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Original poster

How much change and notes do you keep in your purse?

75 replies

flutterby1 · 07/08/2023 05:52

For aeons I pay for almost everything on a card, but o sometimes come unstuck not having any money in my purse, lately I've been caught out by the tooth fairy a few times and have had to make a trip to the ATM then a shop for change, also hairdresser and tips etc

So how much do you keep in your purse ? And do you deliberately keep your purse topped up ?

I need to be more organised

Soz for boring question

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 07/08/2023 05:59

Just moths lol and pound coin for the trolley.

Ragwort · 07/08/2023 06:00

Around £50 and at least £5 in change ... plus separate change in my car for car parks that still take cash.
I am probably old fashioned but I really don't like not having at least a few £s on me ... I was in a car park on Friday .. only cost £1 to park - no option apart from cash - a group of young people were standing around not knowing what to do as they hadn't got a £1 coin between them ... it was a rural place and there was no where else to park. (I know people won't believe that but it's true). I just gave them £1 and they were pathetically grateful.

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 07/08/2023 06:08

About a tenner, frequently in hospital and don't want to get caught short ,coffee machines and the like .

AuntieMarys · 07/08/2023 06:10

£1 for the supermarket trolley. £10 in change in the car for parking rurally. Other than that, never use cash.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 07/08/2023 06:12

Zero. I’m on holiday overseas and this is the first time I have no foreign currency either. Everywhere is taking cards.

Pinksmyfavoritecolour · 07/08/2023 07:07

I use cash everywhere, it's the best way for me to budget what I spend, I only use my card to get money out of the atm. I have at least £30 on me in notes and £5 in change all the time, I have a pot in the car with change in too.

gogomoto · 07/08/2023 07:12

Nothing, don't even own a purse. There's a few coins at the bottom of my bag from change and I withdraw cash as required and slip into my phone case

erikbloodaxe · 07/08/2023 07:16

Nothing. I don't use a purse. Just my card on my phone.

ReeseWitherfork · 07/08/2023 07:23

Only ever take a card out with me. But I’ve got a bowl of coins by the front door for the ice cream man. And a stash of notes hidden in the house (received from selling on gumtree) which comes in useful for things like needing money for a wedding card or whatnot.

ChimChimeny · 07/08/2023 07:23

£2.50 for the ice cream van
Have a trolley token in my purse & second in my handbag
Have a pot.of £1 coins & 50p coins at home which I use if I ever need change (like today we're going to a fun day at the park so will want change for the bouncy castle etc)
Any.notes we end up with go into the pot too and are used as and when needed.

We have a credit cArd which gives cashback on everything so use that for virtually everything as I make money!

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 07/08/2023 07:26

I don’t have a purse. If I can’t pay for it via a card I’m not buying it.

NancyJoan · 07/08/2023 07:30

About £50. I worry if I don’t have a decent amount, just in case. And I do use it - birthday collection in work, DD needs cash for something, tips in restaurants - and top it up once I’m down to a tenner or so.

jagge · 07/08/2023 07:37

About £50-70 plus about £7 in change. Don't use it often but when I have to I'm glad I have it! It's mostly things like school events, toddler group, some markets, toddler rides, funfairs. I just keep a small purse in my handbag and top it up when I spend anything. I carry a handbag anyway so no reason not to bring some cash just in case.

timegoingtooquickly · 07/08/2023 07:37

BringOnSummerHolidays · 07/08/2023 06:12

Zero. I’m on holiday overseas and this is the first time I have no foreign currency either. Everywhere is taking cards.

Like you we've stopped worrying about foreign currency but went on holiday recently to Croatia and they all wanted cash!!! Hardly anywhere where we were took cards. It was a nightmare

jagge · 07/08/2023 07:47

BringOnSummerHolidays · 07/08/2023 06:12

Zero. I’m on holiday overseas and this is the first time I have no foreign currency either. Everywhere is taking cards.

I went to Amsterdam recently and forgot to bring foreign currency (I have loads from previous holidays) and got stuck in a supermarket which didn't accept Mastercard or Visa debit, only some other kind of card (Maestro I think) or cash. Had about 5 cards with me but none were accepted. I had to leave the stuff on the counter and walk away!

Prescottdanni123 · 07/08/2023 07:54

I nearly always pay by card but recently I've been making the transition to paying by cash. I just find it easy to overspend when I use my card because I can't physically see how much money I'm spending and how much everything is adding up to. I've had a few surprises after shopping trips when I've got home and added everything up. If I give myself a budget in cash, I can see it going down/keep track of exactly how much I'm spending.

QueueEtwo · 07/08/2023 08:29

I don't even have a pound for the trolley atm it's so annoying! 🙄

coreas · 07/08/2023 08:48

None. No purse for me. I mainly use Apple Pay but it's not foolproof and I have been caught out more then once where it has refused the transaction because of limits placed by the retailer or my bank juts being utterly ridiculous. The last time was in a hotel who had a £100 limit in their Apple Pay but I had a back up card linked to another account so was able to use that. I'm not sure what would have happened if I didn't, would I have been expected to go home?

Icycloud · 07/08/2023 08:49

i shouldn’t and overthink but I keep a few hundred in my purse for emergencies if for some miraculous reason the debit card stops working

Clefable · 07/08/2023 08:52

Nothing and I don't use a purse. My phone case has a sliding compartment for my bank card and driving licence and that's all I take. And I mostly pay for stuff with my Apple Watch. I'd say maybe once every couple of months I need cash for something, so I'll get it out and then we will have change in the house for a while after that we whittle down until eventually we need to get another £20 out or something.

Feverly · 07/08/2023 08:52

Whatever notes I got in a birthday card, and I spend them if I remember I have them. Can't remember the last time I took money out at a bank machine, I use card/PayPal.

beguilingeyes · 07/08/2023 09:14

Usually about £10 in change. Almost never spend it. Tips mostly, or the odd Big Issue. It occurred to me that the bottom is really going to drop out of the purse market. I've got some really nice purses that I'm never going to use any more.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 07/08/2023 09:22

I always get cash from my MIL for my birthday but that tends to be it. I use Apple Pay, but do keep a cardholder in my bag which has a couple of credit cards as well as my debit card in case of any problems.

We were recently in Scarborough and lots of places were cash only there.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 07/08/2023 09:26

Can’t remember when l last used cash. I never carry it.

LardoBurrows · 07/08/2023 09:27

Between £10 and £20 in notes and about £2 worth of change. I generally pay by card but like to have cash option in case card machines are down, has happened a few times, or for small value purchase and market stalls. Also I tip my hairdresser with cash.

I also keep a stack of change in my car for parking at car parks where I would have to download an app. I don't mind paying for parking where I have the option to use my credit card, but hate and don't trust the parking apps.