Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
bananaboats · 08/12/2022 19:33

I have never routinely carried cash. If anyone gives me cash for any reason it sits in my purse for months!

Moonatics · 08/12/2022 20:03

I have some normally small amount of cash in my purse, but I don't usually carry my purse.
I won the works lottery a few weeks ago was paid a hundred in cash. That will keep me going til next March probably.

I'm old, so no it's not a thing

AfterSchoolWorry · 08/12/2022 20:05

Almost never.

IntentionalError · 08/12/2022 20:09

My purse currently contains about £17 & €25 That’s more cash than I normally carry, because the € are left over from a trip to Munich a few weeks ago.

reluctantbrit · 08/12/2022 20:10

I just re-started using cash. First, I now park each week for my yoga class and am fed up paying the RingGo premium. And, I found I lost the overview of small purchases.

£100 last a long time but it helps reigning in spending.

AnonWeeMouse · 08/12/2022 20:14

Technically speaking, always.. I keep 2 lucky coins in my purse.
For spending though, i don't carry any ever. Just cards.

AriettyHomily · 08/12/2022 20:20

Never hash cash but all the charity collections have contactless here anyway

bigbluebus · 08/12/2022 20:37

If I've got my larger handbag with my purse in then I usually have some cash - both coin and notes. But if I'm out with a small bag - as I was last night as we were going out for a meal then I only had my phone and bank card. We passed a rough sleeper as we walked to the restaurant and he asked us for loose change. We genuinely didn't have any. I commented to DH that fewer people now carry cash so wouldn't have any change to give.

blueflagflyhigh · 09/12/2022 10:37

I pretty much never have no cash on me. I think that is quite unusual. I'd say I've always usually got maybe up to £10 on me. I don't like carrying cash around so try not to so that's why I only keep small amounts on me.

Need to sometimes pay for parking, kids need a £1 for this or that at school/nursery. At swimming lessons need money for hair dryers and lockers. So I do go through cash every week. There's no way I couldn't not carry cash. Some things u can't pay by card. I'd love a cashless life I never know what I've spend cash on 🙈 I'm always like how's that £30 I took out all gone and I convince myself I maybe lost a tenner 😂

You shouldn't have been stopped lie that though very rude.

SinnerBoy · 09/12/2022 10:45

RedDiamond · Yesterday 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.^

That's unacceptable behaviour, I've had that a couple of times and I've told them they're getting nothing. You could phone the charity to complain. You give to charities because you want to, not because of aggressive collectors ordering you to and telling you how to organise your finances!

Anyway, I've usually got £40 to £50 in my wallet and a few pounds in coins.

megletthesecond · 09/12/2022 10:46

Yes, always. I even pay for petrol with cash. Helps me budget.

Precipice · 09/12/2022 11:15

No, I always have cash if I have any source of money at all. I feel strongly about maintaining the ability to pay in cash and so I pay in cash for everything except bills and online purchases.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/12/2022 11:18

I hardly ever have cash anymore. I owe my friend £1.50 for the pub quiz last night!

StaceySolomonSwash · 09/12/2022 11:30

I've got a pound coin I keep in the car for supermarket trolleys. I took cash out before the first lockdown and that's still sitting in my purse because I pay by card everywhere, even in the pub! At some stage I'll pay it back into the account I reckon but I don't even go to the bank that often any more.

chocolateasaltyballs22 · 09/12/2022 11:36

Cheeky sods. I think I have €5 from my summer holiday. No other cash. For me it's a great excuse not to give to chuggers/beggars.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 09/12/2022 11:43

I always carry cash, just through habit.
Increasingly struggle to use it in shops though...

mindutopia · 09/12/2022 11:45

Nope, I literally have a euro that I use for the shopping trolley and I have some tokens from a fairground we went to like 2 years ago. That's the closest thing to cash in my wallet.

VikingLady · 09/12/2022 11:51

I carry cash. What's the point of using a card for a single cuppa in a cafe? Or a couple of things on the market? Or if I take the kids somewhere we'll want odds and ends.

I carried a tenner on me always back when I worked in an office, in case of emergency taxis if I was ill or the bus didn't come.

MinnieMountain · 09/12/2022 11:51

Our cleaner wants to be paid in cash, so I take out £50 at a time to cover her £25 and things such as school collections.

MinnieMountain · 09/12/2022 11:53

Good point re cuppas. I had to sub a new friend last week as the cafe’s card machine was broken.

palygold · 09/12/2022 11:54

I usually carry some cash, yes. I always have a folded note and coins (for locker) in my light gym purse, too.

There was a recent, long, much fraught, thread about cash recently. Though I've since heard (friend) that a homeless person produced a donation app on their phone after being told by my my friend that they had no cash. £5.00 they gave.

Though the cash thread said that Big Issue sellers are sometimes given card readers.

jlm122 · 09/12/2022 11:57

I get paid in cash, so carry cash every day

ZeroFuchsGiven · 09/12/2022 11:58

I always carry cash.

YellowTreeHouse · 09/12/2022 11:59

No, never. It’s not necessary anymore.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 09/12/2022 12:01

Always, I find it easier to budget that way.