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Original poster

How many of you carry cash nowerdays?

132 replies

RedDiamond · 08/12/2022 18:16

I was walking past a charity collector and was sort of ambushed. By that I mean she blocked my way and rattled her bucket before me. I had to explain that I do not carry cash normally so had nothing to put in her bucket. The last time I emptied my purse out I gave it to a homeless young person near to where I live.

The charity collector was very indignant and told me she never went without cash in her purse. I got used to no cash during Covid. I also do online shopping for food and anything else I need. She cannot have been more than 10/15 years older than me but she made me feel embarrassed. Is it an old school thing?

The only time I have cash now is if I know I HAVE to pay in cash and will go to an ATM.

How many of you also do not carry cash or not a lot of cash anymore?

OP posts:
notacooldad · 08/12/2022 18:20

I usually have a £40 on me. Sometimes it can last a while. Recently we have had a few collections at work and I've needed cash for that. I need a £1 coin for my gym locker and shopping basket ( I know you can get a £1 disk but I keep forgetting to get one. ) Our pub is cash only and so is the bakery and sweet shop near me. Also one of the hairdressers I go to is only cash.

Elizabethlovejoy · 08/12/2022 18:21

I got harassed in a similar fashion last week. And when I said I had no cash they asked me to fill in a form giving my bank details for a direct debit instead.and leave it with them in the high street!This is a well known bone marrow donation charity and now I feel I cannot support them.
I assume these people are paid to canvass?
I prefer to decide which charities I want to support and do so online on my own home. We are generous as a family and I find this sort of canvassing unacceptable.

LittleBearPad · 08/12/2022 18:23

I found 20p in my wallet the other day if that counts.

Will only have cash if I know I definitely need it.

Roseyleaf · 08/12/2022 18:25

I'm kind of missing the point, but charity collectors are not allowed to rattle buckets or tins in front of people.

DappledThings · 08/12/2022 18:25

Never. Was pleased this year that all the poppy sellers had card readers so I could get one.

Occasionally have to go to corner shop, get out a tenner and break it there to get change for DC needing a contribution to various charity days. Don't use it anywhere else.

MajorCarolDanvers · 08/12/2022 18:25

Just checking is this a thread about carrying cash or a another charity bashing thread?

lookersnoopy · 08/12/2022 18:26

'I don't carry cash' doesn't work anymore, they carry bloody card readers with them these days.

carefulcalculator · 08/12/2022 18:28

I pay in cash when I can. I carry coins. I am the busker's dream!

Original poster
RedDiamond · 08/12/2022 18:28

@MajorCarolDanvers I started this thread to ask who does not carry cash etc. For me, definitely not a charity bashing thread. If I had had the cash, I would have put something in her bucket.

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 08/12/2022 18:31

I've not carried cash since covid either.

amiold · 08/12/2022 18:32

RedDiamond · 08/12/2022 18:16

I was walking past a charity collector and was sort of ambushed. By that I mean she blocked my way and rattled her bucket before me. I had to explain that I do not carry cash normally so had nothing to put in her bucket. The last time I emptied my purse out I gave it to a homeless young person near to where I live.

The charity collector was very indignant and told me she never went without cash in her purse. I got used to no cash during Covid. I also do online shopping for food and anything else I need. She cannot have been more than 10/15 years older than me but she made me feel embarrassed. Is it an old school thing?

The only time I have cash now is if I know I HAVE to pay in cash and will go to an ATM.

How many of you also do not carry cash or not a lot of cash anymore?

If she blocked my way and started with that attitude I'd have told her to fucking move and shoved past. She was rude and tried to bully you into. Charitable donations are at your discretion. Don't feel bad. Half of the money pays for staff, company cars, offices etc anyways. Only charities that I'm happy to donate to are those ran by volunteers ... the ones who do it out of the kindness of their heart.

LynneBenfield · 08/12/2022 18:34

I carry a small amount of cash for tips when I know I’ll need it but generally no.

As for the charity collector, giving is discretionary on the part of the giver, so she had no business pressing you once you’d made it clear you were not donating (whatever your reason).

CheeseIsMyPatronus · 08/12/2022 18:38

I have two pound coins for lockers at the leisure centre, a £20 for emergencies. but nope, not generally.

Ramble0n · 08/12/2022 18:40

I usually have a few quid in my purse.

Wheretheskyisblue · 08/12/2022 18:51

I carry it becuased I refuse to pay the mark up on the ringgo parking app.

SirenSays · 08/12/2022 18:54

I don't usually carry much cash if any. Yesterday a homeless person asked me for money and when I said I had no change he asked for notes and got very angry when I didn't have any to give

Oakbeam · 08/12/2022 18:58

I only ever carry about £20 unless I know I’m going to need more. I haven’t changed my habits in over 40 years, so I suppose in real terms I’m carrying a lot less than I used to.

Ponderingwindow · 08/12/2022 19:05

Nothing small. I keep a couple of larger amounts in my wallet for emergencies. Haven’t actually had to use them in years.

TooBigForMyBoots · 08/12/2022 19:05

I do. I find it easier to manage my spending.

Chateaudiaries · 08/12/2022 19:05

I take cash with me into town. I need to pay £5 cash on a Saturday for ds football training.

And I always give our local busker something as I’m passing.

APurpleSquirrel · 08/12/2022 19:12

I have cash in my purse - need it for DDs pocket money; stuff at school (donations, payment for various activities) etc.
it's definitely becoming a thing though - very difficult when you are trying to raise funds for a charity.
We had a stall at a local Christmas Market & were selling raffle tickets - we can't take card payments as it's classed as gambling & many card readers (SumUp etc) as well as online transaction operators (PayPal) won't allow you to use them for gambling. Unfortunately we lost quite a few potential customers as they had no cash & we couldn't take cards.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/12/2022 19:13

I carry a bit of emergency cash in my phone case as I quite often go for a walk without any cards. It's not there to be given away at random.

slowquickstep · 08/12/2022 19:20

I take cash out of my account to last the week, never take my card out at any other time. By doing this i really think about what i am buying. When i started doing this after using card payment for a long time i realised just how much i spent on things i didn't need. That first month i had hundreds of pounds left over by the next pay day. By doing that it helped me retire in my 40s. 1 because i had saved so much and 2 it made me realise how little i need to be happy and content.

JenniferWooley · 08/12/2022 19:23

I currently have about £100 in my purse but only because my dad gave me money for the kids Xmas & my mum gave me a tenner to pick her something up from Tesco.

I'll use the cash to put into a couple of collections at work, get my nails done, pay for my share of the Chinese at my aunts Xmas girls night & to fill my church collection envelopes - so by Sunday I'll have no cash.

Usually I'm scrabbling about for cash to pop into the church envelope on a Sunday morning & would have to make a special trip to the cash machine for nails etc.

maximist · 08/12/2022 19:28

There's probably a small amount of cash in my purse, but since I very seldom take it out with me, it's not much use. I use Apple Pay for absolutely everything these days, using my watch, it's just so easy.

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