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.

I still use cash. I was picking up a 'script the other week from the chemist and no one could pay for their orders by card as the machine reset didn't work. We also have a little hole in the wall cafe that does cash only and is booming.

The only think I use cash for is my kids riding lessons because they use the cash to pay for straw and probably tax evasion.

I got caught out last weekend and I forgot my cards, usually have them as back up for my phone / watch and the sweet shop was cash only and I had no way to access catch. The sweet shop still serves from the front door and you have to put your money into a fishing net and you get your sweets back the same way. Been like that since covid.

So everyone saying they refuse to deal with businesses that don't take cash, are you not missing out on a little thing called "online shopping"? Must be restrictive to not be able to order stuff from Amazon, eBay, Vinted, etc? And no online grocery shopping?

Or do you maybe restrict your faux outrage to real world businesses only where you get to be the centre of attention as you make your principled objection to the imposition of "cashless society"?

I want cash to remain as an option. Otherwise banks will increase their changes to retailers even more.

Tend only to use it for the local market and in charity/church collections.

In Ireland there is law coming in to protect cash use. Is there anything similar in your jurisdiction?

I have seen the fall out when the systems go down in coffee shops early morning and nobody has cash - not pleasant.

YANBU. It's just because going to the bank everyday, standing in the queue to get the cash float, banking yesterday's takings and then cashing up the tills everyday takes ages and businesses just can't be arsed to do it anymore.

We should not sleepwalk into a cashless society. The handing over of bank details is giving all sorts of people a passport to our lives.

DS's riding school still only takes cash or cheque. My local library only takes cash for book reservation fees. Many people who work self employed renting a chair (hairdressers, tattoo artists etc) still only take cash. I still use it a fair bit.

Blimey, can’t remember the last time I wrote a cheque. In fact, I don’t even know where my cheque book would be.

I use cash daily over a card. They being cheeky re no change

I think it's important that cash is still readily acceptable and available.
The only feasible way near me now without a considerable walk is cashback at the one supermarket that does it. And this is central London! I do usually buy groceries with a card but cash is still an important part of our lives and our economy.

I found it hard in Covid as you couldn’t just give your children change to go and get themselves an ice cream. Everywhere was card only. I think it is important that places do both so children understand the concept of money and how change works. It’s so easy to just put a card on a scanner but it doesn’t feel like you are using real money. For children this is something they need to learn.

I hate using cash personally. The only time I use it is to give my DS pocket money, then he gives me the same cash back so I can order something on amazon for him 🤣

I only use cash for my cleaner and to get my nails done which is a pain. Even my mobile podiatrist has a card machine. Most places don't take cash anymore. Supermarkets only one a few checkouts that will accept it

At risk of being accused of drip feeding on a thread i didn't even start, my tattoo studio is cash only aswell. They'll take deposit by card and the rest on the day is cash.

It's far cheaper for me to pay the card transaction charge than it is to pay to deposit cash and buy change. I not to mention the time and expense of going to the nearest bank or post office.
I used to go to the post office with all my parcels but it's a 30 minute drive, there's no parking nearby and it costs more to take them to the post office than have them picked up by the postman.

@Anewuser banks charge businesses to deposit cash these days, so it will definitely die off.

They were cheeky in not giving chance. I possibly might have said "that's fine, I'll just round it down to the nearest amount I have then". 😂

I agree it should be possible to use cash but in regard to online collections, at my work, it’s done through the accounts department. They gather in the contributions and send out the gift card / gift. Nobody else gets to know individual contributions and it’s part of their job not to gossip about that sort of thing.

It’s done through the business account with a set reference for each collection so if necessary amounts can be checked.

I'd prefer to pay everything by card. Too many self employed hair dressers, make up artists etc etc only take cash. And it's so obvious it's cos they're not declaring it and claiming benefits too. And the rest of us on PAYE have to cough up regardless.

I use cash all the time. Yesterday I used it at the supermarket, B & M and for my kids' sports practice. Nobody has ever said I can't use it or they don't give change. I would have rounded down in that case. Why should they keep your money because they don't give change? If they don't give change they should take £110 rather than £120 if it cost £111.

That is nuts!
Most places have( or used to have) a float for change
Whilst I do use my card most of the time, I always keep cash for an emergency taxi( I'm disabled) so I can always get home
My usual taxi company does take cards now but they are charged for transactions

I find cash tedious. I recently did a collection for a leaving present and just refused cash. I don't have anywhere to spend these small bits of money. I know some people don't like their bank having a record of all their purchases, and even though I have nothing to hide I kind of understand that for them it's the meaning of the thing, but it just doesn't bother me. My Mum still carries cash and she's contantly building up these huge piles of change. Last time I tidied that for her it totalled about £100. It was all over too, not just the jars but in her car, in her furniture, coat pockets, purses. When I used cash I always made sure to use the small change when making purchases, and that too is tedious.

I was so pleased yesterday that I had cash on me when the machine at the all-day car park I was trying to pay at refused to recognise my fully-working card. I used it several times in shops later on that day and it was fine. As is the norm now, there was no cash option at the machine. A really kind woman volunteered to pay for my ticket on her card if I had the cash on me, and I did. All £15.50 of it - rip off, but that's another story. If you were that woman and happen to be reading this, thank you so much, I got to my meeting on time because of your kindness.