Cash - am I out of touch?

[Anewuser]

AIBU thinking I should still be able to use cash?

I accept that most places, and people, find it easier using cards but shouldn’t you still be able to use cash occasionally?

Went out for lunch the other day. The bill came to over £100 but as it was something planned, I had cash. The pub said whilst they can take cash, they don’t give change. Since when was this a thing.

At work, when people get married/have babies/leave etc, we do a collection. You always used to stick your contribution in a pot or envelope but now you have to do it online. Not everyone gives now because it’s obvious how much they’ve contributed.

AINBU, that I should still occasionally be able to use cash or AIBU cash has had its day.

What I find frustrating is quite a few restaurants and cafes near us only take cash. And several others only take cards. So you need to check in advance. I agree OP, it is annoying.

We are resolutely arguing not to go cashless at work

We can still take at least half our earnings a day in cash and would definitely lose a few sales if we didn't take card

Plus the system does go down on occasion and we need the cash system still set up

Cash definitely still has its place and places should always take both

Most our local hospitality venues are card only these days. I don't take cash abroad either, haven't actually touched a dollar or euro in 10 years as I just use my cards. I might have to succumb to cash for India though (if anyone has advice please let me know!)

good for you @Megifer

Yes you can if you have a certain bank account (I think it’s Barclays) but as it’s a buisness account and a different bank I cannot: it’s kind of a moot point as the nearest post office is over an hour away anyway and they only open 10-3….because we live rurally we are denied these services and our local PO closed in 2021.

There is no need to be rude and horrible to people!

Lots of business can't/ won't take cash as it new costs them time and money.

the post office did say they were planning to stop this, but this was a few years ago.

It costs money to handle cash.

my hair dresser is cash only

Our local pub has a sign behind the bar saying that cash is their preferred method of payment.

Like I said I’m very horrible, but if they don’t want my hard earned cash, that’s ok, I vote with my feet and use other places.

You should be able to pay in cash, yes, as it's not been abolished yet. However, that day will come....

I hate having cash. I never use a cash point anymore and dislike it when people repay me in cash. I like seeing where all my money has been spent on my bank statement. Cash is hard to track and easy to lose (used to have a light fingered young teen! )

I guess they can't give change if they don't actually have cash but they should have that clearly flagged up on the door, website and remind you when you arrive etc.

@ToffeePennie I'm sure they don't want your custom if you throw tantrums like a toddler

Chinese / Indian takeaways here only accept cash.
Smaller shops and small run hairdressers only accept cash.
Even local chippy only accepts cash.
When l go abroad ( few times a year).. they prefer cash.
But never heard of a pub/ restaurant not giving change.
I always carry some cash on me..( on average £50).. but use my card when l can.

I find it much easier to stick to a budget with card but I use YNAB. If I have cash it just seems to disappear with no trace. Using card/YNAB means every penny is accounted for.

Don't know about India but we recently returned from a third world country where cash was needed to access public toilets, so I carried it around in my phone case (they were notes though of a tiny denomination).

No tantrums, just a “oh you don’t accept cash? Well that’s all I have. Sorry” and I walk out. That’s all there needs to be. Like I said, I don’t mind being horrible, and leaving things where they are, but if the lack of cash payments isn’t advertised it’s just not sensible.

Of course many retail outlets encourage cards - it encourages shoppers to unwittingly spend more because "it's not real money, is it?"

But blithely waving an innocent looking piece of plastic is a very efficient way to pile up debt. Darn it, but some people even resort to plastic to make their mortgage payments!

But doesn't it also cost businesses money in card transactions? I know several local businesses that only take cash because the cards cost too much?

I loath cash, especially coins. Haven't carried it for years. I think there might be an ancient tenner in the very back on my glovebox. I'm glad you can look at your card pin on your app now, since I pay for everything with my phone on the rare occasion I'm spending over the tap limit botox and fillers I can remember the pissing pin

YANBU.

But the places that really annoy me are the ones that accept cash only.

There used to be a lovely little cafe in my town. I really liked it but stopped going because they only accepted cash payments and I rarely bother with cash these days. I assume that others stopped going too as they went out of business.

I think people should still be able to pay in cash if they want to, though.

I only ever use cash to pay my Avon rep. Even my hair salon now has an online tipping system (qr code stuck on mirror).

"I think it is very important for people to keep using cash because it keeps the door open for cash use in the future but I'm scared to do it in case people think I'm a criminal. I think since covid using cash gives people the impression you are guilty of wrongdoing."

Criminal? Wrongdoing? WTAF?

Since Lockdown, the two things I am paranoid about having easily available are bog rolls and cash. I usually use cards to pay but I really don't want a cashless society. Apart from potential issues with the internet and privacy what about situations like trying to escape an abusive relationship? You can tuck away some cash without the abuser knowing but they're very likely to keep a close eye on card transactions. I'm not sure it's legal to refuse cash, legal currency, and refuse to give change 🤷‍♀️

I think the criminal bit comes from a large amount of cash?

We used to encourage our children to ‘save up’ birthday and Christmas money but as they got older they put it in the bank. If they hadn’t, when they bought their first car it would have been in cash (like mine was).As PP mentioned, car sales etc have to be bank transfer now due to money laundering.