Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of cashless society

612 replies

Ihatepcos · 10/01/2023 09:31

I prefer to use cash, I always have.

I find budgeting and spending so much easier. If I am tapping away on my card I think nothing of constant £3 £6 etc being spent on things I probably wouldn't buy if I was spending cash.

More and more places simply don't take cash and it's driving me mad.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
illiterato · 10/01/2023 10:26

crackofdoom · 10/01/2023 10:20

It's all fine and convenient until the Internet goes down, or there wasn't any in the first place (the amount of beach car parks down here in Cornwall that sadistically have the number for a parking app on the side of their pay and display machines, when presumably whoever installed them knows full well that there's no signal there whatsoever 😬)

Or, in that dystopian future world where the powers that be are able to instantly shut funds off for whomever they deem to be unworthy, a la The Handmaid's Tale. It might sound far fetched, but I gather the Chinese system has already taken several steps down the road towards this.

But again, if that happened (dystopian future) unless you literally have 1000's of pounds under your mattress, the amount of cash you are likely to have about your person when you get cut off by the dystopian state will be so small that it will make no difference to your outcomes. It probably wouldn't even buy you a tank of fuel. Presumably people who still spend cash aren't also (in most cases) being paid cash so they still need to access the banking system to get at it.

Nevermind31 · 10/01/2023 10:26

Ihatepcos · 10/01/2023 09:36

Why should I have to though? I'm happy using cash and all of a sudden places won't accept ot

Show quote history

why should shops do cash because you can’t budget cashless?
not having to go to the bank to deposit, less of a target for robbers, not having to hold cash that doesn’t earn interest, less room for error (giving out wrong change)…
of course, should the electronic pay system break down we are in deep trouble… but until then, loads of positives

PollyPrissypants · 10/01/2023 10:27

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Wheelz46 · 10/01/2023 10:28

Personally, I prefer to use my card but cash should also be an option too.

You can't always rely on technology to work, if the systems go down, what's the alternative, lose customers or take cash? If I were a business I know which I would prefer!

midgetastic · 10/01/2023 10:29

Strictly shops are happy for tap to buy as they know it reduces friction and gets people to spend more so OPs concerns are totally valid

Dreamsoffreedomjoyandpeace · 10/01/2023 10:29

I don’t like it because it’s one more step towards 1984.

However, I’m far more likely to use cash because it’s not lowering my bank balance. It’s free money!!

Taylorsversion · 10/01/2023 10:30

If you are living a dystopian future where you are being cut off from being allowed to spend your money via your debit card because you have certain views/are deemed unworthy …you have bigger issues than if you can pop down to Tesco and pay in cash!

PurpleButterflyWings · 10/01/2023 10:33

Wheelz46 · 10/01/2023 10:28

Personally, I prefer to use my card but cash should also be an option too.

You can't always rely on technology to work, if the systems go down, what's the alternative, lose customers or take cash? If I were a business I know which I would prefer!

Exactly. Why should it be one or the other? It's a stupid idea to not carry a BIT of cash, even £30 or £40. I have lost count of the amount of times my debit card hasn't worked in frigging Aldi, and a few times in Asda, because of a glitch in their system. I have had to leave all my stuff there as I have no other method of payment if I have no cash. Happened at LEAST 7 times last year. I now always have 40 or so pounds cash in my purse.

Depending PURELY on your card for everything and assuming nothing is ever going to wrong with the system, and leave you unable to pay, is foolhardy and naïve.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/01/2023 10:33

georgiesmash · 10/01/2023 09:38

I was happy using a quil and ink, now people want emails

I'm with you on this,

I used to do my shopping list by painting on the cave wall, e.g. Bison, Sabre Toothed Tiger, etc. etc. then some bright spark started plucking feathers from swans to make a pen and it's just all snowballed from there.

It'll all end in tears - mark my words (you can probably do this with Alexa now)

Meseekslookatme · 10/01/2023 10:34

I haven't worked in retail for about 20 years, but even then we were trying to push towards debit cards because cash was so expensive to handle.
I've had £9 in my purse since 03/12/22.
I had to split it for a cloakroom, prior to that it sat in my purse for months.
Cash is inconvenient and I don't bother with businesses that only take cash.

PurpleButterflyWings · 10/01/2023 10:34

Taylorsversion · 10/01/2023 10:30

If you are living a dystopian future where you are being cut off from being allowed to spend your money via your debit card because you have certain views/are deemed unworthy …you have bigger issues than if you can pop down to Tesco and pay in cash!

Silly post. Hmm It's not a 'dystopian future.' This happens NOW. MANY people have been stuck without being able to pay when 'the system' or their card has failed. If this has never happened to you, then you are very fortunate!!!

ilovesooty · 10/01/2023 10:35

Ihatepcos · 10/01/2023 09:51

Those of you who are basically saying 'get with the times' do you never have any need for cash?

Only four businesses I use fairly regularly and have done for many years are cash only. I have a long relationship with them. Otherwise I'd never have any need for cash.

phoenixrosehere · 10/01/2023 10:35

crackofdoom · 10/01/2023 10:20

It's all fine and convenient until the Internet goes down, or there wasn't any in the first place (the amount of beach car parks down here in Cornwall that sadistically have the number for a parking app on the side of their pay and display machines, when presumably whoever installed them knows full well that there's no signal there whatsoever 😬)

Or, in that dystopian future world where the powers that be are able to instantly shut funds off for whomever they deem to be unworthy, a la The Handmaid's Tale. It might sound far fetched, but I gather the Chinese system has already taken several steps down the road towards this.

Why would you think cash would be the main currency in a dystopian future? It could end up becoming a full barter system based on what people need. Cash could end up being nothing but fuel for a fire.

DIYandEatCake · 10/01/2023 10:35

Its good to have the choice I think and cash can sometimes be simpler (like another poster, we experienced a car park on holiday that only took payment via an app that there wasn’t any internet to install… also taken ages frequent times to pay by card on flaky portable machines. These are just teething problems though I admit). The one thing I resent about cashless though is that it’s giving companies all sorts of data about my spending habits and movements, I’m sure all sorts of data collection and analysis goes on that we haven’t a clue about.

LordSugarTits · 10/01/2023 10:35

"It also costs many small businesses to take card payments whereas you keep all the cash you make."

🤣🤣 what rubbish. You've been reading that £50 meme bullshit on Facebook

PurpleButterflyWings · 10/01/2023 10:36

I do pay by debit card MOST OF THE TIME by the way!!! But always carry cash because, yes the system DOES fail sometimes. As I say, in Aldi it has happened quite a few times. And not just to me!!! Many people on my local market town facebook page were commenting about it some months ago!

ShesNotTheMessiah · 10/01/2023 10:36

Ihatepcos · 10/01/2023 09:51

Those of you who are basically saying 'get with the times' do you never have any need for cash?

I need cash twice a year for the car wash. That's really and genuinely it.

The reality is, this is the way the world is changing. I empathise that it doesn't suit you but I just don't think there's any stopping it.

roarfeckingroarr · 10/01/2023 10:36

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 10/01/2023 09:37

I was happy riding a horse everywhere and suddenly it’s all cars this and cars that

😂😂

I was happy with pens and paper and now everything is on computers.

Seriously though, you can change your mindset but you can't fight societal changes. Also cash just feels a bit grim now - dirty coins passed from people to people.

BuddhaAtSea · 10/01/2023 10:37

I pay my hairdresser, plumber, mechanic, independent cafe/bakery etc in cash. Always. They are small business, can’t negotiate the same deals for using cards as corporations.

Beees · 10/01/2023 10:37

It's a stupid idea to not carry a BIT of cash, even £30 or £40. I have lost count of the amount of times my debit card hasn't worked in frigging Aldi, and a few times in Asda, because of a glitch in their system. I have had to leave all my stuff there as I have no other method of payment if I have no cash. Happened at LEAST 7 times last year. I now always have 40 or so pounds cash in my purse.

You genuinely sound like a very unlucky person. My card has never not worked in a shop but should that issue arise I could also use my phone, move tills or go to another shop. Not carrying cash isn't stupid it's what a significant portion of the population do on a daily basis. We aren't stupid just because we don't want to carry cash with us on the very small chance a card machine is faulty.

Fairylightsandstuff · 10/01/2023 10:38

ShesNotTheMessiah · 10/01/2023 10:36

I need cash twice a year for the car wash. That's really and genuinely it.

The reality is, this is the way the world is changing. I empathise that it doesn't suit you but I just don't think there's any stopping it.

Show quote history

You only wash your car twice a year?!😬

AmazonsFuckedUpFreeMusicFeature · 10/01/2023 10:41

BuddhaAtSea · 10/01/2023 10:37

I pay my hairdresser, plumber, mechanic, independent cafe/bakery etc in cash. Always. They are small business, can’t negotiate the same deals for using cards as corporations.

You can get really good deals wven as small business.
But you can't barter with HMRC😉

katseyes7 · 10/01/2023 10:41

I work on a supermarket checkout, and we're certainly not cashless.
We have two 'card only' tills (which, despite three very obvious notices, and us asking if they're paying by card, people still try to pay cash) and about four on self scan. The rest take both cash and cards.
The amount of people who pull out wads of cash (I'm talking up to an inch thick in £20 notes in some cases) is unbelievable. I've been handed up to £300 in banknotes on several occasions.
And when l 'cash up' to go on a break, or at the end of my shift, there can very easily be a very substantial amount of money in there.
A cashless society may be coming, but it's not here yet. Certainly not in Yorkshire anyway.

PuttingDownRoots · 10/01/2023 10:42

I had to pay for something by CHEQUE recently!

I use cas regularly. Sending my 9yo to the shop for milk for example. Schòol bake sale. Tombola ticket. Fairground ride. Wanting to buy a coffee without being questioned by DH (not in a stalkery way, just checking all card transactions are legitimate)

roarfeckingroarr · 10/01/2023 10:42

I need a pound for the locker at my gym. I can't remember last time I used cash otherwise,

Swipe left for the next trending thread