their H&S policies don't allow them to have customers in the store without lighting.
C0nn1e · 22/10/2021 12:44

I keep a few hundred in the house, approximately a £100 in my purse and probably another £50 in coins for the children if they need it for school. I do prefer cash, I still like to budget and fine cash easier.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/10/2021 12:51

@alwayscheerful
Someone told me to to leave £100 on the table in case of a burglary, those looking for drug money, just want to get in and out quickly.

£100!!!!
I thought it was a fiver behind the clock on the mantlepiece? Bloody Brexit I suppose...

uncomfortablydumb53 · 22/10/2021 12:54

I always keep an "emergency £20" in my purse just in case I need a taxi( I'm disabled with limited mobility)

user1497207191 · 22/10/2021 12:57

@MatildaIThink If there is a power cut the the shops shut as well, the won't sell without functioning till systems and in most cases their H&S policies don't allow them to have customers in the store without lighting.

The big stores, yes, they close. But during Storm Desmond, nearly all our local/small/independent shops were open. They don't rely on the bar code/computerised till systems. Our village bakery did a roaring trade and sold out of everything they had in stock, obviously they couldn't cook anything, but sold everything they had in the fridges/freezers etc and cakes/bread etc. Our village garage (a Spar) was open, no fuel of course as pumps don't work without power, but they were selling all the tins/packet foods, loo rolls, newspapers/magazines etc and were desperate to sell their chilled/frozen food stocks before the temperature in the fridges/freezers rose too high. As for H&S, these are small shops, so there was plenty of daylight from the windows and doorway.

CremeEggThief · 22/10/2021 13:00

It's not important.
My window cleaner comes randomly and only takes cash, so I can't plan for this. So if he comes when there's no cash, he just has to come back another time if I haven't got it. Simple as that.

Anycolourwilldo · 22/10/2021 13:00

This might be a silly question but why?
I can't think of any reason why it would be needed. The odd £1 coin for trollies but £100. What for?

Siepie · 22/10/2021 13:04

I tend to have around £20 in my purse, just in case. Until covid some local buses only took cash, and some car parks in the nearby countryside need coins.

I prefer budgeting using online banking, so wouldn’t generally have more cash around than that.

ABCDEF1234 · 22/10/2021 13:06

Between purse, wallet, and the house you are lucky to even find £1. We never have cash and just rely on cards for everything

ChildrenGrowingUpTooFast · 22/10/2021 13:07

I have a few £1 for the tooth fairy. That's it

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/10/2021 13:10

... In conclusion, nationwide credit card outages are relatively uncommon but not impossible. As our world becomes increasingly cashless, having a backup payment option is good practice...

I do for the above reason.

OddBoots · 22/10/2021 13:17

I use my card but I also use cash, I work with people who have difficulty getting a bank account and it made me realise there will always be people on the edges of society like that and they will suffer if we go completely cashless.

It's also useful if I want to ask someone (almost always one of the 'children') to pop to the shops for me for something.

Pebble21uk · 22/10/2021 13:18

[quote user1497207191]**@MatildaIThink* If there is a power cut the the shops shut as well, the won't sell without functioning till systems and in most cases their H&S policies don't allow them to have customers in the store without lighting.*

The big stores, yes, they close. But during Storm Desmond, nearly all our local/small/independent shops were open. They don't rely on the bar code/computerised till systems. Our village bakery did a roaring trade and sold out of everything they had in stock, obviously they couldn't cook anything, but sold everything they had in the fridges/freezers etc and cakes/bread etc. Our village garage (a Spar) was open, no fuel of course as pumps don't work without power, but they were selling all the tins/packet foods, loo rolls, newspapers/magazines etc and were desperate to sell their chilled/frozen food stocks before the temperature in the fridges/freezers rose too high. As for H&S, these are small shops, so there was plenty of daylight from the windows and doorway.[/quote]
Absolutely! If you live in a rural area as I do, there are lots of farms and houses that sell from the door as well... I could get eggs, veg, meat, pickles, jams etc all from the end of someone's property. Obviously no card machines and very often just an honesty box.

AlfonsoTheDinosaur · 22/10/2021 13:24

Absolutely! If you live in a rural area as I do, there are lots of farms and houses that sell from the door as well... I could get eggs, veg, meat, pickles, jams etc all from the end of someone's property. Obviously no card machines and very often just an honesty box.

I cannot tell you how envious I am. That sounds magical.

DappledThings · 22/10/2021 13:24

I have a £1 coin in the car for trollies. That is it as far as keeping cash goes.

I think I probably use a cash point about 10 times a year. I go to one cafe that is cash only, hardly any use for it otherwise.

Catcrazy83 · 22/10/2021 13:32

I keep all my savings as cash in the safe. Don’t mug me Blush

Brandy1444 · 22/10/2021 13:43

Another prepper here. I have recently been taking out more cash from the ATM and keeping a stash at home (around £200). It's not much, just enough for petrol, food etc for a few days. I don't like the idea of being totally dependent on cards, it is sensible to have a back up just in case. I would ideally keep more cash in the house but then worried about getting burgled!

LubaLuca · 22/10/2021 17:12

@Catcrazy83

I keep all my savings as cash in the safe. Don’t mug me Blush
Why do you keep it all at home?
Asdf12345 · 22/10/2021 17:15

I keep £500-1000 in the safe. If buying something or paying for work often one gets a better price for cash and the £500 daily limit on a cash machine can be limiting.

TuftyMarmoset · 22/10/2021 17:15

@Catcrazy83

I keep all my savings as cash in the safe. Don’t mug me Blush
You’re already being mugged by inflation. Cash is constantly losing value.
LettertoHermoine · 22/10/2021 17:19

Yes, I have a little wad tucked away.....a just in case fund. For what...I don't exactly know but at least I will have a few quid if I don't know what could happen.. happens :)
Then I have a jar of coins for fast food delivery drivers because I always always tip. Their wages are shit.