Cash or card

[DickyC]

Having completed my business in the City, I set off for Paddington on foot, to see a bit of the old place. Part way, I saw a cafe with vacant seats and decided it was time for lunch. With no one queueing, I was first, I'd missed the hand written sign saying 'Cash Only.' Unlike maybe 49 out of 50 people who came in, I had cash. As I sat there, so many people came in and went straight out again - no cash. I'll admit I had to rake around for parking money and my emergency tenner in my card wallet, but I was still surprised how few people could buy their lunch in cash. The cafe had suffered a system breakdown and the enterprising manageress was running a cash only day. It was going to be bad for busines, but not as bad as shutting for the day.

[Gary C]

DickyC said:

Having completed my business in the City, I set off for Paddington on foot, to see a bit of the old place. Part way, I saw a cafe with vacant seats and decided it was time for lunch. With no one queueing, I was first, I'd missed the hand written sign saying 'Cash Only.' Unlike maybe 49 out of 50 people who came in, I had cash. As I sat there, so many people came in and went straight out again - no cash. I'll admit I had to rake around for parking money and my emergency tenner in my card wallet, but I was still surprised how few people could buy their lunch in cash. The cafe had suffered a system breakdown and the enterprising manageress was running a cash only day. It was going to be bad for busines, but not as bad as shutting for the day.

Errr

yes, people dont carry cash.

[TheLurker]

Can't remember the last time I carried cash with me, except when abroad. Got to be well before covid.

[ARHarh]

TheLurker said:

Can't remember the last time I carried cash with me, except when abroad. Got to be well before covid.

I carry cash in my wallet, but its been there for many years untouched.

[595Heaven]

I’ve usually got £20-£30 in my wallet but the only time I use it is at the barber’s.

Oh and last night at Warwick Races!

[DickyC]

Gary C said:

Errr

yes, people dont carry cash.

I forgot to mention I popped into a pub on the way and lost my sense of perspective.

[GR_TVR]

ARHarh said:

TheLurker said:

Can't remember the last time I carried cash with me, except when abroad. Got to be well before covid.

I carry cash in my wallet, but its been there for many years untouched.

Yes, to be honest I very rarely take cash abroad now either.

I also pretty much never take my wallet out as I just use Apple Pay. It's quite nice having something less to carry around!

[V8 Stang]

I don’t even carry a wallet anymore.

Applepay on my watch or phone, so much easier.

[Jamescrs]

I'm another who doesn't carry a wallet or cash anymore, just by chance I have a £10 note in my pocket right nw but it's a very rare thing.
I would have ben one of those walking out too on seeing a cash only sign

[SS2.]

Never go anywhere without a wallet, and always have at least £50 cash on me.

For smaller, say family run establishments, I ask whether they'd prefer card or cash. A decent proportion still want cash.

[alangla]

Surely the better format would have been “Sorry card machine not working, nearest ATM 5 mins -> “ or similar? That wouldn t help the phone/watch only brigade though, unless they were able to (and could be bothered with) faffing about with NatWest emergency cash or similar, unless there s a way to operate a cash machine with one of the phone pay apps?

[dundarach]

I'll choose a card place over cash every time, especially the chippy.

My local chippy really annoys me, they're so obviously on the fiddle, with their 'card machine not werking' sign!! Strangely they took card during Covid and then immediately it broke when they no longer had too, funny that!

[Wheel Turned Out]

Card. The convenience is just too strong. That said I usually have a slim wallet with a debit card in it to get to a cash point if really needed. Can't remember the last time it actually was.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Haven't carried cash for years. The only times I have needed it recently are

1)When my barbers went a bit weird and for a while stopped taking card payments. I had to walk around town to find the only cash machine in the whole town.

2)In the Cotswolds a month ago we went to get Fish and Chips and saw a sign for cash only. We ended up going to the Co-Op to take cash out and I still have a £5 note in my wallet now.

If I see a business that will only take cash I think "tax dodge"

[thebraketester]

V8 Stang said:

I don t even carry a wallet anymore.

Applepay on my watch or phone, so much easier.

Same. Not carried cash for 10 years and a card for about 5 years.

[DickyC]

The point I failed to make was how many people had no cash at all. Certainly insufficient to gamble on a drink and a sandwich. What will happen when the system breaks down as it it did today, in admittedly one isolated cafe, in London? Bedlam, I tell you. All for the sake of a folded ten pound note somewhere about your person.

[Scootersp]

I carry cash but lots of places can't even operate there tills/take cash in a 'system down' moment.

I dislike card only places as I just have a sort of adversion to legal tender being not accepted, probably a stubborn age thing but I do think it's fundamentally wrong to refuse to accept cash.

[Gary C]

DickyC said:

Gary C said:

Errr

yes, people dont carry cash.

I forgot to mention I popped into a pub on the way and lost my sense of perspective.

[Red9zero]

Got to love an emergency tenner I've just dug out my €40 that I've been taking to Le Mans for the last few years too

[Squadrone Rosso]

I do my best not to carry cash but usually have £30 as a back up unless my wife has raided my wallet.

I rarely carry a wallet nowadays. Phone is primary payment. Occasionally a card if required.