The cash crowd tried to win me over but I feel like I’m walking into a boss fight with unspent Souls. Plus COINS

any domination under $5 in Australia is a coin and it infuriates me, if we had a System like in the US where there was $1 and $2 bills I’d me more inclined.
The people that take forever to count their charge and are as equally frustrating as the card “hold on, have to transfer people”.

That being said almost every business now adding a surcharge for EFTPOS use has got me leaning a bit towards cash. The bank I’m with a lot of their branches closed so the closest ATM I can use without getting a fee is a 15-20 min drive away. So either way I’m getting charged.

Is contactless much popular in the US now too? When I went there wasn’t any which weirded me out as it’s been a thing for over a decade here. Same with bank transfers without a 3rd party app.


Team Cash or Team Card?

I use cash for specific situations and credit card for everything else. My debit card only gets activated so they don't send another thinking I never got it. One reason I don't cut it up immediately is I sometimes use it for the gummy atm. Otherwise I never use debit. Until (if) the feds legalize it nationally you have no choice but to use cash. I also regulate how much I eat out via cash. I don't feel comfortable handing a drive thru person/server my card to walk away with, so it's always cash. I also use said change from fast food for easy vending machine access. Yeah they have card terminals on vending machines a lot of times, but I try not to indulge because that creates a monster. I've of course already touched on cash for gas stations to avoid skimmers. That's another perk for credit, if you do get skimmed at least it's coming from credit and not draining my savings.

All my other purchases (groceries, bills, etc.) goes on one of 2 credit cards. So the bulk is on cards, but I carry ~100 in 20's at all times for convenience. The further away we move from cash the more it just feels like money is extra make believe.

I'm gonna assume contactless is probably not super common and only in super bougie places. I see it posted online a lot that giant retailers like Walmart don't use apple pay and it frustrates people. The fact that they patronize Walmart should be the real red flag though. I don't know how common contactless in the states is. I once tried to store my CC on a store's app since I use their scan n go thing, but it didn't take which is probably not the worst thing since things are always getting breached.

I only use cash for gas and my new (illegal) cigarette shop where they don’t accept debit but sell a pack of cigs for $11 instead of $20 like 7-11 and every other legal deli.

I use both. I lean more on the card so I can keep up with my spending habits, but there are places I'd rather use cash.

Saw it was a bodyslam post and I'm disappointed it didn't mention a checkbook.

Jan 28, 2024 18:05:16 GMT @ness said:

Saw it was a bodyslam post and I'm disappointed it didn't mention a checkbook.

I still use my checkbook from time to time. More so for gifts and odd job payments that send invoices through the mail. Not every business wants to give a percentage to the credit card company and prefer cash or check. 

I don't even carry my wallet any more, I pay for everything with the tap of my phone.
We had 90% of places taking card for years, but the pandemic pushed it to 99%

Card.

I don't think I've carried cash for nearly 15 years. Unless someone gives me some cash, I'll never have a urge to carry some or withdraw cash.

When I used to travel, maybe a few hundred bucks in whatever the local currency is, just in case I stumble into Middle Earth or something, or the EFT looks like it was rigged up by a Gypsy scammer.

The only people I hear talking about " cash only " are the same people who think weather modification is real and the vaccines gave them autism.

Card. Usually carry like 20 in cash or so at for kids sports games.


Also chiming in to say that if you write checks in public you deserve every bad thing that’s ever happened to you.

I use card for most transactions for convenience. I play poker at a casino once or twice a week so I keep a fair amount of cash on hand for that.

Jan 28, 2024 23:27:52 GMT UT said:

Card. Usually carry like 20 in cash or so at for kids sports games.


Also chiming in to say that if you write checks in public you deserve every bad thing that’s ever happened to you.

how long does it take to write a check? 

@ness has mentioned this before about whatever anxiety he has about physically handing a card to someone. Are things still that backwards in Ohio? I do not remember the last time someone touched my credit card that wasn't me. Everything is tap, or insert and punch in the pin. I'm just baffled at any explanation that has people taking credit cards and leaving with them. Just hasn't happened here for like 20 years.

Like UT I always keep some cash on me, most likely for something child related. Otherwise everything goes on the credit card to churn and earn points. Never carry a balance.

Jan 29, 2024 3:56:28 GMT Foos said:

@ness has mentioned this before about whatever anxiety he has about physically handing a card to someone. Are things still that backwards in Ohio? I do not remember the last time someone touched my credit card that wasn't me. Everything is tap, or insert and punch in the pin. I'm just baffled at any explanation that has people taking credit cards and leaving with them. Just hasn't happened here for like 20 years.

Like UT I always keep some cash on me, most likely for something child related. Otherwise everything goes on the credit card to churn and earn points. Never carry a balance.

To be fair this was 10 years ago but every restaurant Sandra and I went in NYC that was the practice when paying via card

I can confirm that two months ago I had to hand my card to the waitress at a restaurant in Dallas international airport. I assumed that's how they still do things in the USA even though it's an archaic practice.

I use card 99% of the time. I still carry my wallet and physical bank cards. Old habits die hard. I use my phone to pay occasionally, such as when I go to the gym. I make a habit of carrying some cash as there are establishments that still take cash only although I have noticed they are all adopting card payments very quickly, and for good reason.

America really is the wild west with walking away with credit cards and bodyslam writing cheques everywhere.

I've been going to an Minneapolis for a week here and there (and again coming up) and nobody takes my card there.

I prefer cash but there is no denying that using card is much easier/quicker and allows you to keep track of spending.

I just feel like I save way more money with cash, and I hate all the extra fees for card

It might not be super common unless you go to a fancy black book receipt place. Most chains have those kiosks at the table.

Jan 29, 2024 13:07:55 GMT Foos said:

America really is the wild west with walking away with credit cards and bodyslam writing cheques everywhere.

I've been going to an Minneapolis for a week here and there (and again coming up) and nobody takes my card there.

This happens to me in Texas but I don't remember elsewhere. I used cash only in Minneapolis because of this. It's very disconcerting. 

I tend to use my card, but have tried recently to do more with cash as I find I spend less and am more mindful with cash. 

Jan 29, 2024 3:56:28 GMT Foos said:

@ness has mentioned this before about whatever anxiety he has about physically handing a card to someone. Are things still that backwards in Ohio? I do not remember the last time someone touched my credit card that wasn't me. Everything is tap, or insert and punch in the pin. I'm just baffled at any explanation that has people taking credit cards and leaving with them. Just hasn't happened here for like 20 years.

Like UT I always keep some cash on me, most likely for something child related. Otherwise everything goes on the credit card to churn and earn points. Never carry a balance.

I work in the credit card processing industry. Contactless has been very @spotty across the US for a long time. It has been getting much better recently, probably due to Apple Pay. There's no mandate that a payment processor support contactless so a lot didn't support it at all. Also, it was an add-on feature the merchant would have to pay for so many didn't.

The credit card processing networks in the US (world?) are total clusterfucks still running 1970s tech in the backend. It's a miracle they work at all.

I almost always use cash. Card for expensive items only. My Credit Score was sublime last time I needed to know that for something. I still write checks to pay my bills. Didn't know it was that rare until a conversation with this guy at work like 6 months ago. I hate change as a general rule and will never do so until forced. Then I'll bitch about it for the next few decades.

www.news.com.au/finance/business/banking/australian-bank-shuts-branches-to-go-almost-solely-digital/news-story/41084f9463efe636e44218017060c8e8

The article should read :

" Man drives 300kms to withdraw cash, only to be told :

At the rate we're going they might as well just pay us in Prime Bux/vouchers.

Jan 29, 2024 18:45:55 GMT NATH45 said:

www.news.com.au/finance/business/banking/australian-bank-shuts-branches-to-go-almost-solely-digital/news-story/41084f9463efe636e44218017060c8e8

The article should read :

" Man drives 300kms to withdraw cash, only to be told :

It's getting pretty bad when there are no branches and the call centres are offshore, very hard to get anything sorted out.

I put millions per year through the ANZ and have never once had a call or visit from their small business team even though I have someone responsible for my account, if you don't have an overdraft or a loan, they don't want to know you.

How I'm envisioning some of you fossils

Some of the best dive bars and hole in the wall restaurants are cash-only; credit card merchants charge the shop fees and they'd rather not pay them. If you insist on card or you walk, then there's the door - there's no shortage of customers willing to take your place.

Many of the food trucks around here are card-only; either a hygiene thing but also a robbery thing. If you refuse to take cash then you'll never have a till to rob.

I'm card first if possible, I'd like the rewards points. The lady who cuts my hair, and one of my favorite burrito places are cash only so I keep cash on me, and occasionally to tip the buskers who play music while everyone's waiting in line for restaurants and bakeries. If you want them around you gotta support them, y'know?

One of the local Take-Away places here is famously cash only and it's a complete shithole despite the food, I'm convinced these guys are rorting the tax system and the shitholeness is to keep up the " well are poor business owners" narrative despite the son's sports cars.

Australia's second biggest Teleco went down a few months ago and it caused all sorts of mayhem for business owners as no one carries cash, and recently I walked into a restaurant at lunch time whose EFT was down and it was a ghost town.

Maybe there's some merit in still carrying cash.

Jan 30, 2024 18:50:06 GMT NATH45 said:

it's a complete shithole despite the food

Shitholes often have the best food. Rent/mortgage is one of the killers of restaurants. If they own their building and keep maintenance costs low then they can rake in money.

Jan 30, 2024 19:04:18 GMT Gyro LC said:

Jan 30, 2024 18:50:06 GMT NATH45 said:

it's a complete shithole despite the food

Shitholes often have the best food. Rent/mortgage is one of the killers of restaurants. If they own their building and keep maintenance costs low then they can rake in money.

The worst the neighborhood the better the food. Just go during the daytime!

Jan 30, 2024 19:04:18 GMT Gyro LC said:

Jan 30, 2024 18:50:06 GMT NATH45 said:

it's a complete shithole despite the food

Shitholes often have the best food. Rent/mortgage is one of the killers of restaurants. If they own their building and keep maintenance costs low then they can rake in money.

This is especially true of Chinese Restaurants, the nicer the place the worse the food.

Jan 30, 2024 19:04:18 GMT Gyro LC said:

Jan 30, 2024 18:50:06 GMT NATH45 said:

it's a complete shithole despite the food

Shitholes often have the best food. Rent/mortgage is one of the killers of restaurants. If they own their building and keep maintenance costs low then they can rake in money.

I live in what is considered 'the hood' and I can attest to this being true. Some of the best restaurants are in the worst areas of the city. It makes sense to me. Lower rents = lower overhead when the margins on food is already slim.  

I have also started carrying cash for tips.  If you use your card to tip, the waitperson gets taxed on it twice as they get it paid out on their next cheque plus again at tax time.  Some places even keep the tips. On Saturday we went to a Gin Festival and took a hotel shuttle so we tipped the driver $10 each way cause he was saving us paying for an Uber. I like to tip my Pizza guy $5-10 or buy cookies when the Girl Guides co9me knocking  It's little things like that I like having cash on hand for.