# ‘Cash is king.’ Oh really? Is it? Do you carry cash? Are you plastic always, all the time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191 "2020-10-04T16:07:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/81 "2020-10-05T23:51:11Z")
I work at a cash-only business (cannabis dispensary) and have a personal side hustle selling rodents I raise at home, which mostly involves me receiving cash payments, with an occasional PayPal deposit instead. Before my current job, but still during the pandemic quarantine, I worked as a cashier at a grocery store. I probably handle more stripper butt-wipes in an hour than y’all see in a month. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/82 "2020-10-06T01:20:42Z")
Here’s a bit I wrote from a [thread three years ago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-dollar-bills-should-just-go-cashless/787180/20): > [@](#): > > I always have cash and cannot understand the resistance to carry some at all times. In fact, I believe it approaches irresponsibility to not have $20 or so. There are any number of reasons one might need or want cash: > > A bathroom emergency at a cash-only establishment that requires purchase; > Tipping an above-and-beyond towtruck driver; > Fuel at a cash only gas station; > Quarters for an unexpectedly low tire; > Need a bottle of water but the merchant (right or wrong) imposes a $20 minimum transaction; > An outstanding street performer; > A hat is passed for the band at a tavern; > The [tamale guy](https://www.eater.com/2016/4/12/11410344/the-tamale-guy-chicago) shows up at the bar at a time when tamales are so very badly needed; > Power or network outage when essentials are needed. > > I tip waitstaff in cash whenever I can, too. Too many crooked restaurant owners/managers steal from servers’ tips. And a little more from [a thread last April](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-pandemic-end-cash-only-businesses/849953/64): > [@](#): > > The vice sector. Casinos, pot shops and often bars are/were cash only. Obviously, black market sales like sports gambling, home card games, drugs, stolen goods are cash. > Many small independant restaurants are cash only. The tamale guy. The barber shop I used to visit. Roving vendors at the ballpark. Craigslist and flea market/swap meet buys can probably be lumped with your garage sale example. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/83 "2020-10-06T03:35:19Z")
I’m fully plastic, and yet will take a pen and write a check, put it in the mail with a stamp to pay the full amount every month. Jesus Christ. What is wrong with me? ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/84 "2020-10-06T05:56:02Z")
I did notice the advice to have smaller bills in our stash and agree that its a good idea. Hubs has indicated agreement as well. The issue stores have around here has never been forgery worries, its about big bills causing them to run out of change. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/85 "2020-10-06T10:23:40Z")
I usually get $200 from the bank and refresh it when it gets down to $50 or so. Typically that would last two months or so, though with COVID I think I only withdrew once back at the start of lockdown. Also, I when I throw parties (which, again, is not a ‘this year’ thing) I put out a tip jar to defray costs, and since I usually buy stuff with plastic, that also replentished my cash supply. I also keep a $20 buried in the car in case I get stranded somewhere and need to get gas to get home - I have only used it once since I entered the plastic era, and that was because I left my wallet at home and needed lunch, but on the off chance that cards aren’t working I can get some caffeine and half a tank of gas. I also keep a lump of cash (between $500 and $1000) in my gun safe in case I need it - mostly this has gotten drawn from to pay contractors who prefer cash, but it could be handy in the aftermath of a hurricane or something similar. I count that big lump of money as part of my ‘cash’ savings, and am not worried about missing the .3% interest I could get on it if I put it in a bank. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > The issue stores have around here has never been forgery worries, its about big bills causing them to run out of change. For some stores, big bills also mean having too much cash on hand - if you can expect that a convenience store won’t have anything bigger than a $20 in the register, it’s a less tempting robbery target than one that you know will have several $100s on any given day. Same with individuals, pizza delivery drivers don’t want to be running around with several hundred dollars on hand to be able to handle several houses dropping a $100 to pay for an order. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/86 "2020-10-06T10:35:33Z")
One other thing: Parking meters. Several years ago Ann Arbor changed many of its old-school parking meters (where you pay with coins in a meter at your particular parking spot) to a modern system where you pay at a centralized location somewhere within ~50 feet of your car, after having made a note of your parking spot number. The pay station accepts coins or credit cards, and you can also pay through a smartphone app. However, the app charges an outlandish transaction fee, and using the credit card at the pay station really does take far longer than paying with coins - so much so that if I’m waiting for someone else to pay for their spot with a credit card, I’ll walk down the block to a vacant pay station to pay with coins. So maybe once or twice a year I go to the bank and buy a few rolls of quarters so I can keep my car’s ashtray full for just such occasions. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/87 "2020-10-06T13:41:54Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > That reminds me of an annoyance when using ATMs: they now dispense 50 dollar bills whenever they can. That must depend on where you are. The ATMs I use still give nothing but 20s. I think that even if I wanted a 50, I would have to go into a bank and ask for it. Like many people have said, I mostly pay for things with my debit card, and pay bills online, but I do try to keep $50-100 in cash around for emergencies. It did come in handy a couple of weeks ago, when I went through the drive-through at Subway. Their credit card machine wasn’t working, so they were accepting cash only. Luckily I had enough in my wallet to pay for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/88 "2020-10-06T13:54:25Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > For some stores, big bills also mean having too much cash on hand - if you can expect that a convenience store won’t have anything bigger than a $20 in the register, it’s a less tempting robbery target than one that you know will have several $100s on any given day. I can understand for some very small stores. Many stores around here have a drop safe and not much money in the register, but change for a $100 bill could empty out their register. > [@MrAtoz](#): > > That must depend on where you are. The ATMs I use still give nothing but 20s. I think that even if I wanted a 50, I would have to go into a bank and ask for it. I can get 50s or 100s from the nearby BoA ATM. It lets me select from 10s, 20s, 50s, and 100s. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/89 "2020-10-06T17:16:06Z")
Cash is still king in private sales, everything from couches to video game consoles to horses and vehicles. Most every other form of payment has greater scam potential or complications. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/90 "2020-10-06T17:21:21Z")
“Cash is king” means that cash buyers can get better deals. If I have 2 offers on my house for the same price, I’m going to pick the one offering cash, because it’s less likely to go sideways. I always do seem to have between $1 and $20 in my wallet left over from some mandatory-cash purchase, but I usually end up giving it to my kids for the ice cream truck or something. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/91 "2020-10-06T17:27:08Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Several years ago Ann Arbor changed many of its old-school parking meters (where you pay with coins in a meter at your particular parking spot) to a modern system where you pay at a centralized location somewhere within ~50 feet of your car, after having made a note of your parking spot number. yeah, I hate those. However, Seattle now allows you to pay via an app, which I love. I thought I was going to be 30 minutes, but it ended up being about 90. I could add time from my phone without returning to my car. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/92 "2020-10-06T17:34:11Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > That must depend on where you are. The ATMs I use still give nothing but 20s. I think that even if I wanted a 50, I would have to go into a bank and ask for it. That’s true. 2 years ago on a visit to NYC, the ATMs gave 50 dollar bills when they could - but ones near home (DC 'burbs) gave 20s. And the only ATM we routinely use has started with the 50s in recent months, but it’s possible others locally still give 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/93 "2020-10-06T21:57:27Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > There is just too much cost in carrying that king that we needed to vote it out. Both in things like ATM fees and the time it takes to go there. Cash is a drag. Transactions are longer as one finds the bills and gets the change. People who use cash in the supermarkets is ‘the new’ people who use checks in a supermarket, stop wasting our time with your antiquated self righteous method of payment. Huh? All of the larger chain convenience stores (7-11, Wawa, etc.) have free ATMs (it drives foot traffic into their stores). My bank doesn’t charge me for foreign ATM withdrawals (if yours does, you’re a sucker) & there’s almost always one along the way & I’m sometimes already stopping in there anyway. Not so much in the grocery store but in a convenience store or a fast food place I frequently have exact change ready & in hand when I get to the register, no waiting at all. At least pre-COVID, groceries, gas, food-on-the-go (ie fast food) & beer tab were all in cash; it’s a great way to not overspend. Take out what I think I need on the weekend & it’ll get me thru the week. Yes, I keep extra cash to the side in the wallet & have credit cards there as well but if I spent too much early in the week, I’ll skimp at the end, whether that means one less lunch out or shorter/no happy hour; it’s much more visible than having to log into your bank acct & look at the balance. It’s a good system for both the bottom line & the waistline. Early in COVID, I was going to the grocery store less frequently but buying more & not going anywhere else so that mucked everything up. Now that life has settled in a bit I’m closer to back to old habits as I’ve learned how to adjust to these ‘_unprecedented_’ times ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/94 "2020-10-07T19:31:44Z")
Apparently, I have $5 in my wallet. I had not idea it was there or how long its been there. I haven’t been to an ATM in more than a year. I got some cash about a year ago as a present or something so it may be left over from that. I write checks more that I use cash and I’ve been out of checks and meaning to order more for 6 months so when I need a check I drive 30 min to the bank for a tellers check. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/95 "2020-10-07T19:41:04Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Apparently, I have $5 in my wallet. I had not idea it was there or how long its been there. Do you know whose face is on that $5 bill? ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/96 "2020-10-07T19:42:05Z")
Without looking, I think Jackson why? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/97 "2020-10-07T20:09:43Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > I’d hate to pay for a 3 dollar hamburger at McDonald’s with a 50 dollar bill. Well, assuming your local McDonald’s will accept a $50, it doesn’t seem a like big deal - you’ve now got the two $20 you would have had originally, along with the $10, $5 and whatever other change after sales tax that your hypothetical $20 would have been changed into. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/98 "2020-10-07T20:16:51Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > Without looking, I think Jackson why? This thread: [They walk among us](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-walk-among-us/921602/6). You may not want to look. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/99 "2020-10-07T20:19:23Z")
Huh, yep, I screwed that up. Further proof I’m a millennial. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191/100 "2020-10-07T20:24:08Z")
Card only here. Only time I have cash is either to chuck a fifty into kid’s birthday cards, or when travelling in SE Asia to give to taxi drivers, in markets and for buying street food. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191.md?page=6)