Cash or Card ?

I pay cash in our tiny Farm Shop , because using a card costs them . In big stores I use a card . I forgot my pin no the other day and discovered this "contactless " thing is just too handy !

I feel more and more pushed to use cards but with the possibility of fraudsters about hate doing so. Having said that i was short-changed the other day!

Card wherever possible - I get cash back on mine as well. I always have a bit of cash tucked away in case though. I used to be forever checking that I had change for the bus - to the drivers round here a note is the work of the devil - but even they’ve gone to contactless payments now.

I think it's a shame that we are moving towards a society that uses less cash. I too don't feel happy unless I have a certain amount of cash for situations that arise out of the blue. Also, I think that it is a little too much Big Brother as banks keep watch over your money and know exactly where you go and what you do.

Considering the escalating Internet banking frauds that are reaching epidemic levels would it really be wise to be entirely cashless? The banks seem to do their level best to absolve themselves of any responsibility making a de-frauded customer look criminal, clueless and cashless.

I use both but really prefer cash as you can keep tabs on what you are spending a lot better, I often forget to deduct card payments from my bank total so get a bit of a shock when I check my statement even though I do it regularly. Need to be more organised I suppose.

I'm always scraping around trying to find the right amount of cash for car park machines! I did get the Ringgo app but you have to pay extra to use it and it can only be used in some car parks.

I always carry cash. Many carparks especially at the hospital only take change.

Just hoping that I will have caste my mortal coil beforehand

I very rarely use cash. I've about £80 which was won at quizzes this year but I will use some to buy raffle tickets at the Christmas party. The rest will go back in the bank.
I buy food in shops with debit card and online I use PayPal where possible. Larger items go on a credit card or PayPal credit which are paid in full by DD on every statement date. I hate toting real money. Items which cost £150 or more (such as my new mobile phone) are paid by a different PayPal credit agreement where I can pay 4 months after purchase (or earlier) with no fees.
Fantastic plastic.

I will say that M&S bank (which is one of 4 banks I use) is so tight on security that it takes me ages to fill in email/password/3 characters from another password/use passkey/they send code to mobile, you input code blah blah...still, it's good to have so many levels of security. Halifax, on the other hand, just ask card details then voice recognition phrase.
Very very occasionally use contactless. To see actual money is weird...to me anyway.

I'm one who pooh poohed the concept of cashless not very long ago. Here I am now seldom using cash. Never have more than a tenner on me. In fact, if I was mugged they'd give me a donation. I find life much easier with one less item to consider. Furthermore, I get cash back on every single purchase whereas before it was only on the bigger spends. It's a win win all round for me but never thought I'd subscribe to this lifestyle. Amazing how little I know myself!

I keep weighty coins to a minimum by using them in self-service machines inserting the smallest value coins first. I like contactless, but it generates a lot of unnecessary paper - first, I have to collect the paper receipts, and then tick them off against my paper bank statement. (I’m sure I would never bother to check my bank statements if they were only online.). However I know I need to keep paper statements for a lifetime in case there are any more mis-selling scandals, etc. Actually, there’s a lot of sense to just using a few coins to buy a coffee, and then forgetting about it, instead of preserving the memory for the rest of my life.

Just had to smile reading some of these posts! My mum, with mild Alzheimers, likes to pay when we go out for lunch each week using her debit card - luckily she can still remember her PIN number! Quite often the cafe or pub will ask if she wants to use contactless, at which point mum turns to me to say I cannot do that as I don't wear contact lenses! One quite rude young waiter just took the card off her and tapped it then gave it back. At which point mum then caused utter confusion by going to the till and trying to pay again using her PIN number - served him right! And he got no tip!

Well, I don't think it'll ever be cashless...you always need real money to give kids to buy sweets; to pay casual labour, buy items from friends....
But certainly we don't use much, with credit cards, online shopping, Paypal...

Debit card shopping in town, credit card on line but have to have cash for cleaning lady, chiropodist, window cleaner etc.
Was in the supermarket last weak behind an old lady trying to pay by cash and the checkout assistant had to help her empty out her purse.

I’ve finially dumped my hairdresser (20 years) simply because he’s always refused to even accept cheques...let alone cards . It drives me potty having to go out of my way ( walking) before I can go the other way to get to his salon. I expect now cheques are going out of fashion he might start to use them!! He is also THE most infuriating man!! We’ll rid...don’t know why it’s taken me so long to walk away from his ever expanding prices...

SueDonim. Trust the recipients of DH cash donations declared this to the I R.

You may be heading for cashless in the UK but here in Germany they are a long way off it.

Just wondering what the definition of "society" is.

I never pay cash to window cleaner (family business) or for odd jobs. I like to know that they're paying due tax so I always get a bill or ask for one I'm not in favour of encouraging a black economy.

My window cleaner of 12 years would think I'd gone crackers if I asked him for a bill. His is a family business and what's more he gets a tip at Christmas as does the postie.
Generosity is my middle name. This is why I like cash !

I definitely prefer cash - it feels more real when spending it!

Yes, we are. The only person I pay with cash is the milkman, yes, I still have doorstep milk and have had since I was married in 1962.

I don’t carry much cash these days as I do most of my shopping online but really hate the new bank notes. They are like those fish you get in Christmas crackers that curl up on your hand. I keep dropping them on the floor as they are so curly and slippery. Would be easy to lose one and a sod to keep them on a plate as a tip after a meal as they refuse to lie flat. As for hiding them under the mattress!

Embarrasingly, I went into a shop (I want to say years ago but it was only last year). The assistant saw my card and said just wave it there. I gave him a blank look. I didn’t realise I had been issued with a contactless card. Feeling a fool I said ‘What dark magic is this’. At least he chuckled and lost the ‘honestly, old people’ expression. Sometimes I think I should just stay in.

Mostly card, especially contactless, but yes I always like to have a little bit of cash on me , for bits and pieces and the grand kids don’t except the card yet??????