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.

Yes, I'm self employed and some of my clients prefer to pay with cash; I find it useful for budgeting when it comes to things like grocery shopping, so I keep out what I need and bank the rest. It's no hassle at all.

Have we had the ever-predictable posts about how all business that accept cash are tax dodging scum yet? I haven't had chance to read the whole thread.

@greengreyblue because it is prime territory for the middle classes. Cafe near me that is cash only is thriving. Whose anecdote trumps?
Businesses will do what is best for them depending on location, type of business and customers.

Mumsnet is not representative of the population as a whole. Do you know why we still have cheques? It is because charities lobbied the government not to abolish them. They are still a key source of income for some charities.
I do not use cheques, but so what? I do not care that some people still want to use them.

I don't use shops or small businesses that won't take cash and it has worked out really well for me.

I hate the tap to pay cards and completely stopped paying by card in town when my bank forced me to have a card with that on.
Have never ever used it since except to withdraw money at the cashpoint and just use cash, which has saved me a fortune as I rarely impulse buy anything now.

I have a card I use online, but offline it's cash or no sale for me.

I rarely use cash as I said upthread. But, I think while it’s legal tender, ALL establishments should accept it in the same way that ALL establishments should accept cards/ contactless.

I find no cash much easier.

I never have any cash!

I don’t want to carry £100 cash in my bag or pocket. I can cancel a stolen card.

What about the fees and time spent for paying into a business bank account. Assuming you can find a branch open.

@greengreyblue No one is saying you have to carry cash.

@BeretRaspberry Someone upthread says they have no issue with this. I ran a business before covid and also had no issue dealing with cash. It depends on the amounts of cash and the location of your business.

We cannot accept cash at work. I mean, literally have no system in place to take it. I feel for people that would prefer to use cash, but as a frontline customer facing staff member I have no say in the issue.

Please do not get stroppy with the person taking the payment, it is usually not their decision and there is nothing they can do about it. My DM behaves like this, seems proud of herself, yet she has a card and is quite capable of using it.

And others say the opposite. I suppose that boils down to preference. It would seem neither option is better than the other.

A few places are cash only in our town..... hairdressers/cafe and the butchers. The butchers especially appreciate people paying by cash as their bank charges them every time people pay by card!!!

@BeretRaspberry I think cash or cards suit different people and different kind of businesses. The larger the business, the easier cards become.

They’ll be delighted!

@tuvamoodyson why the nastiness? It is just unnecessary.

I use all cash except for online purchases obviously. I was on holidays in another country in Europe recently and as an experiment every time I bought something or had a meal I asked did they prefer cash or card. Every single one preferred the cash, I only had to use a card once in the hotel in a small poolside bar when most of customers were actually all inclusive so not paying anything.

Absolutely, my business involves rural visits and I certainly could not get a signal for a card machine. Let alone want to pass on the charges associated with it now.
We should definitely usecash or loose it.

Or that different people have different circumstances and preferences, and work in different ways?

Therefore it's surely best to keep as many options open as possible so that everybody can freely make the choices which suit them, rather than needlessly take those choices away.

Or that different people have different circumstances and preferences, and work in different ways?

Pretty much what I said. And I also never said we should remove cash completely.

Cash going out here. Local cafes here are card. Cinema signs up card only. When I had cash for coffee she said no change in till lol. So out came my card.

@NoisySnail if I don’t carry cash how do I pay with cash? 🤔

@greengreyblue who is asking you to pay by cash?
I assume you don't live in an area of the country with poor wifi connectivity as you would already carry cash.

It’s made a bit of a comeback in some places. We haven’t yet done anything other than cash collections at work yet.

@NoisySnail you were talking about cash only cafes. I can’t use them if I don’t carry cash. I don’t want lots of cash on me, it’s a security risk.