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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:
scaryteacher · 04/03/2018 09:57

Creature Dh normally has €150 cash, and I have at least €50-100 a week, depending on what I'm doing. Cash is not old fashioned in Belgium, it's essential in certain parts of the economy!! I couldn't go to the frituur over the road for steak frites if I didn't have cash, neither could I use the local pizzeria.

As my only Apple product is my uncharged iPod, Apple pay would be impossible anyway, and I don't want or need a smartphone.

timeistight · 04/03/2018 10:02

This drives me mad. I run our office Tea Club and the number of people who come to work with no money at all, or just change for the car park. I've always got some money and my debit card - just in case.

HolidayHelpPlease · 04/03/2018 10:07

I don’t carry cash unless it’s coins. I’m a teacher and my bag is often unattended in my office, so if a child came in and stole money from me I’d have no proof - steal my cards on the other hand, and I can get the police involved!

BitOutOfPractice · 04/03/2018 10:10

I pay my gardener, window cleaner and nail women with cash. DD1 has to pay for lunches at school with cash (and so did DD2 till last September!). I pay cash if I pop into the local tesco. I pay cash for parking. After school clubs. Small transactions in local shops. If I go abroad (regularly) I always take some currency. I can't get my head around all you cashless lot Grin

LightastheBreeze · 04/03/2018 10:11

creaturefeatures I get my cash as cashback at a supermarket, you can generally get up to £50 if you spend at least £1, I don't get a set amount out each week, I just get some if my cash runs low, I generally have £10-20 cash on me. I don't use ATMs.

LizzyButton · 04/03/2018 10:12

The £21 rule.

I do most things by card and think nothing of it. However, I often feel that we are on the edge of a local or temporary breakdown of things. This might be weather related, terrorism, banks going down, power cuts...

There's a £20 note and a £1 coin in the "secret" inside bit of my purse. They are to get me fed or out or in communication if things go down.

The £1 coin sometimes gets used at Liverpool street for toilet change.

Blackteadrinker77 · 04/03/2018 10:13

I don't use cash or a card, I just have my phone with me.

woodhill · 04/03/2018 10:21

I always have cash on me. At least £10 and change

BarbaraofSevillle · 04/03/2018 10:21

But wouldn't you be totally screwed if your phone got lost, stolen, the battery went flat or there was no signal?

lljkk · 04/03/2018 10:24

How do you guys all pay by phone -- Zapp?
I forget to even turn my phone on.

Lweji · 04/03/2018 10:28

How do people have cash on them? Genuine question....do you have to go to an ATM and draw out what you think you'll need for the week?

Do you really need to ask?
Yes, just get to a cash point and get some. Like when you want to buy something and go to a shop.
It's not hard to understand or figure out.

If people go out without cash or spare cash it's entirely their problem. You can't predict everything in life and sometimes communications may stop working. Systems fail.
Just don't go around asking those who do take the trouble of having cash to bail you out.

BitOutOfPractice · 04/03/2018 10:28

I don't use cash or a card, I just have my phone with me

I don't live in the sticks by any means (SE commuter town) but I'd say that about 5% of businesses here accept payment by phone

LoniceraJaponica · 04/03/2018 10:31

I would feel very twitchy about relying totally on my phone.

This thread is a classic example of town vs country. We have a lot of blackspots in terms of getting a signal where I live (rurally). All fund raisers and entry into agricultural shows are cash only. Stalls selling high value goods might have card machines, but getting a signal is tricky.

Lweji · 04/03/2018 10:33

I can easily pop my bank card, phone and keys in my coat pocket when going out but taking a purse with change in it then requires a bag and it's just a hassle really.
A bank note and a couple of larger coins don't require a purse.

Blackteadrinker77 · 04/03/2018 10:35

But wouldn't you be totally screwed if your phone got lost, stolen, the battery went flat or there was no signal

I'd then use my watch but I always have my phone in my hand really as I take almost constant calls or emails. I would never let it die, even if it tried I have a portable charger in my laptop bag.

It doesn't work by signal, it uses NFC. You can use it in aeroplane mode also.

Items over £30 I click and collect so it's ready for me and I don't have to faff on looking for it and paying for it. I use e-wallets for that.

ireallyhatesnow · 04/03/2018 10:35

I always have cash on me because we get the bus to school. If I have my purse, it will always have at least £10 worth of change in it. I spend £2.30 each day, 5 days a week on the bus so need it.
I also carry a £10 in my phone case at all times incase of emergencies.

DH doesn't have cash unless I put it in his wallet. He forgot his wallet at work the other day and was gutted because he had wanted to go to the shop. So I've given him £10 to keep in his car, in case that happens again!

BarbaraofSevillle · 04/03/2018 10:36

How do people have cash on them? Genuine question....do you have to go to an ATM and draw out what you think you'll need for the week

I simply get cash so that I constantly have £20-30 in my purse. Sometimes it lasts a couple of days, sometimes it can last a few weeks, depending what I am doing. It starts to run down, I get some more when I am near a cash machine.

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.

Blackteadrinker77 · 04/03/2018 10:37

£100 I meant.

BarbaraofSevillle · 04/03/2018 10:40

I'd then use my watch but I always have my phone in my hand really as I take almost constant calls or emails. I would never let it die, even if it tried I have a portable charger in my laptop bag

Well if that works for you. Sounds exhausting, I couldn't live like that.

Blackteadrinker77 · 04/03/2018 10:40

How do you guys all pay by phone -- Zapp

Just your banking app. I have Barclays, which is my debit and credit cards.

Blackteadrinker77 · 04/03/2018 10:42

Well if that works for you. Sounds exhausting, I couldn't live like that

Carrying a phone is exhausting?

BarbaraofSevillle · 04/03/2018 10:44

No, constantly calling and emailing.

LoniceraJaponica · 04/03/2018 10:44

I'm not self important enough to have constant emails and calls Grin

notacooldad · 04/03/2018 10:48

How do people have cash on them? Genuine question....do you have to go to an ATM and draw out what you think you'll need for the week? confused
Often when I'm shopping and pay on my card there is an option for cash back. Sometimes I'll ask for a twenty.
You dont need an ATM.

Blackteadrinker77 · 04/03/2018 10:49

I don't live in the sticks by any means (SE commuter town) but I'd say that about 5% of businesses here accept payment by phone

Only 5% accept contactless? Where is this place?

This thread is a classic example of town vs country. We have a lot of blackspots in terms of getting a signal where I live (rurally). All fund raisers and entry into agricultural shows are cash only. Stalls selling high value goods might have card machines, but getting a signal is tricky

I live in the sticks, and often go to shows. You just pay before you go online. No standing waiting to pay.
You do not need a signal to pay. They don't work like that they use NFC technology.