Do you still use cash?

[BitchesBeSniffin]

Just had a discussion with my DH about this and am wondering which of us is in the minority in the world of Mumsnet.

YABU: I still use cash and make sure I always have some on me

YANBU: I barely ever / never use cash

I always have some on me. Maybe £25. Enough for a sandwich or some petrol. Enough to get home if all else fails.

I use cash for fun things I do not need a permanent record of - drinks out, concerts, ice creams on the beach etc. I love the freedom of £100 cash for the day and when it's gone it's gone, no regrets! DC love it too.
In fact my fav use for cash is giving one of my teenager nieces/nephews £10 - what joy on their face - go and spend it, have some fun!

I do for DCs elderly music tutor who 'doesn't do internet banking' and is paid after each weekly lesson. I think by using the post office (fees end in a 5), I'm doing my bit to support local businesses. School also require cash for various bits and that is a complete pain to have to break £10 to get £2.50. Although, I could also use the post office for that too I guess. They'd be a bit 🙄at a withdrawal of £2.50 but I guess it happens.

We always have cash in the house but I literally never take cash anywhere, loads of places I go have signs up saying they don’t take cash.
Much more convenient to just use Apple Pay or contactless.

What are the odds of that happening though? That has never happened to me before ever.

It happened to me today when they experienced problems and couldn’t take card payments. I had to leave the items and go to an ATM(Luckily it was just a minute away)

I pay cash for small items like a paper, bottle of water etc., Also pay cash for takeaway deliveries and some local cafes and restaurants.

Happened twice in a year here - all Sainsbury's internet went down and it was cash only.

And yes I use cash just as much as I use cards.

Rarely use cash. I have an emergency £20 in my card wallet but I don't carry my big purse around with me for change anymore.

It's just so much easier to tap my card. And yes, I know all banking systems could go down, but realistically almost everyone will be in the same boat if that happens.

I usually have up to £5 in change in my bag but generally never use cash and living in central London I rarely need cash

A lot of people actually use cash, more than you think. (Work in retail)
We should never be so reliant on technology.

I use cash as rarely as possible. Never carry it.

Post-Covid, rarely.

Not really an emergency though, unless you have absolutely no way of buying any other food in any other shop.

Lots of people still use cash. I'd say it's about a 50/50 split where I work. Also so many people faff about trying to get their phones to work on the card machine, I'd rather they did use cash.

Yes totally. Need it for parking, window cleaner, bin cleaner, collections at work, school fundraising etc. Like to have some cash in regardless.

Mostly I don't, but there's still the odd thing that comes up where I need it (DD's rainbows subs, fish & chip shop & ice cream van) where I need it, so try to keep a bit in the house.

Yes but not for spending. Mainly use it to move money around accounts without leaving a paper trail.

You must be new here, no one in mimsnetland has seen an actual piece of money since 2005 and lives in a place where no shops take cash

The poster above you…

I can't try the last time I needed cash in the UK.

I prefer cash. Much easier to budget. Doesn't 'go down' like technology
(I'm rural Scotland). Easier to use anonymously (if you need to flee). Harder for businesses / Govt to monitor my spending.

Happened to me in a shop at the weekend….I had cash in my purse, lots of people didn’t and had to leave their purchases…🤷‍♀️

I like to have at least £50 in my purse. I usually pay cash when stuff is less than £10.

I have about £50 in my purse, I think DH probably has quite a bit more as a couple of his clubs are cash only.