How much do people use cash anymore?

13

Replies

  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I use cash as much as I possibly can. I don't want a paper trail so people can study and analyse my shopping habits! They do actually do that, you know.

    Or if I wanted to suddenly disappear. It would be a lot harder to trace me.

    Yep. This is me. I think people are way to blahsey (sp?) about how unimportant they think this tracking is. I know a lot about it and it scares the *kitten* out of me. You wouldn't believe the info they can collect on you. Many say "so what", well, I hope that's true. But, it is very insideous. You're not going to know about it, until it's too late to reverse it.

    For instance, it's not just that you spent $x at the grocery store, they can itemize it, and find out that half your bill is alcohol. So, let's say you're in a car accident and the insurance company says that you are an alcoholic, so it is likely you were drunk, even if you werent, and they produce all this anecdotal evidence. *kitten* like that, and worse, can happen as these huge comapnies and industries work harder and harder to fight against you, think medical and insurance companies.

    Anyway, everyone do what you want. Those are my reasons.
  • Dovekat
    Dovekat Posts: 263 Member
    I use cash all the time, don't like using plastic; but I am old fashioned I guess.
  • spoonful
    spoonful Posts: 200 Member
    I use cash 90% of the time and debit card the other 10%. I only use the debit card so I can buy online. I have no credit and I want no credit.
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    If I can see it in my hand it somehow makes it harder for me to spend! So definitely cash for me!
  • gwenmf
    gwenmf Posts: 888 Member
    Once you get hit with identity thief, you'll go back to using cash~!
  • gwenmf
    gwenmf Posts: 888 Member
    I use cash 90% of the time and debit card the other 10%. I only use the debit card so I can buy online. I have no credit and I want no credit.

    Exactly!! Me too! Financial Peace, baby!!
  • MoveTheMountain
    MoveTheMountain Posts: 764
    I almost never have cash, although I do use a debit card a lot.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I use cash for pretty much everything except bills.
  • chazsucks
    chazsucks Posts: 170
    I keep coins in my car in case I park in a car park that doesn't accept card... that's about it for me
  • DrewMaxwell
    DrewMaxwell Posts: 269 Member
    I think you're going to see a lot more people reverting to using cash more often once merchants start imposing fees for paying with debit/credit cards. Now that the big class action lawsuit against VISA & Mastercard has been settled merchants, for the first time ever, will be permitted to do so.
  • Alex_is_Hawks
    Alex_is_Hawks Posts: 3,499 Member
    I don't carry cash at all anymore...I think I have a five in my purse because I needed parking change the other day....it'll be there forever unless I give it to my daughter.

    In fact when I'm put into a situation where I do have to use cash and that necessitates me making a special trip to the branch ATM I am always annoyed.

    Lauren
  • cwade1021
    cwade1021 Posts: 95 Member
    We pay everything cash. No credit. If we can't afford to pay cash for it, we save until we can. We have a strict budget and every month we take out our cash allowance for each category and when the money is gone, it's gone. We don't touch our checking (or savings). Our categories include: gas, groceries, clothes, health/hygiene, house, gifts, misc. and dining out/dates.

    I still write checks.... having said that we still pay all our bills electronically online and make use of our online banking.
  • mfp_junkie
    mfp_junkie Posts: 359
    My Starbucks card auto-reloads from my Visa card when it gets down to $10, so no cash needed for that. My transit card does the same thing. I have a little speedpass thing on my keys to buy gas, so I don't even need a wallet for that. I use my Visa for all gas and groceries to get 2% cash back.

    I only use cash for the rare time that I buy a very small item, but I can carry the same $20 for weeks at a time.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Yes I carry cash, but I'd say I use cards more.

    I don't know how it is in the US in terms of small businesses without card machines, but when you have a corner shop 1 minute from your house that charge over £1 to use a card, you carry cash. There are a couple of stores that only take cash, the bus only takes cash, and then there's my driving lessons, which are (you guessed it) - cash.

    I don't use cheques though. Ever. I also don't use credit. Everything that's not in cash is just from a debit card, and most bills are either direct debit or paid online.
  • Goal_Seeker_1988
    Goal_Seeker_1988 Posts: 1,619 Member
    I use checks for my hospital bills and for my 2 loans. Other than that I pay everything else online and I use my debit on groceries and gas and everything else. I rarly ever have cash on hand bc when I do my fiance uses it.
  • LilGiselle21
    LilGiselle21 Posts: 110 Member
    I always keep $20 in my purse in smaller bills just in case!!!
  • mandipandi75
    mandipandi75 Posts: 6,035 Member
    I don't even see a paycheck. It goes in as a credit to my checking and then there are these irritating automatic bill pay debits that eat away at the balance. I am all about the debit card for my non-fixed spending. Which is good because things you need cash for are just frivilous anyways.
  • txlissa62
    txlissa62 Posts: 128
    I rarely use my debit card - it's too risky. If the number is compromised, that's cash out of your bank account that you have to fight to get back, and that can take weeks. I only use it at the ATM. (If you use your debit card to buy gas at a pump, they will put a hold on your account that can take a few days to be lifted. Also, there was a rash of events locally where thieves would put a "skimmer" on gas pumps. It looks like the device that you insert your card into, but it steals your number.)

    I pay for almost everything on my credit card, then go online and transfer the money from my checking to my credit card. I don't wait for the credit card statement; this keeps me from running up a balance on my card. Also, if you have a card that gives you points or cash back (like Discover), you can actually make money by using your credit card. Right now Discover is running a special of 5% cash back on gas purchases for three months. Since I have a long commute, that adds up quickly for me!

    If your credit card number is stolen, you still have to deal with getting the charges removed, but you're not out any money while doing so.

    I carry a small amount of cash for incidentals. I also use cash for the farmers market every Saturday, as well as my hairdresser (who doesn't accept credit cards).
  • MaryJane_8810002
    MaryJane_8810002 Posts: 2,082 Member
    I use cash...at strip clubs.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    Whne I realized how they are tracking you, I stopped using cards. I am 100% cash for everything except my bills, which are auto pay out of my account. I can't even tell you anymore what my bills cost. i have no idea. They just take what they need. I calculated it one time, and that's it. My bank auto deposits a set amount every month and that's it. i don't see it or even want to know about it. the entire balance left after that, I withdraw and pay for everything with cash...groceries, gas, and everything else that is not a bill.

    For one-time bills, like a medical expense, I'll write a check.

    As credit cards get paid off, IO scoop that money over into my cash account that I withdraw and once they are all paid off, I will never ever use a credit card again in my life ever for any reason. EVER. It's cash or nothing.

    LOL, kind of recently, all th parking garages in my area are moving to debit card only because they are letting go the attendants. Cheaper for them. So, I didn't knwo that. i don't carry any cards with me ever so I don't use them, I just have cash and my ID. So, I'm standing there wondering how I get out of the garaage. LOL. I had to break out. Had no choice. LOL.

    For savings, I hide cash around in different places. A little at home, but some is in very weird places that you'd never guess. I like it that way. It keep the freaking government out of my business. They don't have a need to know anything. I hope when I retire, i have so much untaxed doiuble taxed unclaimed cash that I'll be better off than everyone else with tracable income that is taxed out of their butts.
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 905 Member
    I think you're going to see a lot more people reverting to using cash more often once merchants start imposing fees for paying with debit/credit cards. Now that the big class action lawsuit against VISA & Mastercard has been settled merchants, for the first time ever, will be permitted to do so.

    My bank already charges me to use my debit card at a gas station. I quit using my card to fill up--simpler and quicker just to pay cash.

    I did hear that some merchants are reluctant to charge swipe fees--figured it would drive business away.
  • livinginwoods
    livinginwoods Posts: 562 Member
    Cash is "free" money to me. I don't carry it unless my husband gives me some as a surprise to go shopping or something like that. I use my debit card all the time and it helps me keep track. I check it twice a day, online and pay most of my bills online. I only do checks if they can't take a debit card. Like today at the mechanics. Nothing worse than standing behind someone who writes out a check slow motion. IF I have to use my checkbook I pre-write it while in line so I just have to put in the amount and not keep everyone waiting.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Cash is "free" money to me. I don't carry it unless my husband gives me some as a surprise to go shopping or something like that. I use my debit card all the time and it helps me keep track. I check it twice a day, online and pay most of my bills online. I only do checks if they can't take a debit card. Like today at the mechanics. Nothing worse than standing behind someone who writes out a check slow motion. IF I have to use my checkbook I pre-write it while in line so I just have to put in the amount and not keep everyone waiting.

    Some people seem genuinely surprised after their purchases are rung up that they have to pay for them. I get aggravated standing behind someone who is startled when the cashier announces the total and only then starts to fumble around for a form of payment. I always think to myself "what did you think was going to happen?"
  • Darkskinned88
    Darkskinned88 Posts: 1,177 Member
    i hate using cash...rare exceptions: cabs and bars (
  • Ocarina
    Ocarina Posts: 1,550 Member
    I love cash!

    We budget EVERYTHING.

    Being debt free is awesome. We pay bills online, use direct deposit, and order stuff online with a card but it all gets tracked by a budgeting program. Otherwise I pay cash for groceries, entertainment, gas, gifts, personal money, hair salon, and miscellaneous extra cash. Plus change is so fun! It adds up. And it's so handy to have when you are stuck with a parking meter or just need to purchase something cheap. Coin jars are fun too.
  • Amryfal
    Amryfal Posts: 225
    what is this "cash" of which you speak? is that something that happens in between direct deposit and little plastic card?
  • redhousecat
    redhousecat Posts: 584 Member
    We used to never carry cash and we don't have debt so we don't write checks for anything. But since we moved to south Texas, it seems we need cash for EVERYTHING. It's really weird and a hard habit for us to get into.

    We don't really have a preference, though. It just seemed like debit/credit card was easier to use.

    edited to comment:

    wow on the paranoia. I guess it never occurred to me. We don't use a bank, but a credit union and they are awesome. We don't have fees for anything, we get reimbursed for fees if we have to use an atm, and the fraud protection is tremendous. We did get a credit card recently to use while traveling, same credit union. We must be lucky.

    It's funny though, regarding the fear of government comments. Hubby and I ARE the government....lolol. We have nothing to fear.....lol
  • SARgirl
    SARgirl Posts: 572 Member
    I rarely have cash on me and also pay my bills on line. I do still balance my checkbook though via my online transactions.
  • trinitrate
    trinitrate Posts: 219 Member
    Every pay day my autopay bills come out, and I give myself an allowance of cash for the following two weeks. Nothing comes out of checking until the next paycheck. Whatever is left over at the end of the paycheck can be rolled into debt payoff or savings.


    Completely controls budget. Can't overspend. If the wallet is empty, you can't spend it!

    What happens when the power goes out? Cash still works. Highly suggest keeping a week or more worth of expenses in cash at your home.... Its rare, but )(&**()& does happen.

    Can't track buying patterns on a cash buyer the way CC buyers can be. (This is not a black helicopter thing, companys are already doing it, and getting more invasive every year.)
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    I use cash for things where my budget is very important to stick to, like groceries. Cash is more physical then credit or debit. As such, I can't spend "just a little more" if I physically do not have it. This helps me keep an eye on prices and reduce the number of extra items I throw into my cart.

    Otherwise, everything goes on my one CC and I pay it off monthly.

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