To wonder why so many people don't carry any cash on them?

[InHibernationTilISummer]

Excluding people who are skint and the Queen, obviously.

I've had so many examples of this in the last few weeks:

• Colleague who came into the work in the bad weather. Lots of delays and problems on the bus route they normally get so wanted to get the train instead but had no money for a ticket because they had come in with their season bus pass and lunch and hadn't expected to be spending any money.
• Friend turning up for exercise class but hasn't realised that the price has gone up 50p since she last came - and she only brought the exact money she thought she would need.
• Another friend dropping older child off at sport class finds that there's a fair going on at the sports centre with stalls and activities that her younger child (who was with her) would have enjoyed. Complains that she wishes she had known about it in advance as she would have taken some money out with her.

Is this becoming more common or is it just the people I know? If you aren't skint but don't routinely carry money on you, why is that?

I've been in situations where I haven't expected to be spending any (or much) money and some problem has occurred or plans have changed for some reason (e.g. having to accompany someone to A & E or the last bus not turning up) and I would have been really stuck if I hadn't taken some spare 'emergency' cash.

If I need to split some cash with a friend for something (eg they bought a ticket for an event and I owe them for mine) I can just PayPal them the money, no charges. All I need is their email address, takes a few taps

A friend did the same with Pingit, they just needed my mobile number. Boom. Cash sorted

If you are looking to get out a mortgage for example, financial advisors would say to take out cash each monthly to keep your transactions to a minimum and to keep your statements looking clean

Absolute utter bollocks. We look at total incomings and outgoings that's all. Nobody gives a monkeys if it's 1 withdrawal or 500, just if you can afford the payments.
This advice sounds like it's either from the 1950s or off the top of someone's gullible head.

The thing with a phone is that one card is the main card and I use different cards depending where I shop, so JL a JL card M&S, likewise to get optimum points, so a bit of a faff if the right card is not the main one. I have about 5 different cards for different stuff including clarity for abroad and Debit card for cashback

I went to use contactless for fuel in the USA. The woman on the counter looked at me as if I was really thick, took my card and demonstrated how to put a card in a card reader apparently they'd not heard of contactless in Ohio.

I don't 'carry cash' (that phrase seems to imply making a habit of always having cash on you). Only time is if I have absolutely no choice but to get cash out for something I'll have the change kicking around in my bag until I use it.

There's just no real need, trying to think of when I've needed cash over the past few months and the only exception I can think of is a parking meter on the street. Other than that there is no need. I use card for everything, whatever the amount. 60p pack of gum from Tesco, card. Why wouldn't you?

It's just much easier than faffing around trying to have several methods for payment on you when one will suffice. If I come across a stall or something I'd like to buy from and they don't take card I would move on to one that does.

If you are looking to get out a mortgage for example, financial advisors would say to take out cash each monthly to keep your transactions to a minimum and to keep your statements looking clean

Huh? Nope. Got a mortgage last August and they couldn't give a monkeys. I was worried as I thought they'd look at previous months spending but we'd had a big 3 week holiday in America so not our usual spending. Broker insisted it didn't matter at all.

My yoga class you pay the teacher in cash. Much easier for both of us to have set him up as a payee for my online banking, and it takes a couple of taps to transfer the exact amount direct using my banking app. Means he isn't faffing around with finding change because no one has brought the exact money, and I don't have to get cash out specially

Some of the stalls at the food market near my work are card only - it's easier for them to have a little iZettle machine than faff around with cash

The thing with a phone is that one card is the main card and I use different cards depending where I shop

That's not a problem, you don't have to use the default card. I use several cards from my phone.

I never carry notes these days, not ever. I don't even carry my card either.
I cycle to work, my house keys have the shopping trolley pound keyring thingy. I'm often tempted to buy a money canister for my keys too. A bit like a dogs address tube. I found some last year on ebay and never got round to ordering. If I could jam a £20 note in one it would certainly bring peace of mind. I always thought they would make wonderful presents (with money included obviously)

A far cry from when I was a sub contractor several years ago, then my wallet never had less than £200, just incase I needed to buy materials for work.

I can't believe how many people don't know that you can make payments on your phone anywhere that takes contactless payment.

I can't be bothered to visit the cash point unless I really need to, and mainly I don't need to.

Whilst I carry cash for small purchases (lunch, milk from the corner shop etc) I know of several people who don't and use contactless for most purchases. Some have said convenience as a reason.

I have used my phone several times and found it a bit of a pain maybe as I have an old 6s, maybe a newer phone is easier. One of my credit cards gave me £10 for using phone payment 3 times so they obviously want you to use it

Nasty mugging. Unlike cash, I can replace cards. Cards also make it easier for me to monitor spending.

I can't believe how many people don't know that you can make payments on your phone anywhere that takes contactless payment

Some people aren't in to technology and following the changes. There are still so many debit cards out there that still don't allow contactless payments. Some changes come slowly.

2016 saw over a 140% increase though so it is gaining in popularity and trust is a big thing as well.
A lot of people didn't trust contactless at first but the figures show they are warming to it.

Statements looking clean? Financial advisors saying take cash out as it looks better? Absolute nonsense. Would love to know where you got that from 😂

If I use my card then I spend the £1.85 and nothing else as its not worth buying a pack of 45p chewing gum on my card

What do you mean 'not worth it'? What's the difference for you between using your card versus handing over cash that would make the card not worth it? You don't get penalised or charged for choosing to pay by card

I think a lot of people still have quite antiquated ideas about what's appropriate to use card and cash for, such as PP talking about a business 'not being happy' if you want to pay by card for a small amount. If they weren't fine with it they wouldn't allow it. Or they'd add a charge like 50p for transactions under a fiver, like some small businesses do (which I happily pay). As newer generations grow up this sort of thinking will disappear as it'll be abnormal to see cash as an option I think when everything is paid for with card.

Sounds like some people are seriously overthinking the concept of keeping a bit of cash on their person and making it much more complicated than it actually is.

Bit harsh, when there are people on the thread who have no idea about using their phones to pay for stuff via contactless with their cards linked. That's not complicated either!

It's such an outdated way of doing things I was curious too. Not that I don't know how to get cash but more, do you draw out a set amount at the start of the week? Make a special trip to the cash point? Do you replace when you've spent a certain amount of what you keep on you or just let it run down until the following week?

I'm thirty so not a teenager but even to me the notion of going out of your way to use cash instead of card seems totally alien and difficult to understand, and is something i associate more with my mum's generation (going into the bank, withdrawing cash and faffing around etc).

You spend about 20% less a week using cash as you can see it decreasing easier

As soon as I use my Monzo card for anything I immediately get a notification on my phone telling me the exact amount I've just spent. If I open the app it shows me my exact spending, visualised to see how it's gone up and down, and categorised so I can see how much I've frittered on coffee and lunches out. The visualisation of my spending gives me a far greater level of insight into my spending than with cash

Limon. I probably am your mums generation or older and pay by contactlesscard for all small items but do carry a big purse with all my cards and vouchers in. I rarely use cash but always have it just in case

You spend about 20% less a week using cash as you can see it decreasing easier

YOU might. I wouldn't.

I can't believe how many people don't know that you can make payments on your phone anywhere that takes contactless payment

You can't make a payment on your phone anywhere that takes contactless payment! Lots of places you can use contactless but not phone pay.

I just spend

Contactless is the same handset technology as phone pay.

I never carry cash. Don't have contactless, either. Don't want it. Don't usually carry a phone, either.

You can't make a payment on your phone anywhere that takes contactless payment! Lots of places you can use contactless but not phone pay

That's not correct. I've attached an explanation from Barclays for you.

www.visa.co.uk/products/mobile-contactless/

You can pay with Contactless Mobile in any of the 400,000 locations across the UK that accepts contactless payments – plus locations outside the UK that accept contactless Visa payments. To make a payment, simply hold your mobile over the reader – it’ll work within a matter of seconds.