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Original poster

Cashless everything is annoying and inconvenient

230 replies

JazbayGrapes · 05/07/2023 21:09

Went to London last weekend. A concert in Hyde Park. Nobody in food/drink stalls wanted to take cash. Is this a new normal?

OP posts:
MyMachineAndMe · 05/07/2023 22:07

I went to a thing at Christmas at fountains abbey and they had cashless stalls, which was a complete pita because their mobile signals would not connect to the internet.

Goldfoot · 05/07/2023 22:08

TinyPurpleFishes · 05/07/2023 22:05

Perhaps, but it coincided with the cafe going cashless. I don’t think twice about paying the entry fee with Apple Pay but I’m more likely to spend change in my purse on something small like a cake or coffee because it’s “spare”, I think others must be the same.

Show quote history

Cake and a coffee must be over £5, that's not spare change.

ClearConfusion · 05/07/2023 22:08

Don’t even carry a card, it’s Apple Pay all the way. When my son gave me his old phone and set up Apple Pay, I was absolutely convinced I wouldn’t like it, (what with being old-ish, over 60). But I love it, it’s so easy. Cash is so inconvenient, you have to have a purse for the coins and then a handbag for the purse. I hate carrying a handbag, don’t even own a handbag anymore, donated them to charity shop. Phone in pocket, job done.

Boomboom22 · 05/07/2023 22:08

I'd avoid anywhere cash only. Card only is fine. I think you spend more with cash as the change is there. With a card you only get what you need. Or phone most of the time, even does the tube and buses.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 22:09

It's making us more reliant on phones and machines. It's the way it's all going

Boomboom22 · 05/07/2023 22:09

My school does all the charity donations on the dinner app anyway so tries to avoid kids bringing in cash.

Boomboom22 · 05/07/2023 22:10

Also kids need to learn how to manage money in the world today. From 7 mine had hyperjar all free and can have the kids app on their phone so can learn to track and budget actual lifelike not envelopes of cash like 100 years ago!

Malarandras · 05/07/2023 22:12

I love cashless. Can’t be bothered with cash anymore. No need to find an ATM. Perfect.

Mamai90 · 05/07/2023 22:12

Sissynova · 05/07/2023 21:44

I really can’t imagine most people choose not to bring their child to a soft play because it only accepts card.

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I agree, younger people are much more likely to use a card (or their phone). The only people I know who still regularly use cash are my parents in their 70s!

SamW98 · 05/07/2023 22:12

MyMachineAndMe · 05/07/2023 22:07

I went to a thing at Christmas at fountains abbey and they had cashless stalls, which was a complete pita because their mobile signals would not connect to the internet.

That’s the downside. I was at a festival on Saturday with 15000 people and the signal was hit and miss.
Some of the bars were struggling to serve people due to the payments not connecting for several minutes and bar staff were wandering around holding the machines at various angles to get them to connect.

Boomboom22 · 05/07/2023 22:13

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 22:09

It's making us more reliant on phones and machines. It's the way it's all going

Isn't it good that humans are freed from menial work that could be done by an app though? Like parking is so much easier now as the machines never worked or rejected your coin. Paying is easy and accessible unlike when you had to put in your pin. All the apps mean disabled people can have versions that they can use. Progress is good for humans.

Hbh17 · 05/07/2023 22:13

Been normal for years and it's VERY convenient not to have to worry about whether I have enough cash. A £10 note can last me 6 months, it's fab.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 22:15

I loath parking apps.
I think I'm allergic to today's world of machines and apps though. Which isn't good

Onelifeonly · 05/07/2023 22:16

I don't carry cash or use it unless I have to. It's got so much easier in the last few years as nearly all businesses have card machines, even charities have them now. I'm quite happy to take my card everywhere (can put it in my phone case - haven't yet moved to paying with the phone but my kids have.)

Oysterbabe · 05/07/2023 22:16

So much easier paying with everything with my phone. I'm looking forward to them being able to implant the chip under my skin 😄

Mademetoxic · 05/07/2023 22:17

Boomboom22 · 05/07/2023 22:08

I'd avoid anywhere cash only. Card only is fine. I think you spend more with cash as the change is there. With a card you only get what you need. Or phone most of the time, even does the tube and buses.

I think the opposite.

You can physically see how much cash you have spent, whereas with a card it's harder to keep tabs on what you have spent.

SocksAndTheCity · 05/07/2023 22:17

TeenLifeMum · 05/07/2023 22:06

@SocksAndTheCity df has previously commented and hinted it’s to avoid putting it through the business (keeps her dh under the 40% tax threshold.) it’s a pain - I pay for a spa day and ask her to transfer £ but she drops round cash that I then have to pay into my bank.

But that's him as an individual being a selfish arsehole, not because cash exists. Plenty of huge corporations don't pay the tax they should either and it's not because they've fitted a few kitchen units on the sly.

People who want to rip others off will always find a way to do it. I'm surprised you haven't reported him - I'd do it in a heartbeat.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 22:17

My phone tends to pack up on me at parking apps. It never takes the money from the card and goes round in circles
Other people have tried my phone too and had the same problem.

SocksAndTheCity · 05/07/2023 22:18

Mademetoxic · 05/07/2023 22:17

I think the opposite.

You can physically see how much cash you have spent, whereas with a card it's harder to keep tabs on what you have spent.

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+1

It's not hard to see who's never been truly skint, is it?

TinyPurpleFishes · 05/07/2023 22:19

IBetGordonRamsayDoesntHaveTheseProblems · 05/07/2023 22:02

Are you quite certain it hasn't coincided with something else - like a bad food hygiene rating, an unpopular menu change, or a cost of living crisis leading people to stump up for soft play but forgo the coffee?

I run a business that's similar insofar as we do lots of small transactions. I've just checked the records and last month only 14% was cash even though customers do get the option.

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Could be a coincidence, it was just idle observation over the past few months. I personally can’t imagine paying for a single packet of crisps or similar with Apple Pay, in my mind that is what change is for!

Goldfoot · 05/07/2023 22:19

Mademetoxic · 05/07/2023 22:17

I think the opposite.

You can physically see how much cash you have spent, whereas with a card it's harder to keep tabs on what you have spent.

Show quote history

That's not true though. In fact I had this conversation with a friend at the weekend. He was saying when we were young you'd get your spending money out on a Friday and then wonder where it had all gone on Sunday morning. Now we can see exactly where it went!

TinyPurpleFishes · 05/07/2023 22:20

Goldfoot · 05/07/2023 22:08

Cake and a coffee must be over £5, that's not spare change.

Show quote history

Tbf it’s usually a coffee or a cake

mondaytosunday · 05/07/2023 22:20

Much more convenient not to have to deal with cash and change. I do feel for waitstaff though as I have to put their tip on the card and not convinced they always get it.
I'm waiting for supermarkets to upgrade their trolleys so I don't need a pound coin for them - I never have one so I buy less as I have to carry it!

User106487665 · 05/07/2023 22:21

I went to a cash only ice cream van today. I don't like using my phone much, it's an old iPhone 11 so not the most modern.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 22:21

Not only can we see where the money has gone , but those tracking us can see where we all were too !