Cash?

[Flutterbybudget]

To think that companies and shops should really be accepting cash again now?
I know that during the last few years, people were being encouraged to use contactless payments “where possible” officially to reduce germ carrying on cash, but NOW with no Covid restrictions and the cost of living soaring, I think that more and more people will WANT to return to paying cash for various purchases (makes budgeting simpler) and it seems bizarre to me that some places are still refusing to accept cash payments.
I, for one, don’t want to live in a cashless society, where every penny that I have can be tracked, traced and taxed. I want to be able to sell an old piece of furniture, without that being questioned and taken as “income”. I want to be able to give my children/ grandchildren coins to put in their money box.

YANBU.
Ds14 went into a bakers to buy a pasty yesterday but couldn't get one as it was card only!
Ridiculous!

I read a newspaper report the other day that more people are using cash now for budgeting reasons. Empty wallet=no more spending. I do accept for retailers accepting cash has cost implications: someone has to count it and what do they do with it now so many bank branches have closed?

We are in the transition phase to digital currency, where every penny you have will be traced, tracked and analysed. Too many bottles of wine this week? Card disabled

Unless you are actively turning away from these companies and refusing to purchase things through them via card then you're just as much as part of the problem tbh

The way these threads normally go is that you get hoards of posters who haven't seen an actual bit of money since 2003 and can't comprehend that people still use cash

I agree with you and spend cash regularly

Last bank closed in my town so many businesses choose to be card only, saves on travelling to another town to bank

I live in a small town on the coast. There are no longer any banks here and the nearest ones are 12 miles away. Yesterday, I attempted to draw cash out of the ATMs in the town and there was no cash left, leaving me with no alternative but to use my card. As some businesses - like the local Chinese take-away - do not accept card payments, I found this all a tad limiting on what we had planned for the weekend.

Now - you might tell me I should've been better prepared and drawn money out before the weekend began, but who's to say when (exactly) they were emptied out?

Cards are massively more conveient and easy to use, imo.

If I want to pay cash, and can’t, then I DO walk away. If I want to pay with card, then I don’t notice that they don’t accept cash, I’m not sure what your point is

I don’t know anyone who is suggesting that cards shouldn’t be an “option”, just that cash should be an “option” as well

I agree OP. Mostly because it's easier for DC. Eg. the local buses don't take cash any more which means DC needs a card. If DC forgets the card they can't get home.

I’ve been using cash regularly in the last 18 months, I can’t think of anywhere I’ve been that they’re not accepting it 🤷‍♀️

It must be where I am (UK region) - our bus services do take cash.

@VickyEadieofThigh that's what it's like in the tiny rural town where we live. The cash machines get raided in the Summer. There's a cafe here that is cash only and the Chinese may still be like that too. Everywhere takes cash, there isn't anywhere that's card only but I guess its totally different in the cities.

YANBU.
A cashless society isn't one we should be rushing towards.

I popped in a local shop to get some milk, they wouldn't accept my cash, wanted card only, which had a minimum spend of £3...

Was just highlighting the hypocrisy.

How is it hypocritical to want to have the option? 🤷‍♀️

It was Burger King, I wanted to buy a drink - was really shocked to be told that they only take cards now

I love cash. It helps people stay out of debt, as they know what they're spending and can't spend if they don't physically have it.
I've always had a 'tin,'for my holiday or Christmas.
I like to put a few quid in a charity tin now and again.
Obviously I use cards too.. but I love cash and would be sad to see us go cashless.
Re covid; businesses just suit themselves, using covid as an excuse, customer doesn't matter a jot anymore. Amazing they still prefer cash tips in half of these places mind you!

I prefer to use cash, it's easier to keep track of spending that way.

I work in retail. More and more people are using cash, ridiculously so. And many paying in small coins. Businesses that don't accept cash are limiting themselves.

To add, I do get that with banks closing it's an issue. We are lucky to have a security guy come collect our banking but are supposed to move to self banking. I can see this reversed when the local branch closes!

YNBU, I find the thought of living a cashless society quite depressing and also a little scary. What happens when the tills break down as happened to a local cafe near us a few weeks ago, Thankfully they took cash and I had a bit on me, but not much and I had to change my order.

It properly made me think and now I try to keep some money in my purse and use it where I can.

Cash is great for so many things as pp said, it's much better for budgeting, it teaches children about the value of money, it can be given as presents, just putting money into a bank account seem really quite soulless to me, even though that' what I do for my older nieces.

I don't want to live in a cashless world.

I take cash at my business, bank it at the post office who take pretty much all high street bank pay ins now. I like having cash and spending cash, would hate a cashless society

The issue for many businesses is that banking cash is really hard, both finding somewhere to bank it and then the charges it incurrs. Its also more expensive in terms of accounting, fraud and risk of robbery.

However, I get it's totally frustrating for those who prefer to use cash for whatever reason. It also marginalises those who struggle with technology.

The government would love a cashless society . So easy to control the peasants .
I use both but mostly cash in physical shops and card online .

A friend who volunteers in a charity shop told me that they've noticed an increase in people paying cash in the last month.

As an aside does anyone here know the relative costs to a business of banking cash versus taking payment by card? There's a transaction charge to the business of taking payment by card, it's why there used to be a minimum spend if you were paying by card. I haven't seen that for years now, but I've assumed the charge is just much less rather than zero.