Going cashless

This is all fine until systems go down or someone hacks into your account.
Another threat is the demand that you a) have a mobile smartphone and b) share your number with every Tom, Dick and Harry. Never mind that people like me prefer to limit the number of people who know my mobile number. What about those who may not be capable of using all the functions of a phone, or who will be easily conned into giving away their security details to smooth talking con artists,. At least a PC or laptop is within your home so not as easily misused as a phone that is carried with you.

Bijou I am wondering how much you pay the widow cleaner, I bet he doesn't take card payments!

There are times, when under pressure, I can't remember PINs and passwords. As soon as I sit quietly, I have no problem. I also use a password manager, it is secure, encrypted and simple to use. It is stored in the cloud and available on all my devices. I include notes reminding me of my security questions and how I formatted them. It's worth thinking about as we become increasingly dependent on PINs and passwords to protect our money, rather than a purse in a pocket or bag.

Oops! cardsxall ge cards all the
pasddord password
memorae memorable
ff off ?

I think it's been over a year since I last touched cash, but I haven't gone contactless yet, I prefer to swipe or insert my card and type my pin.

Annaram1
Ah...? but do they give you a receipt and do they pay tax? ??

I very rarely use cash. Usually for raffle tickets at various clubs and meetings, otherwise it's cardsxall ge time.
I forgot the sequence of a new card's PIN ? but the till operator reminded me to use tap n go, so that spared the blushes ☺
It can be taxing to remember
1) Your card PIN
2) Online password and memorable word.
3) Telephone banking password and memorable info
4) Credit card PIN
5) Credit card pasddord and memorae word

Plus all the other security numbers, dates and memorable places plus usernames.
As I have several bank and savings and share dealing accounts, you can imagine that I have to be inventive to remember all of them as no two are the same.
Luckily, Halifax have voice recognition but occasionally ask for other details.
I can keep track of my spending, DDs standing orders, pending payments and refunds on the bank apps so I don't need spreadsheets.
Any one ff payments can be done via the apps too, saves faffing around with money and going out to a bank or ATM..and it's immediate with faster payments.

I carry only a little cash and am fine with card and online payments. When it comes to U3a or our bridge club, rambling club, etc., they like a cheque. Small clubs like cash or cheques.

I always pay my handyman and gardener in cash. They don't have the facilities to process a card.

At present I am guilty of mostly using card payments, but there are some times when I have to have cash, buses in our area only accept cash or unlike me a bus pass ( I do not qualify for this until I can get my pension which I have to wait until I am 66 1/2 I will be 65 in October but thats the new rules unfortunately.

I accept JMitch’s point but in those days it was very local. Nowadays the spy in the sky sees everything we look at and buy online, that’s the difference.

It's okay until there's a cyber virus . Then there will be hell to play . No will be able access there money or be able to pay for things . This looks more likely this will happen at some time . Rather than country's going to war they can bring the country to its knee through the internet .

My main concern is that we could be controlled by the bank.
Choosing when and how we can get our funds. What happens if they collapse? What if there are problems online and we need money by a given time?

We could lose all control of our money. It’s good to feel independence and freedom that comes with being in control

Mama Caz ...your argument hit the nail on the head....there’s a lot of monetary abuse out there...I’ve been a victim myself ...I found courage ...and now I’m no-ones victim! But it’s so easy to fall into ‘him’ controlling even your money ...and so very difficult to extricate yourself . Without cash it would be impossible !

LondonGranny’s policeman friend, I think the NHS has enough on its plate without kindly dispensing harmful substances before trying to put right the damage these substances have done! I don’t want my taxes spent on this.

I use my debit card in the supermarkets, cash for small purchases. But my home help, widow cleaner, and gardener prefer cash. For on line purchases I use credit card. If they are over £100 and faulty the card company can help.
I give my grandchildren and great-grandchildren money for birthdays and Christmas so use cheques for this.

I always have cash in my purse but use debit card quite a bit not contactless though. Haven’t written a cheque for around 10 years

For those who have concerns about people knowing our shopping habits I have to say - t’was ever thus!! Growing up my mother had accounts in the grocer, the butcher and the greengrocer, she would give them her order and it was either delivered or we would collect. The milkman knew precisely how many people were in the house at any given moment in time, and the coal merchant also knew how busy the home was. Either way, the shopkeepers and merchants knew exactly what we bought each week, what we spent and even knew when we were away - so how is that different to now?

No chance here in Germany. Plastic cards are still regarded with scepticism.

However, cheques have been obsolete for quite some time now whereas transfers from bank account to bank account have always been the norm.

As I mentioned on one of the threads when the GN site crashed a couple of days ago and strangely several others crashed simultaneously we are risking a lot by relying so much on the Internet.

I usually have €200 - €300 in my purse. Never let it get below €50.

I think we should keep both. I use cards a lot but would hate not having any cash. What if I just want to buy a newspaper, or an ice-cream? Or pay for car-parking, - not all car park machines take cards. Or tip the waiter in a restaurant... etc..
And sometimes I give my grandchildren cash for their birthdays.
And there are still a lot of people, surely, who don't use cards at all. So if we do go cashless, it should be well into the future. We are not ready yet.

I’ve banked on line with Nat West for 20 years without even one problem. Ever.

Bet the tax man will be delighted to have a cashless society - no more getting that plumber/gardener/decorator in for ‘cash-in hand’. I bet the black economy is huge.

If you don't use a store card and pay in cash at least you can have a little secret life from everyone trying to get your details!

What about visiting hairdressers and so on ? My hairdresser comes to my home and I give her cash. My window cleaner is cash in hand too.
We had a a window replaced this week and the glazier asked for cash.
I never go anywhere without a wallet with ready money in it but I have friends and family that turn up to restaurants and other venues without enough to leave a tip.

Thanks Baggs I didn't realise cheques could be posted.
A cheque as a gift seems somehow much more attractive than cash - at least you can sign it in handwriting.
I'm still puzzled about bank transfers if you don't do on-line banking and don't have a branch rearby?

A cashless society will invite more frequent overdrafts of checking and savings accounts- The banking industry is aware of this likelihood and will profit from it-

I also think it will invite people to use their credit cards more frequently, make unnecessary purchases, and rack up unnecessary debt that the banks will profit from by way of interest rates-