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Legal, pensions and money

Cashless society

(86 Posts)
Sparkling Thu 02-Jan-20 20:01:54

Has anyone gone cashless? I am getting fed up with the amount of coins weighing me down each day after purchases.
Do you just use your bank debit card for small items such as a coffee or newspaper?

CBBL Fri 03-Jan-20 16:55:46

I use Supermarkets to obtain cash when paying by card! It sounds strange - but I need cash for three places that don't accept cards (1) local Bakery (2) Hairdresser and (3) Car Wash. I agree that we need to preserve Cash for people who are unlikely to cope without it, and because for some, it is essential for budgeting purposes (very easy these days to get into debt - not at all easy to get out of it), and because - come the day when internet banking fails to work - how will we access money or manage to pay for anything?

Cambia Fri 03-Jan-20 16:16:25

I have gone back to cash as a New Years resolution not to use my credit card willy nilly! I am going to use cash only for food buying and see if I save money. So far I have saved £10 on two bottles of wine on offer that I didn’t buy as I had limited cash.

Greciangirl Fri 03-Jan-20 15:19:16

I use both. Card and cash.

Fennel Fri 03-Jan-20 15:19:04

To GNHQ - I've just realised there are 2 threads on this topic.
Can they be combined?

MerylStreep Fri 03-Jan-20 15:13:59

Annsixty
That must have come as a shock ? Although I can't make up my mind whether for her or him.

Nanny41 Fri 03-Jan-20 15:06:48

I use contactless for most things especially small amounts,it is so handy,I occasionally take out a small amount of cash for the odd thing.
I think its important having said that, we do keep cash machines for people who need cash.

4allweknow Fri 03-Jan-20 14:41:19

Article in the media only last week about the problems Scandinavia is having with the supposedly cashless system we are lead to believe exists, it doesn't. Lets hope we aren't all taken with the media hype.

Lancslass1 Fri 03-Jan-20 13:16:57

I rarely use cash but if I want to pay for an hour’s parking locally I have to pay 55p!
I used to have lots of small change for such as that but not any more.

annsixty Fri 03-Jan-20 13:10:59

I have a friend just like that Saggi but she doesn’t even have a mobile or tablet of any sort.
Everything is paid in cash, no direct debits ar alll, she relies upon her family for everything.
On a TMI topic and nothing to do with the thread, she and her H had never, until recently ,seen each other naked.
He still hasn’t but as he has a prostate problem she has had to help him at night.
She said he was totally embarrassed.

MaryXYX Fri 03-Jan-20 13:10:02

I very rarely use cash now, but for things like the coffee subs at a Bible study group and weekly subs at choir practice there is no alternative. I think the main drive to eliminate cash is to stop people giving anything to buskers and charity collectors.

Chino Fri 03-Jan-20 13:04:16

Use cash 75% of the time and make sure I dispose of small coins most days - pity Tesco give out so many in change

Saggi Fri 03-Jan-20 12:52:01

I have a good friend who is SO old fashioned that she makes a WEEKLY trip to post office to collect her pension... it’s a quite small queue now....goes home and allocated amounts of money to different pots or jars ( utilities, rent,food,hols,savings etc.) and then over course if nest week spends her time going to different shops to lay these things! I remember my parents doing that on the 50’s.... but as soon as they opened a bank account their life changed for better. Imagine amount of money people keep in their pot/jars across this country because nobody took the bother to explain and ‘sort it out ‘ for them. I’ve tried...she just shuts down and refuses to listen!! She needed the number of local taxi firm on NYE and couldn’t find the little cards they hand out...I asked was it in her find book....she got out a notepad and thumbed through it...I explained I meant the fone book ON HER MOBILE.... she looked at me blankly. They have no broadband but managed to google the number she wanted , and thought the technology wonderful...butNO way was she going learn the basics! I get very annoyed!

Horatia Fri 03-Jan-20 12:35:21

I'm sticking to cash where possible. My son only used cards until he shared a taxi one night after a transfer didn't arrive. He couldn't pay his share in cash like everyone else and offering his card to pay was such a fuss. It isn't always easier. I like money as its tangible and I agree children need to get a feel of its value also.

PennyWhistle Fri 03-Jan-20 12:32:55

DH and I opened a new bank account with another bank and keep maximum of £200 in the account. We use the card for this account for smaller purchases and for car parking etc. This way we feel that a stolen or cloned card will not wipe us out financially. Likewise I have a credit card with small limit just for use online.

Like others, we do keep a little old fashioned cash to hand ... just in case.

EllanVannin Fri 03-Jan-20 12:06:56

I still like a certain amount of cash----taxi's if needed, even bus fare if I've left my pass in another coat. Better that than panicking or getting in a flap. Cash is still king.

sarahellenwhitney Fri 03-Jan-20 12:05:44

I use cards with exception to certain supermarket parking fees and their trolleys where there is not an option.

NotSpaghetti Fri 03-Jan-20 12:02:47

What does it say Newquay in the Bible about a cashless society being a sign of the end times. . .

I haven't ever come across this and wonder why? Surely exchange preceded cash, logically? At least from a religious perspective I would have thought no cash at all would be better... and technically, I thought we were already in the "end times" anyway. I'm not very well read biblically but understood the resurrection and ascension of Jesus marked the beginning of the end times?

However, in answer to the simple question "Has anyone gone cashless?" - I'd say mostly.
I can see how it would be hard if you had only cash these days but I do personally find a card easier.
Some people need cash it seems. I do wonder why when they are businesses and it does make me wonder about the taxes they are paying. A local take-away for example is cash only. And I recently had a plumber to do an emergency job who wanted cash "as it's easier " - which of course it wasn't.

Given that the young man who cuts my hedge wanted me to transfer the money into his business account "as it's easier tax-wise to have it all together" I can only think some places are not 100% above board.
Just a thought.

TrendyNannie6 Fri 03-Jan-20 11:57:10

Always have 30 pound of cash in my purse pay milkman window cleaner with cash, but do use card for main shopping odd bills, never use contactless like to use pin

gillybob Fri 03-Jan-20 11:25:18

Oops didn’t realise there were 2 threads on this subject .

I can see both sides of this argument .

On one hand there is the massive amount of undeclared cash changing hands in businesses ( hairdressers, bars, window cleaners , takeaways etc) .

And on the other those who would struggle with PIN numbers and plastic .

rafichagran Fri 03-Jan-20 11:22:52

Sorry did not mean the x at the end.

rafichagran Fri 03-Jan-20 11:22:22

I am only using cash at the moment as my card may have had a fruadulant transaction on it.
Before this happened I very rarely used cash but now I see it has place and would not want to lose the option. I should get a replacement card early next week. X

Theoddbird Fri 03-Jan-20 11:10:49

Most purchases I make are under £30 so I use contactless. I keep small amounts of cash as well...pound coin for trolly etc.

TerryM Fri 03-Jan-20 11:09:49

Mostly cashless however we do have cash for "just in case" scenarios
Even our fish and chip shop now accepts cards.

ladymuck Fri 03-Jan-20 11:08:46

We need to fight to keep cash. We managed to convince the banks not to do away with cheques.
Yesterday, I had to wait in the bank, and was surprised at just how many people came in to withdraw cash from the machines. I can't see cash being fazed out.

Pittcity Fri 03-Jan-20 11:04:18

I still see older people with large wads of cash in shops. Are they more afraid of using plastic than of being mugged for the cash?
If a card is stolen it can be cancelled and the bank should refund....no such guarantee with cash.