# ‘Cash is king.’ Oh really? Is it? Do you carry cash? Are you plastic always, all the time?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-is-king-oh-really-is-it-do-you-carry-cash-are-you-plastic-always-all-the-time/922191>\
**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:** 1\
**Showing post:** 82

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**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")

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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.

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