How often do you use CASH?

[Danoz]

I live in Japan. NOBODY uses credit cards, EVERYONE uses paper cash, and carries around LOTS of it. I have trouble with all the damn change, as a result, but after a year and I half I'm pretty used to it . The Japanese also have a really sexy 500 yen coin (worth about... $6.50 USD).

The crazy thing about these is when I find one in a pants pocket or something. It's like... DAMN! I just found like seven dollars!

Also, as a result of all this stray change, when I first moved into my house I found a giant basket of change:

I've continued this collection of 1-yen, 5-yen and 10-yen coins. There are thousands of them. Before I leave I'll find one of those big change machines and buy myself something nice lol.

In the states, I always used plastic. For everything. I had a couple different cards and very rarely would I pull out cash--- frankly, I didn't trust myself with it. Move to a cash-based economy, and dammit if I don't usually have about 200 to 300 "dollars" worth of yen on my person at all times.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I'm very much a cash person. Don't have a credit card, but sometimes pay for some things via EFTPOS.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I always use a debit card whenever possible.

 

[Jono]

I mix and match. At most I'll carry $100 in cash on me at any one time. If I need to spent more I put it on my card, and sometimes even if I have cash I'll instead use a card to save that cash to use in a purchase where I prefer to use cash...which sounds dodgy but it isn't.

I also have a small box of coins that I've moved out of my wallet. Mostly silver 5c and 10c pieces, I'll raid it for gold coins every now and again. I keep meaning to go to the bank and get a coin bag so to get rid of it, but I can never be bothered to actually step inside a branch to do that.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I never use cash. I don't have a credit card either. I make all of my purchases with a debit card.

 

[Admiral Shran]

I used to have a debit card, but my inability to restrain myself at the local ATM almost ruined me financially. No I no longer carry one and don't plan on doing so for quite a while.

I often use cash for most things, but I'm not opposed to using my credit card if I don't have any on me at the time.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I used to have a debit card, but my inability to restrain myself at the local ATM almost ruined me financially. No I no longer carry one and don't plan on doing so for quite a while.

I often use cash for most things, but I'm not opposed to using my credit card if I don't have any on me at the time.

Well using the debit card really isn't any different from using cash I suppose, just less papery and more plasticy. Though I guess you could run into the problem of overdraft charges, but many banks now offer the option to have purchases declined if you go over your account balance, instead of making the purchase and getting an overdraft charge, so that's what I do. Though I don't ever really come close to $0 anyway, I keep on top of my account balance regularly.

 

[TerokNor]

I use cash in 95% of all cases. Seldomly I use my debit card (I guess a debit card is the card you have for your bank account, yes?) and I have no credit card. Though if I have to buy something and can only pay with credit card I used the one of a friend and of my mother and gave them back cash.
I like cash using best, because than I can see how much I spend...its easier to spend money, even more than you have, when you just pay with card. And I only want to spend as much as I have, not making debt and always having some money in the reserve, should something important come up, like an unexpectet vet visit or something like this.


TerokNor

 

[Kestra]

I probably do 50/50 in person between cash and credit. I do a ton of shopping online though, where I use credit and not cash.

 

[WillsBabe]

I probably have something like £20 on me at anytime for spending cash. Anything that's going to bite into that I use my debit card for - probably anything about a fiver. I didn't realise that's what I do until I sat down and analysed it for this post!

 

[JoeZhang]

Increasingly I use contactless payment for stuff like buying a coffee or a sandwich (and within five years pretty much everyone else will be), anything slightly larger and all bills I use my credit cards for - then pay the amount straight off when I get home, so that I generate points but incur no interest - using that method, I generally get a few cases of wine a year, some free hotel rooms etc.

 

[captcalhoun]

i mostly use cash, but will use my debit card for my monthly magazine since it's £4.50 and of course, use my debit card when shopping online.

i refuse to have a credit card, too easy for me to get into debt.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

The majority of the time I use cash. Sometimes I use my debit card, but usually only if I make a surprise purchase and so haven't withdrawn enough cash in advance. I don't have a credit card.

 

[ares93]

NEVAH!

Seriously though. The use of credit/debit/bank cards are so widespread over here that i never really carry around cash most of the time. Change for parking, on occasion. But i can pay for that with me mobile or plastic as well. So its kinds redundant.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I use cash only for laundry and lunch money. I do my best to debit everything else.

When I was in Budapest, though, I used cash for everything--debit didn't seem to be as popular. Besides, Hungarian money is neat. It looks like Monopoly money.

 

[Lindley]

I use cash for lunch. For the rest of the time I mostly used plastic.

Primarily one of my two debit cards, but I maintain a credit card as well and use it occasionally to keep up the credit history. I always pay it off before accruing interest.

 

[Naira]

I generally use cash, cards are not that widespread over here. I only use my card when buying stuff online or when traveling abroad (to pay hotels and stuff - I still use cash abroad for food and shopping).

 

[Scout101]

I almost never use cash. I always carry about $100 on me (never know when you'll need it, i suppose), but I charge just about everything to my credit card. Easier, don't have to worry about going to the ATM, no change in my pocket, etc. I pay for gas, groceries, clothes, utility bills, pretty much everything with credit. I get cash rewards for using the card, so ends up being like 1-2% off of every purchase, which adds up to a $200 reward every 5 months or so, which is nice.

And I always pay the card in full every month, so never paid any interest/fees.

Only time credit cards are bad is when you don't have the money to pay in cash/debit, and are essentially using it for a loan. That's how people get in trouble. If you just treat it as a debit card that gives you a cash/hotel/airline reward, and don't spend more than you have, they're a great thing.

Of course, I shouldn't complain about people that can't seem to handle credit cards. If everyone used credit cards like I did, they wouldn't offer any rewards. The people making the minimum payments and paying huge interest are the ones paying for my rewards.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Only time credit cards are bad is when you don't have the money to pay in cash/debit, and are essentially using it for a loan. That's how people get in trouble. If you just treat it as a debit card that gives you a cash/hotel/airline reward, and don't spend more than you have, they're a great thing.

The problem there is people who don't have the cash (or debit) on hand and have an emergency--car repair, medication, whatever. That's the sort of thing credit can be good for. But then you have to make it a priority to pay it off quickly, ideally within the grace period, and not just coast by on the minimum payments.

Rewards cards are awesome, though.

 

[Lindley]

There are a lot of cards out there right now offering 0% interest for the first 20 months or whatever. Getting one of those and using it for an easy, one-time loan is perfectly reasonable. Just keep on top of it so you never accrue too much interest.