Do you still use cash regularly, or is everything contactless now?

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missuseme@reddit

I've never understood when people say cash is easier to keep track of. With banking apps you have a time stamped log of everything you spend on a card, with cash you just have to remember.

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colin_staples@reddit

For some people, cash is a control. And I think that's what they mean

If you only have £20 cash on you, then you can only spend £20.

Or if you go out with £40 and come back with £10 then you know that you have spent £30

If it's cashless (in whatever form) then you can spend, spend, spend, and be oblivious to how much you have spent

That's how it works for some people.

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Dennyisthepisslord@reddit

I absolutely used to feel that way about nights out drinking. Having cash would limit me better than just tapping a card. A physical reminder of money is going etc.

Now pubs are too expensive for that not to be a worry I am well aware of money going!

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Mdl8922@reddit

It's about feeling that sting of physically handing the money over, for me.

When I use a card it almost doesn't feel real to me, spending cash is mentally easier for me to digest.

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AceNova2217@reddit

Maybe it's a gen z thing, but I always find using my card is more real than cash. I don't use cash at all, really, so it almost doesn't feel like spending money to me.

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GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit

Nah I'm millennial and I feel the same way.

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ruu_throwaway@reddit

If I pay with cash, it doesn’t come out of my bank. It’s like, free money!

Completely agree with you. It already got spent when I withdrew it from my bank, or its money I’ve received that doesn’t touch my bank.

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TheCarrot007@reddit

Nah,

Gen X here.

If I take cash out i spend it all. I I use a card I spend less. True since always.

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AlexSniff7@reddit

It's the opposite for me - I don't see cash transactions in my bank account so it doesn't feel like i am spending anything!

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missuseme@reddit

For me as soon as cash is out of the cash machine it's "spent" in my head.

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Octoboy1@reddit

We've gotten into the habit of at the start of the moment we withdraw our food shopping money for the month and thats all we can spend on food

Otherwise we start going massively over budget on shit we don't need

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Mdl8922@reddit

Yeah it's really handy for budgeting imo.

If I can touch it, I can spend it. If I can't touch it, it stays untouched.

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Legit_Vampire@reddit

This is me. I worked with my hands to get it seems only right, it leaves my hands. ..... I do look like whoopi Goldberg handing over the cheque in the film ghost though 😂

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fastestman4704@reddit

Yes but if I have £300 on a card and I spend some on card I have to log into a banking app to see what's left.

With cash you just look in your wallet.

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PepsiMaxSumo@reddit

Just so much harder and more time consuming to count the cash than it is to click on an app and instantly get told

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fastestman4704@reddit

It's definitely isn't unless you're terrible at counting.

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PepsiMaxSumo@reddit

Takes 1 second or less to open an app while your phone is out, you can’t even get the cash out of a wallet that quickly

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fastestman4704@reddit

While your phone is out

Can't even take the cash out

Yeah obviously if you measure only the very last part of checking on your phone but include all of taking your wallet out it's going to be faster, but why would you do that?

If they're both in your pocket you;

1) remove the wallet, open the wallet, count. Done.

2) remove the phone, unlock the phone, go to your app menu, find the banking app, open the banking app, type in a pasacode, ignore a message from the bank telling you it'll be out of service on Sunday night between 2am and 4am, and then select and read the account (and possibly check which Standing orders and direct debits are still to come out and do some maths). Done.

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missuseme@reddit

They're never both in my pocket in the first place, my wallet lives stuffed in a drawer at home.

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Wise-Sympathy9585@reddit

I get why some people prefer cash and if that works for them, cool.

However, the mental olympics in this comment to make checking a banking app more consuming than counting cash in a wallet is mental.

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PepsiMaxSumo@reddit

1) get phone out, scan face. 2) click banking app that’s in the same place it’s been for the last 10 years of having a phone, scan face. 3) read.

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ohnoitshimagain10@reddit

Got to agree, I'm absolutely knackered by the time I've lifted 2 tenners out of my wallet

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PepsiMaxSumo@reddit

Depends how much disposable income you have to be fair, I was thinking having to count a few hundred quid

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ohnoitshimagain10@reddit

I draw 100 out each week to live on, everything else is paid by Direct debit. I'm not a for hard cash is King type, just find it easier to manage week to week expenses in cash

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fastestman4704@reddit

Truly a gargantuan task.

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Just-an-idiot-online@reddit

Also need a phone with data or a WiFi connection to check. There are still some people who don't have that.
I also take my disposable income in cash. I can't spend what I don't have in my wallet.

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missuseme@reddit

Except with cash I end up with some in my wallet, some in my jacket pocket, some on the counter at home, some in my handbag.

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CptCave1@reddit

The 0.5 seconds it takes me to log in and see my balance is a lot quicker

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Aggressive_Menu7271@reddit

I make a concerted effort to use cash for smaller purchases. If we dont use it we'll lose it.

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ArcadeCrossfire@reddit

If somewhere doesn’t take card I just don’t shop there. I’m not going to a cash point to get cash, to buy something and then be stuck with change I’m not going to use.

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wheeler1916@reddit

It likely means they're not quite being fully transparent with HMRC, too

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AdMaleficent6813@reddit

Hmmmm yes, they like to possess their own money as opposed to leave it in the trust of a bank..... they must be criminals avoiding paying tax.

Are you my mum? Daily mail reader?

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Demonthief27@reddit

So during Covid it was actually highlighted how many folk did this. You know the ones that complained they weren’t entitled to their 30k a year because they only declared 5k.

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AdMaleficent6813@reddit

No it wasn't.

Im self employed and I only started up 18 months ago, I declare everything. I actually made a loss last year. Most businesses earn next to nothing the first few years of trading.

A lot of people don't understand that and assume by declaring 5k earnings, you must be tax dodging.

Stacks of businesses fold every year because they're just not earning enough. You have to ride it out until you make it, some do, a lot don't. If mine doesn't make it through in 4 years, I will also fold.

I'm not denying some businesses do under declare but it's not common. Being on the recieving end of a tax audit just isn't worth the stress.

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wheeler1916@reddit

Nah I'm just someone who pays 40% tax on my own earnings and thinks it's probably a bit more fair if other people do, too

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AdMaleficent6813@reddit

I also pay 40% tax and I prefer cash over card any day.

I keep savings in gold and after bills are paid, it's all cash.

Shouldn't tar everyone with your sceptical tarring brush.

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wheeler1916@reddit

Are you a merchant though? My problem is with businesses that only take cash, not people who prefer to use cash to pay.

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AdMaleficent6813@reddit

No, I'm not a merchant. There's an old boy who runs a DIY shop in my village and it's cash only and has been for the 60 years he's been running it after his parents did.

I'm pretty sure if he was tax dodging, he'd have been caught out by now. I'm confident it's a technology thing and he just refused to change with the time's or he just doesn't trust the bank.

Personally, I've not used banks for about 10 years since I went to withdraw some money and they said no. They said they didn't have it and I have to pre order and go through a process.

They did have it and soon gave it to me when I started making a scene in the middle of a busy high street bank.

I've not trusted them since.

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Drug_Taker917@reddit

Classic reddit take this

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MeenaBeti@reddit

I just use the spare cash at a supermarket self checkout. Even if its a couple of quid, you can pay some then the rest with card. You will always go to a supermarket so you won't be stuck with change that way.

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DrHydeous@reddit

But I won't always go to a supermarket. They deliver.

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Ebony_221b@reddit

Cash for smaller business. Card otherwise.

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Anon_on_internet@reddit

I always ask small businesses if they'd prefer cash and have been surprised how many say no.

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DrHydeous@reddit

My local stopped taking cash because dealing with cash was too expensive. It's not just the transaction cost with the bank, there's a cost for withdrawing small denomination notes and coins so you have a float for change, the cost of light-fingered staff, the cost of insurance when you keep cash on the premises, and the cost in time to take cash to the bank.

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Sparky1498@reddit

Most small business accounts are charged for depositing cash - not a lot like 35p per £100 - plus also have the inconvenience of visiting a branch or CDM to deposit cash during bank hours or post office etc - instant bank transfer is likely more convenient all round - plus the whole dodgy tax evasion of paying cash to avoid vat etc in days gone by, whilst still a thing for some I’m sure, is something that banks are highly aware of and need to prove to regulators that they know their customer- if the turnover through a business account is not matching the growth of business it will be highlighted at some point (think a loan application and repayments customer assures is affordable etc) then it has to be flagged - cash heavy businesses are scrutinised so for most it is easier to have POS machines for debit cards and accept bank transfers

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OkTechnician4610@reddit

I have been using cash more often now. I have an allowance I set myself & use that need to keep closer control over £££ for a while due to higher costs.

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cragglerock93@reddit

I work in a supermarket and every day almost with no fluctuation, cash sales are 9% of total sales. I think that says it all.

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Winter_Parsley8706@reddit

The ONLY time I use cash is to pay the Turkish barber that wont take card. Aside from that, I have no use for it.

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GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit

I've not used cash since about 2020 and even then it was on its way out. No, it was nothing to do with the pandemic.

I hate cash. I hate carrying it around. I hate that it gets crumpled and creased. I do like it as a concept because I like the artwork and stuff and I like that different countries have different designs.

But everything is just so much easier with card and it forces people to pay tax on your purchases, which I like because I have to pay tax on my income, I don't get a choice.

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

I use cash about 5 times a year. Everything else is ApplePay.

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Capable-Campaign3881@reddit

Pub near me was cash only and didn’t accept card payments this was quite annoying, anyway this pub has recently installed a card machine in there. Cash isn’t always king, and I prefer paying by card if I can where possible, but if something is needing cash i don’t mind.

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72dk72@reddit

Cash is king, people will still do deals for cash. Secondly cash works when technology doesn't Thirdly if you have cash you know you have the money, it's easy just to tap your card away.

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AdMaleficent6813@reddit

Use cash or lose it.... and with it, all control of your money.

People only consider these things with current situations in mind.

Imagine some trump like entity or worse gets in power in 10, 20, 50 years time. Be careful which freedoms you give up today because once it's gone, it's gone for good.

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prustage@reddit

I only use cash to pay my barber. There is absolutely no other situation where I need it.

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Sparky1498@reddit

Early Gen X nearly a boomer 🤣 only ever use cash for a haircut (her home rather than salon) probably once every 5 weeks - occasionally my elderly mother insists on reimbursing something I have brought (honestly not worth the argument as she gets agitated if feels she is not independent) so on occasion I end up with cash in my card wallet that sits there for ages. Much prefer using debit card, bank transfer, dd s/o etc or Apple Pay for everything as it’s just easier to track and keep a note of in the App and you have a record that you have paid.

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ReliefZealousideal84@reddit

I use cash exclusively and do not shop anywhere where card payments are a requirement.

Cash is king - use it or lose it - and digital or contactless payments are a way to control you and your money and how you use it.

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djwillis1121@reddit

How are card payments a way to control people?

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SemtaCert@reddit

You must waste an absolute fortune by not getting cheaper online prices, not paying energy by direct debit, no cashback etc.

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CensorTheologiae@reddit

I use both. That said, I do get pissed off waiting behind people who are failing to use their phones/cards because the system is not exactly reliable.

At least cash works first time and not on the fifth attempt.

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New-Deal2694@reddit

I only use cash in places I know that they may prefer cash.....for their own reasons, I won't ask any questions.

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ChipCob1@reddit

Weird, this is the third story about using cash I've seen on UK subs (not the punk band!) in the last hour. I wonder if this is some kind of banking survey?

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Mapleess@reddit

Everyone in this post except me and you are bots.

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ChipCob1@reddit

Just you I'm afraid...beep bop

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sakmentoloki@reddit

I haven't carried cash for about 10 years. Bar the odd time when the Chinese place only uses cash and I have to go to an atm. In London at least everything is contactless even the chicken shops these days. I don't even usually carry physical cards around most of the time I just use my phone for all payments,travel etc

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Mysterious-Sock39@reddit

Never annoyed if I can only pay cash my hairdressers I don't tip him anymore as he's so tight not to do card

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

Friend of mine paid me £10 for something about a month ago. It’s still in my wallet, don’t even have an idea when I’ll use it.

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WayOfTheMandalore@reddit

It’s useful if you run out of data and need to get a taxi somewhere.

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SemtaCert@reddit

You can still pay by card even if you have no data...

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Complex_Box_7254@reddit

Who runs out of data in 2026? You can get unlimited for less than £15.

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WayOfTheMandalore@reddit

It literally happened to me last October. I was decorating new place before the WiFi was installed and ran out of data while using it as a hotspot for the laptop. I couldn’t get on to top up and was marooned at 3am, so I rang a taxi like a caveman.

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

This doesn’t feel like something that happens in my life.

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MahatmaAndhi@reddit

If I can't pay digitally, I don't bother. That includes Facebook marketplace etc

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Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit

I always keep £500 in my wallet. If I can pay in cash I will. It helps the smaller traders out at scewing the tax man - and it's easier for me. I do however make a note to avoid shops that say Cash only. Cash should be my choice not theirs

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Efficient_Chance7639@reddit

I’ve been contactless only since Apple Pay was introduced. It is so much easier than the alternative methods.

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QueefInMyKisser@reddit

I had a contactless Apple Pay transaction declined even though the same card worked on chip and PIN. Sure, it was for just over £2k but I thought there wasn’t supposed to be a limit?

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Just-an-idiot-online@reddit

Apple doesn't have a limit, but your bank might. Mine was also declined in the Apple store once, so it's definitely not apple.

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QueefInMyKisser@reddit

https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/everyday-banking/card-and-pin-services/apple-pay.html

What is the transaction limit for Apple Pay?expandable section

To protect you from fraud, we might occasionally limit the value or number of payments you can make using Apple Pay and ask you to use your card instead. Some retailers may also limit payments to £100.

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D0wnb0at@reddit

I have so many coins in my house, and I have no idea what to do with them.

But no, I haven’t used cash since 2019ish when street parking near work turned into an app. Having to go somewhere which only takes cash is a chore.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

100% contactless for the last decade. Only need/use cash for weed.

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CurvePuzzleheaded361@reddit

Haven’t used cash in years. Literally years. I use apple pay for absolutely everything.

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Rubostars@reddit

I haven't used cash in a long, long time. I pay mostly with my credit card on Google Pay. I don't understand why some people say using cash is easier to track... if I pay by cash the transaction is not recorded anywhere but in my mind, so I can't go back to check

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ZBD1949@reddit

What do you mean by "older people" I'm over 70 and I haven't used cash for years.

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Complex_Box_7254@reddit

How is cash easier to keep track of spending? I can quickly review my banking account, see all of my transactions and how much money I have remaining. Much simpler than keeping track of the cash I have left in my wallet.

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Nebulousdbc@reddit

Instead of logging into a banking app every time to check your balance and dealing with multi factor authentication, you just open your wallet and count. Probably good for the brain as well, both counting what you got and counting out what you need to give the cashier

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IntrusiveUK@reddit

Need cash to buy drugs

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

Get with BitCoin, grandad.

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Cabbagecatss@reddit

Bitcoin for a bit of weed??

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

No reason to get excited, it’s just a currency.

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IntrusiveUK@reddit

Why would I wanna pay all those fees and wait days when I can just call someone to drop it off and spend less money lol

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MercuryJellyfish@reddit

I’m pretty sure you’re paying a premium for that.

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Brave_Assumption6@reddit

I used to use contactless card a lot until last year, I finally put a stop to it.

It was probably convenient but I noticed that cash is better because

I can keep track of my spendings better
I doubled it up with my attempts trying to stop using my phone all day everyday

First thing I did was delete Apple Pay and just carry my bank card as before. Now even that is not being used anymore except as an emergency backup.

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Nebulousdbc@reddit

You've got the right idea

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Spottyjamie@reddit

The good chinese near me is cash only so i use if i can be arsed to go to a cashpoint that doesnt charge

The average one takes card which i use if i cant be arsed to use the good one

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GeoAnchoa@reddit

Use it everyday. Out of preference

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Mysterious_County154@reddit

Contactless everything

I just wont use a business if its cash only

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Tonybham01@reddit

I haven’t carried physical cash for several years now. One advantage? I don’t get holes in my trouser pockets any more. For the record I’m 72.

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Additional-Switch912@reddit

I use cash all the time, mainly because in my job I often get paid cash for work so take that as my wages and use it in shops and for takeaways and fuel for my car. It also helps stop me overspending when I go food shopping and do a mental calculation before I get to the check out often I’m £10 under which is a bonus! To pay the cash into my business bank account will cost me £1 for each deposit and I’m limited on the amount of cash I can deposit.

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PKblaze@reddit

I carry cash on me in case I need it but usually pay by chip and pin.

Contactless doesn't feel secure to me.

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aIexm@reddit

The only cash I’ve used in well over a year is the pound coin for the trolley, and that lives in my car. No judgement for anyone who still prefers to use it and I think it’s still a good idea to keep it around.

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IndividualCurious322@reddit

I still use it.

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Mediocre_Shallot1659@reddit

I havent actively used cash in over 10 years.

Cant even remember the last time I went to a cash machine.

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Nebulousdbc@reddit

80-90% of my in person shopping is cash usage, the only time it's not is diesel purchases at costco or when I'm taking cashback out

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PepsiMaxSumo@reddit

Been pretty much contactless only since around 2017.

Cash costs businesses more than cards to manage, especially smaller businesses. Do them a favour and use your card more.

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Commercial-Name-1853@reddit

I don’t use cash unless I’m getting a service that only takes cash (tattoo, nails etc) I just use Apple Pay mostly. I don’t like handling cash, it’s very dirty. And my 9 years of customer service I’ve seen people take cash out of questionable places. If a shop doesn’t take card then I just go elsewhere that does, I am empathetic towards small business owners and why they take cash only. However I am a small business owner too and I take both.

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bio4m@reddit

99.99% of the time card/contactless. I only get cash when someone requests it (tradesmen usually, plumber and electrician both asked to be paid in cash, I'm assuming they're dodging taxes)

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Keinix22@reddit

Contactless but I’ve probs had the same £25 in my wallet for past 4 months , mostly just for when I need to get my car washed or the local Chinese which is cash only 😡

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LazyEmu5073@reddit

I had 60 quid in my wallet at the very start of lockdown in 2020. I still have what's left of it, £15!

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Old_Taro_7636@reddit

I instinctively reach for my phone when I go to pay instead of my wallet now, but I still take my wallet everywhere with some cash in

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BigDawny1@reddit

Anything under £20

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JonRoberts87@reddit

I find I only use cash nowadays in places like barber shops, chippys etc

Generally contactless everywhere else. Its so much easier than just carrying cash around, and find I can track my spending better

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kevio17@reddit

Contactless for nearly a decade. I’ve only been caught out once, trying to pay to leave the Stansted drop off area - after a quick panic I realised it was a broken reader, tried another one and it worked

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Mdl8922@reddit

80% of my spending is cash.

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yossanator@reddit

I usually have a pound coin for the supermarket trolley. Occasionally get cash out for "Spanish Tobacco".

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YOF626@reddit

I only use cash to pay my window cleaner or giving tips in restaurants.

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Djinjja-Ninja@reddit

Cash to pay the cleaner weekly (£28) and for the pub quiz (£5, though that's per team and I don't pay every week). Other than that it's contactless with my phone for almost everything.

I do carry anywhere between £20 and £80 on me just in case in my phone case and card holder just in case.

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Specialist_Emu7274@reddit

Only use contactless in the UK and any other countries where I don't need to pay fees for on Monzo- I use cash in countries where this is not possible but its such a faff compared to using a card/phone. I have never been in a situation in the UK where I have needed cash.

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Alone_Consideration6@reddit

Cash usage is making a recovery.

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K0monazmuk@reddit

Nope, never have cash, all my bills go out of my account, not my wallet, so everything is paid to me to my bank account and out via my phone.

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bumford11@reddit

I'd say about 20% of my spending is in cash. I also always like to keep a small amount of cash on me in case of an emergency.

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KILOCHARLIES@reddit

Cash wherever possible.

Once you plebs make it impossible to use, there’s no going back.

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BradleyStickland@reddit

I have cash sat in my wallet which has been there for months. the benefit of this, is that it feels like free money when i do eventually spend it or put it into my bank. Otherwise I only use card (aside from barbers)

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DormantDormouse@reddit

yep still use cash. Its always good to have some on hand for if issues with cards or payment terminals. I don't like the idea of being totally reliant on technology to pay, it's all good when things work well, but when they don't you're stuffed! Also as another person said, personal privacy is an issue especially as it is being eroded so much in so many ways, so anything that helps you not be dependant on a system is a good thing.

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Spiritual-Fondant656@reddit

Cash is King, especially for small businesses.

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NortonBurns@reddit

Gone, except for one business who only takes cash - my local garage. I don't even carry my wallet with me unless I'm going on a trip. It's all just phone.

So many places don't take cash at all any more. Can't even get on a bus with cash.

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LJ161@reddit

I almost never carry cash any more. Maybe because I live in a shit area but there is no convenient cash point in walking distance that is safe to use.

The only exception is my local Indian take away who prefers cash to pay his delivery drivers. I dont ask questions. I'll get money out on the way home at a nicer cash point if I know im getting a take away from him.

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