To ask if going cashless is a good thing.

[smittenkittten]

Most people I know don’t want to go cashless, but it seems to be inevitable that we are heading that way. Personally I hate the idea. There’s so many occasions when cash is needed, too many to mention, but it’s the little things mainly. Treating the grandkids, summer fetes, bring and buy sales, car boots......all the things where you usually use cash..
Will it just be digits in a bank account? What if you lose your phone? ...What do people think of it all?

always have cash.
Cashless would be a disaster.

I still have my old manual card machine and slips from one of my businesses. I would be asking that every small business has one as they were a life saver a few years ago

I see they've started advertising card readers on TV now. Maybe in ten years cash will be gone forever.

I thought of somewhere that is card only! The local train ticket machines.

But, the train ticket checkers get commission if you buy from them, so they don't want passengers using the machines. Want passengers to buy ticket on train. Also, sometimes ticket-checkers lose signal so can't take payment by card for a few minutes on that line. Cash is best for them.

And I'm not sure if booking swim session at local pool might be card only. I have membership but if I bought one of my kids a guest session, that is probably card-only. They probably take cash at counter, though, for things like goggles that they sell. I bet I could pay by cash for DC to swim, if I rang & asked they'd sort it.

I love going to the amusements and playing the money falls etc. It just wouldn't be the same if you didn't win lots of 2p's! And I'm not sure if the donkey rides at the seaside accept chip n pin or contactless.......,.

I remember the thrill my kids got when they got a cone of 2ps from the change machine at the amusements. Can you imagine going somewhere like Blackpool with the kids when it’s cashless. Donkey rides, candy floss, ice cream......and all like to have their own little spends that they’d save up for. Not going to be the same.

I went to a National Trust cafe recently that had signs up saying card payments preferred, and I had my card out ready to pay - only for the card reader to stop working. Everyone had to pay in cash, which I expect some people didn't have, and there was no cash machine nearby. Fortunately my husband had some cash on him - I only had £5 in my purse as I've all but stopped using it. So although I much prefer paying by card and find it easier, there are problems associated with going completely cashless.

This morning I went past one of the various roadside stalls that we have round here, selling things like eggs and apples and strawberries, usually unattended with an honesty box screwed to the stall.

Cash or nothing with those.

Imagine being cashless when there's a terror attack on communications

@safariboot

If the computer has to say yes every time you buy something, what happens when the computer says no?

A "cashless society" lays the foundations for a huge amount of control by people who should not be in control. And, of course, for plain old computer fuckups and hacks.

Tyranny is only ever an election away.

Agree.

Having cash gives us a protection of a kind.

Without any physical cash the amount of control the bank will have upon us is unthinkable. The fact that every transaction could be traced.

I'm not involved in any illegal activity but don't like the lack of privacy and control going cashless will have.

A world without cash would mean a world without those 2p Tipping Point machines you get at the seaside. On that basis, I declare going cashless to be a Very Bad Thing.

@Marcee this is why I mostly use cash. I hate the fact my transactions are traced. Watching every bloody move.

@ViciousJackdaw

A world without cash would mean a world without those 2p Tipping Point machines you get at the seaside. On that basis, I declare going cashless to be a Very Bad Thing.

LOL.

I guess you'd have a card system, auto dispenser for tokens (coins) then credit on your card for all the drops.

The US has this to keep it cashless and more secure

*ViciousJackdaw

A world without cash would mean a world without those 2p Tipping Point machines you get at the seaside. On that basis, I declare going cashless to be a Very Bad Thing.

LOL.

I guess you'd have a card system, auto dispenser for tokens (coins) then credit on your card for all the drops.

The US has this to keep it cashless and more secure*

This wouldn't be the same AT ALL

@EBearhug

Cards are cleaner - as in less likelihood of physical transmission of germs. But they are also reliant on fully functioning electricity and internet networks. So I still like cash as a backup.

There is one takeaway near us which of takes cash (most take cards; some only take cards.)

There was a guy begging on the Tube I was on today. If people don't carry cash any more, they can't donate it (though many wouldn't anyway.) There won't be any dropped change, either. It is going to be very difficult for those on low or no income, no fixed address and so on - precarious lives will become even harder.

That's my worry too, how to give to beggars or street homeless without cash.

I use cash to pay my window cleaner and grass cutter.
In general I think cash makes money easier to manage, because it's concrete.

@beinglikedisoverrated

*ViciousJackdaw

A world without cash would mean a world without those 2p Tipping Point machines you get at the seaside. On that basis, I declare going cashless to be a Very Bad Thing.

LOL.

I guess you'd have a card system, auto dispenser for tokens (coins) then credit on your card for all the drops.

The US has this to keep it cashless and more secure*

This wouldn't be the same AT ALL

Oh, I know. :(

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

This morning I went past one of the various roadside stalls that we have round here, selling things like eggs and apples and strawberries, usually unattended with an honesty box screwed to the stall.

Cash or nothing with those.

I love those. Have picked up some fantastic homemade jams from roadside stalls over the years.

What about car boot sales? Maybe you would get a chip and pin / contactless device if you're a regular seller but can't see Joe bloggs having a clear out and doing a sale every six months shelling out for a device.

And market stalls. I can't imagine paying contactless for 2 carrots and a potato 🥔.

Point being is that we still NEED COLD HARD CASH

@beinglikedisoverrated

What about car boot sales? Maybe you would get a chip and pin / contactless device if you're a regular seller but can't see Joe bloggs having a clear out and doing a sale every six months shelling out for a device.

And market stalls. I can't imagine paying contactless for 2 carrots and a potato 🥔.

Point being is that we still NEED COLD HARD CASH

Our local fruit and veg stall has contactless payment now :D

Carboot would be an issue, yes.

@Pedalpushers

I cannot remember the last time I wasn't able to pay for something by card.

What about drugs 💉

I don't see why we can't have both. As so many posters have said, computers can't always be depended on. There's so many reasons why going completely cashless would be disastrous. We have to think about all the people who can be badly affected by it, not just ourselves.

One of the main money saving tips is to use cash iver a debit or credit card. Simply because its harder to let go of cash- you are losing something.
I am always astounded by how quickly I can spend £30 in cash, but when I use my card I don't even notice how much I spend. Its harder to keep track of spending with a card.