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Nowadays, Am I the only person whom still carries cash in their pockets?

Dancing Fire

Dancing Fire

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
33,852
Do you carry any cash in your wallet?
My DD#1 does carry some cash, but my wife and DD#2 don't ever carry any cash. I don't even have an ATM card. Am I weird?
 
I usually have a little bit of cash. Gas stations around here often give a discount for cash payment. I have also had a few times where the card reader wasn't working, the power was out, or whatever where being able to pay in cash was a help. It isn't much as I don't want to worry if my purse is stollen or gets a glass of wine spilled in it....
 
I love paying with cash for fast food or dinner. But Hubby and DD rarely carry it either. Guess there’s always someone in the family…lol
 
I barely carry cash, everything is ATM cards. I don't have a credit card but I just don't like touching cash now due to covid. Contactless wherever possible :)
 
I’m not comfortable not carrying cash. I carry plastic too, but I prefer cash for small purchases and cafes.
 
I still carry cash, at least 20+ GBP, as some vendors such as market traders are not set up to take card payments for small transactions.

I also like to tip in cash rather than to put it on a card when I go out to eat.

DK :))
 
maryjane04 said:
I barely carry cash, everything is ATM cards. I don't have a credit card but I just don't like touching cash now due to covid. Contactless wherever possible :)
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Please wear gloves and send it to me!.
 
dk168 said:
I still carry cash, at least 20+ GBP, as some vendors such as market traders are not set up to take card payments for small transactions.

I also like to tip in cash rather than to put it on a card when I go out to eat.

DK :))
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Some Asian markets in town will only accept cash.
 
Dancing Fire said:
Some Asian markets in town will only accept cash.
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Some food vendors in my town that offer takeaways only accept cash, even during the pandemic when they were encouraged to accept contactless payment methods, and continue to do so to this day!

DK :confused2:
 
Dancing Fire said:
Do you carry any cash in your wallet?
My DD#1 does carry some cash, but my wife and DD#2 don't ever carry any cash. I don't even have an ATM card. Am I weird?
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Nope. I usually pay actual cash for anything costing $150 or less. It's not unusual for me to have $150 - $250 cash in my wallet. I give myself a cash allowance and bank the remainder of each paycheck. I'm single and childless, which does make unilateral decisions quite appropriate. lol

eta: One local WalMart actually stopped accepting cash for about 2-3 days in 2020, due to the currency shortages at banks resulting in insufficient cash on hand to set up the register drawers. You should have *heard* the customers cussing, swearing, and freaking out. I was still able to avoid having to use my sole credit card, though, thanks to a little antique device called a check. I bet even fewer people use checks than cash nowadays.
 
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I carry zero cash.
My DH has some cash on him most of the time.
 
I always carry some cash for emergencies, but I also carry at least 2-3 cards (credit or debit, of different banks and payment providers - eg one card is visa, one is MasterCard, Amex etc). Aside from that I have my phone set up to make payments using 1-2 apps. Personally I prefer making contactless payments using either phone or tapping a card for convenience, but I carry enough cash to cover a cab fare home + buy some basic snacks, water or a meal etc.

reasons I don’t like cash: cumbersome to manage (change etc), takes longer to transact, if a robber snatched my wallet I can cancel my card but the cash is gone. But having zero cash also seems dangerous. I won’t make big purchases in cash however.
 
I have about £30 in my purse usually, but pay card for everything. Most premises here in the UK prefer card since covid, and our contactless payment limit increased to facilitate this easier. But I get eggs & some veg from the farm down the lane & he only has an honesty box, plus the kids like cash for their pocket money so that they can put it into their money boxes.
 
I try to keep a couple of 20s in my wallet but honestly I just end up giving them to my kids so I walk around without cash.
 
I carry cash for the amount I expect to pay like going to the hairdressers £75.00 & tip that's all I take with me.
 
I tend to carry a small amount of cash, in case of an emergency where I might need it. However, i rarely use it and generally use credit cards. But if I were purchasing something for only a couple of dollars, I would pay cash.
 
I prefer to carry some cash for less expensive purchases. I don't know why. It seems easier to just pay by card and not have to do deal with the cashiers making change these days.

How do you get cash @Dancing Fire ? Go inside the bank and write a check? I don't know how to get cash without an ATM card!
 
I carry a little bit for emergencies, but never use it. The lowest earning on my credit card is 2.25% and some earn as much as 8% back, why would I pay cash when that money can earn money back? I've gotten over $45k in rewards in the past 5-6 years (without paying a single cent of interest or fees) just by charging every day spendings, nothing for business or out of the ordinary (like a car). I never pay cash unless I absolutely have to. CCs are your friends if you know how to manage it. ;))
 
I almost never have any! I also put every single purchase on a credit (not debit) card to earn points and airline miles. I can’t remember the last time I had to pay for a flight lol.
 
ForteKitty said:
I carry a little bit for emergencies, but never use it. The lowest earning on my credit card is 2.25% and some earn as much as 8% back, why would I pay cash when that money can earn money back? I've gotten over $45k in rewards in the past 5-6 years (without paying a single cent of interest or fees) just by charging every day spendings, nothing for business or out of the ordinary (like a car). I never pay cash unless I absolutely have to. CCs are your friends if you know how to manage it. ;))
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Yes!!! Also which card gives you 8%??! The most I have gotten is 5%. But yes it takes management - I’ve been known to juggle
5-7 cards at a time haha.
 
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I try to always have $40-$100 in my wallet. Lots of small businesses prefer cash, especially if you're making a small purchase. And there are plenty of vendors who only take cash. I also try to always tip servers in cash.
 
I almost never have cash. I think its dirty, cumbersome, difficult to keep track of (somehow it always ends up partially in my cupholder, partially in a pocket, partially on a counter LOL), and tbh I don't like businesses that are cash only - generally means they arent paying taxes properly. I've heard that the US doesnt use e-transfers, which is why apps like venmo are popular, but I love using e-transfers for small businesses or friends. For example my friend had a BBQ and asked me to grab chicken skewers on the way over. Once she saw the total, she just sent an e-transfer for the total from her phone, deposited directly into the bank account with no fees or hassle. I also LOVE my credit cards. I'm not quite as successful as ForteKitty but I love earning points and also having the protection of fraud purchases (vs bank transfer or cheque).
Basically I hate cash lol.
 
The only time I use cash is for my hairdresser, everything else is paid for by card. I rarely have more than 20 on me at any time.
 
I always keep a bit of cash on me for emergencies. Also, there are still a few places that either don't accept credit cards or require a minimum sale for credit cards.
 
Tonks said:
I try to keep a couple of 20s in my wallet but honestly I just end up giving them to my kids so I walk around without cash.
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Same.:lol:
 
Mreader said:
Yes!!! Also which card gives you 8%??! The most I have gotten is 5%. But yes it takes management - I’ve been known to juggle
5-7 cards at a time haha.
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It takes some moving of points around, but if you follow the special categories with Chase freedom/freedom flex, you can earn 5%. Combine that with a Chase Sapphire Reserve, and those 5% are now worth 1.5x more at 7.5%. Or if you transfer to a partner, it's worth even more, way more than 8% sometimes. CSR does have an annual fee but they have a $300 travel credit and other offers that end up balancing annual fee every year, so I don't include the amount in rewards if it was used towards balancing the annual fee. They are keeping the raised fee this year though (last year was waived due to covid), so I think I'm going to cancel and get the CSP in a few months. You can get a sign up bonus if it's been 48 months since your last bonus, and i'm way past that. 100k sign up bonus with CSP = $1250 since their flat redemption is 1.25x. My husband and I also have Amex plat/gold, which has earned us five business class flights from LAX to asia in the past 1.5 years alone. They give so many offers on things that I would spend on anyway, that the annual fee balances out, and I'm still earning a lot of points. (Benefits: Centurion Lounge access, $200 uber/ubereats credit, $200 airline/now hotel credit, $200 travel credit for being onboard the second year, $100 saks credit, TONS of amex offers- 2020 gave me over 1k in amex offers... all on $650 annual fee) , SO worth it if you travel a lot. Oh and a lot of cards with hefty annual fees will give you a retention bonus if you call. I've been getting really generous ones!
 
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ForteKitty said:
It takes some moving of points around, but if you follow the special categories with Chase freedom/freedom flex, you can earn 5%. Combine that with a Chase Sapphire Reserve, and those 5% are now worth 1.5x more at 7.5%. Or if you transfer to a partner, it's worth even more, way more than 8% sometimes. CSR does have an annual fee but they have a $300 travel credit and other offers that end up balancing annual fee every year, so I don't include the amount in rewards if it was used towards balancing the annual fee. They are keeping the raised fee this year though (last year was waived due to covid), so I think I'm going to cancel and get the CSP in a few months. You can get a sign up bonus if it's been 48 months since your last bonus, and i'm way past that. 100k sign up bonus with CSP = $1250 since their flat redemption is 1.25x. My husband and I also have Amex plat/gold, which has earned us five business class flights from LAX to asia in the past 1.5 years alone. They give so many offers on things that I would spend on anyway, that the annual fee balances out, and I'm still earning a lot of points. (Benefits: Centurion Lounge access, $200 uber/ubereats credit, $200 airline/now hotel credit, $200 travel credit for being onboard the second year, $100 saks credit, TONS of amex offers- 2020 gave me over 1k in amex offers... all on $650 annual fee) , SO worth it if you travel a lot. Oh and a lot of cards with hefty annual fees will give you a retention bonus if you call. I've been getting really generous ones!
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Ah I see what you mean I thought that you found one card for 8%. I have both the Freedom and the Sapphire Preferred. I got my husband to get the Sapphire preferred to get that 100k bonus - that was awesome! He hadn't had a card in 2 years but I have so I can't get Chase bonuses right now. But I have earned the Companion Pass three times now w the rewards - we do a lot of domestic flying so that has been one of the biggest benefits. Thanks for the tip on retention bonuses; is that when you call to cancel and they try to keep you? When I have canceled that hasn't happened to me :lol: . But I usually do it online so perhaps it's worth a phone call...I also have Capital One Savor bc they had a $500 bonus when I opened it and I have kept that one and use it the most consistently bc they give 4% cashback for dining and entertainment charges. I will look into the Amex ones though - I haven't explored many of their offers.
 
Mreader said:
Ah I see what you mean I thought that you found one card for 8%. I have both the Freedom and the Sapphire Preferred. I got my husband to get the Sapphire preferred to get that 100k bonus - that was awesome! He hadn't had a card in 2 years but I have so I can't get Chase bonuses right now. But I have earned the Companion Pass three times now w the rewards - we do a lot of domestic flying so that has been one of the biggest benefits. Thanks for the tip on retention bonuses; is that when you call to cancel and they try to keep you? When I have canceled that hasn't happened to me :lol: . But I usually do it online so perhaps it's worth a phone call...I also have Capital One Savor bc they had a $500 bonus when I opened it and I have kept that one and use it the most consistently bc they give 4% cashback for dining and entertainment charges. I will look into the Amex ones though - I haven't explored many of their offers.
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If I have no interest in keeping a card because the annual fee makes it not worth keeping vs another card with better earnings, I'll call and see if they offer a retention bonus. I've gotten as much as 50k MR on Amex plat, which is worth at the very least, $500. That plus all the other credit makes the plat worth keeping another year! But some cards, I wouldn't bother keeping even if they offered me a retention bonus that evened out the annual fee. I also had the SW companion pass before, and we used it sooo much! I got that card when they were giving out a ridiculous sign up bonus and used it to fly over for free the rest of the year.
 
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