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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

963 replies

InHibernationTilISummer · 03/03/2018 23:27

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.

OP posts:
Chienrouge · 04/03/2018 08:02

Exactly the same here AutumnalTed!

ScandiNoir · 04/03/2018 08:03

I am late 50's and always have cash. I hate the idea that some Big Brother is is tracking every last thing I spend my money on! So I routinely get £200/250 out every month and that's my spending money, coffees, lunch with friend, small top up purchases,my hairdresser, cinema etc. Sometimes I get out more cash and pay cash for shoes or a new kettle or similar. The shop assistant is often surprised!

mishfish · 04/03/2018 08:03

I’m a terrible spender with my card and was doing really well budgeting when giving myself a daily cash allowance (that I could carry over). I need to get back into the habit of it again.

lifechangesforever · 04/03/2018 08:05

Plus my Monzo card can't track or categorise what I'm spending if I draw cash out.

OliviaStabler · 04/03/2018 08:09

I do carry cash on me most times but rarely use it. I prefer to put all my spend on my credit card. That way I see where all my money is going and I get points from my credit card.

I dud get stopped by a beggar the other day asking for money but I was off to the gym and don't carry cash when going there. My gym is only a few minutes away from my home so no cash needed. She gave me a bloody filthy look when I apologised and said I had no cash. I assume she thought I was lying Sad

WhiskeySourpuss · 04/03/2018 08:10

I rarely carry cash because I don't need it.

I transfer DD's school/pocket money into her bank account & she goes to the ATM if she needs cash.

If I desperately needed cash whilst at work I'd put a card payment through for the amount I needed & swap it out of the till in one office & borrow from petty cash in the other - appreciate this isn't an option for everyone.

Everywhere else I use my card.

AbsolutelyCorking · 04/03/2018 08:12

I agree with pp it’s usually a symptom of being tight to not carry some cash as it means you don’t have any money to pay for certain things that require cash. I’ve seen people use this as an excuse time and time again.

I always carry cash. It looks much better and cleaner on your bank statement and for your credit score to just have one transaction of cash withdrawal rather than a huge list of little amounts on your bank statement. 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.

littleducks · 04/03/2018 08:12

I don carry cash. It's annoying and heavy once you break a note that you end up with change for ages. I'm in London so can't pay cash on bus/train anyway.

I used to withdraw somefor dd sports class but they are going contactless.

LoniceraJaponica · 04/03/2018 08:14

The school buses only take cash so DD needs it to get to school. Our local pub wouldn't be too impressed at having to use a cats machine for every drink that people buy either, and I doubt that our baker would be happy for people to use cards for a single loaf of bread.

Chienrouge · 04/03/2018 08:14

It looks much better and cleaner on your bank statement and for your credit score to just have one transaction of cash withdrawal rather than a huge list of little amounts on your bank statement. 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

This isn’t true at the bank I work for. They look at total incomings and outgoings, not each transaction.

IfYouDontImagineNothingHappens · 04/03/2018 08:14

I use card because I don't need to use cash and I can keep track of my spending better with card. Cash machines are getting fewer, I go to one thing in a week that needs cash and it's really annoying because it's out of my way to the cash machine.

I've got mortgages fine and my credit score is good.

Chienrouge · 04/03/2018 08:15

Oh and also the only bank in my village has closed and taken it’s ATM with it. There’s only one ATM now and that’s at the petrol station, and has a £1.75 charge.

beboldbebluntbehonest · 04/03/2018 08:16

I never carry cash because of budgeting and if I take say £200 a week out but then need something online and I've taken my weeks budget out then I'm screwed so I only take out money I know I'll need for lashes or getting my nails done. The only time I had a decent amount of cash on me was when I went shopping after Christmas with my Christmas/birthday money. I paid for a pair of loubis, a handbag, a purse & a Tiffany's necklace in cash (over £2000 in separate transactions mind) and it was so nerve wrecking to be walking about with that much cash that I'll never do it again.

Chienrouge · 04/03/2018 08:17

It also doesn’t work that way for credit scoring. Credit agencies look at things like debts outstanding, whether there are any missed payments and total balances. They do not go through your bank statements looking at transactions. Until very recently I worked in this area.

BarbaraofSevillle · 04/03/2018 08:17

Surprised so many people seem to have abandoned cash. Where I am parking meters are mostly cash only and it feels wrong to spend less than about a fiver on a card. Plenty of small shops, cafes etc either don't take cards, or charge extra on small transactions.

I usually have £20-30 in my purse for small transactions like a coffee, newspaper and will continue to use cash for these. It seems simpler than messing about with phone apps anyway.

MargaretCavendish · 04/03/2018 08:19

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.

I'm pretty certain you've just made this up. It's not advice I've ever made from any reputable source - and why would an underwriter looking at your statements actively prefer those that give them less information?

ProfYaffle · 04/03/2018 08:20

I usually have a small amount of cash on me but could totally understand your situations 2 and 3.

In 2 I probably wouldn't want to have to worry about how to carry extra cash when in a gym outfit and would worry about where it is during the class in the hall.

And in 3, I very often just take keys and phone when I'm dropping dc off and not expecting to have to buy anything.

GrannyGrissle · 04/03/2018 08:21

My friend goes one better and always 'forgets' her wallet Hmm

HotelEuphoria · 04/03/2018 08:22

I don't carry much cash, maybe less than a fiver but I always have a full selection of cards with me just in case I lose one.

I did have a tenner in my purse a few weeks ago and have not dipped into it yet. Now I bloody well can't because it's one of the old ones so I am going to have to put it in the bank, what a PiA!

Deandre · 04/03/2018 08:23

I never have cash, money is paid from work into the bank. I don’t know many people who carry cash nowadays, hence that constant scramble to find a coin for the trollies, stupid things why can’t they take card too!!

JustMarriedBecca · 04/03/2018 08:23

Nothing to do with budgeting. I try not to carry a bag. I have my debit card which I keep in my bra and my phone in my pocket. I have cash at home to pay the cleaner, Gardner etc if they ask for it in cash but otherwise it's all debit. Slightly worrying when you look at your bank statement and see how many times a week you spend in Greggs

CherryMaDeary · 04/03/2018 08:23

MargaretCavendish

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.

I'm pretty certain you've just made this up. It's not advice I've ever made from any reputable source - and why would an underwriter looking at your statements actively prefer those that give them less information?

Agree, Margaret. Banks are only concerned about lots of large transactions. They asked why i had transferred £10k between my accounts.

ilovesushi · 04/03/2018 08:24

I don't carry cash. If I need something specific I take out a tenner - usually when I am en route to the work Costa which won't accept cards under a certain limit. My work colleague can never believe it as he carries over £100 in cash on him at all times. But then I find that weird. I do carry a little tupperware box of coins in the car though for parking!

Birdsgottafly · 04/03/2018 08:27

"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"

My DD has only just got a first time Mortgage. They looked at her bank accounts and it made no difference that she rarely uses cash. In fact when she first went to the financial adviser he said that it was good that the things she spent on, such as weekly nails, MacDonalds milkshakes etc showed that she had expenditure that she could cut, if she needed to. which she did for three months.

Rather than drawing out cash and it could be getting drank/up her nose etc.

Babdoc · 04/03/2018 08:28

Never carry cash on me, just cards, except for church collection money or the table money at Bridge club. I keep some coins in the car for parking meters. I can’t stand handbags, so only have room in my coat pocket for keys, card, phone and hanky!