# Do you still use cash? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980 "2011-05-06T17:06:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/61 "2011-05-06T22:02:51Z")
Quicken tells me that less than 5% of my spending in dollar terms is in cash. I find this hugely convenient because I can download 95% of my spending into Quicken with almost no work on my part. I don’t bother tracking how I spend the cash; it all gets counted against the same bucket. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/62 "2011-05-06T22:07:25Z")
To me, “cash” means an exchange of electrons and data that doesn’t contain an interest rate, which I try to do for everything. For physical money, the only thing I use it for is the collection jar for the office coffee club. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/63 "2011-05-06T22:11:50Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I find I make better spending decisions with cash than with cards. This is the key for me. The debit card is too easy; the dwindling wad of paper is much harder to discount when trying to decide “do I really need this?” ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/64 "2011-05-06T22:19:04Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > This is the key for me. The debit card is too easy; the dwindling wad of paper is much harder to discount when trying to decide “do I really need this?” For me it’s the opposite. My money is sitting in the bank. It’s a big number I draw from. When I pay for something with my debit card, I consider how wise it is to draw off that pile. Physical money, however, has already been drawn. It’s ‘spent’ already, since it’s no longer part of my banked money. So I tend to fritter away cash far too easily. Not to say my way’s better than yours or vice versa. I just find it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/65 "2011-05-06T22:22:11Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Basically, the rule is whether or not the item is commonly financed with a specialized loan. If it is, paying without getting a loan constitutes paying cash. Cars and homes are commonly financed. Computers, appliances, etc., while they could be purchased on loan (either through a rent-to-own place or with an ordinary credit card), are part of group #1 and one wouldn’t speak of “paying cash” except possibly in a context where a special loan was expected to be taken out. I’m not in the US, but in this part of the world “Paying Cash” for a computer (or any other appliance or item of electronic jiggery-pokery) means “Not using a credit card/finance/rental agreement to pay for it”- thus, actual folding money, EFTPOS, and cheques would be considered “Paying Cash” for a new laptop (or whatever); basically it means you’ve purchased the item outright with some sort of negotiable instrument or electronic funds transfer comprised of your own funds. ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/66 "2011-05-06T22:30:28Z")
I like to have cash available. Loads of small stores and gas stations charge extra for credit or debit transactions but don’t for cash. Why should I pay $1.00 for a soda and then be charged $1.25 on top of that for using my debit card? Some places charge as much as four or five dollars for the “privilege” of using your plastic. Fortunately most large chains don’t do business this way, but my poor mom (now 87) worries about this incessantly when we’re out and about. She’s afraid to use her ATM card almost anywhere unless I reassure her “We’re at Target, mom. They don’t do that here.” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/67 "2011-05-06T22:35:43Z")
I can’t light my cigar with a debit card. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/68 "2011-05-06T22:53:02Z")
I keep about $40 in my wallet for the daily small stuff. And my dope dealer won’t take plastic, so yeah, I use cash. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/69 "2011-05-06T23:22:31Z")
Everybody’s situation is different. I’m comfortable with cash, credit or check. I prefer to carry up to $1,000 in cash and deal from my pocket as much as possible. Yes, I have purchased vehicles for cash. There are many street situations where cash is the only way to do business. You may not want to give up your credit info for example. There are some places you don’t even want to be carrying anything except cash. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/70 "2011-05-06T23:49:02Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > This is the key for me. The debit card is too easy; the dwindling wad of paper is much harder to discount when trying to decide “do I really need this?” I use mostly cash for the same reason. I found it all too easy to spend $40 on this and $35 on that without keeping track of how much was left in the account. I’m much more frugan with the notes in my wallet. The only time I use a credit card is for online purchases or something expensive, for which I don’t have enough actual $$ on me (eg my recently purchased new camera). I recently bought a second-hand car and paid cash. I would have preferred to give the seller a bank cheque but she was an elderly lady and wanted cash. ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/71 "2011-05-07T02:19:20Z")
I think it’s extremely common to use cash when buying a used car from a private seller. A check is too much of a risk. What if it bounces? Then you have to pay a fee, and try to track down the person who bought the car. There are also a lot of people who can’t get a bank account for some reason. A friend of mine accidentally bounced a lot of checks. She couldn’t pay the fees, so the bank closed her account. Because of this, no other bank would give her an account. So she paid all her bills in cash until she could save up enough to pay the bank fees. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/72 "2011-05-07T02:26:30Z")
The IRS has a harder time tracking cash, so yes, I use it. 🙂 Especially in small amounts, like a drink at the bar. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/73 "2011-05-07T02:42:54Z")
I almost never use cash. Over the past 6 months, I’ve used cash only at Las Vegas casinos, the concession stand at spring training baseball, and a couple of neighborhood bars. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/74 "2011-05-07T02:43:01Z")
I use cash whenever possible. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/75 "2011-05-07T03:25:13Z")
Almost all cash. Mig cashes his checks because he can’t get a bank account. I have a bank account myself but it doesn’t have his name on it so I’d have to go to my bank to deposit his cash. So mostly I just put in the rent and utility money and keep the rest as cash. It’s not like it’s much once the groceries are paid. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/76 "2011-05-07T03:36:50Z")
Several gas stations around here offer a 4 cent per gallon discount for cash. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/77 "2011-05-07T03:51:23Z")
i never use cash. i don’t see a reason to. paycheck gets direct deposited and i use my debit card for everything. i’d have to go out of my way to use cash for something, so no. i’ll use it if i have to, but it’s rare around here to not be able to use your debit card for just about everything. i rarely have to go to the bank, cash checks (if i get a non work check, i just deposit it), etc. saves a lot of time and energy. i crave a cashless society. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/78 "2011-05-07T04:29:17Z")
I use everything. Cash, credit, checks. Except for the 1%-3% “cash back” I get for using my credit card, it’s all the same to me. I don’t have any rules about when I use cash or credit. I probably should use the CC more often but honestly it is rarely faster than cash. Perhaps the places I frequent just aren’t modern enough. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/79 "2011-05-07T12:36:09Z")
> [@contradancer](#): > > I like to watch Judge Judy and litigants on the show are frequently claiming that they paid for “whatever” in cash; usually large amounts. I just can’t fathom this. I use a debit card, my online checking, or credit card for 99.9% of my debts and purchases. I carry cash for fast food and yard sales, etc. That’s all. > > I am skeptical when people say they use cash to buy a car, for example. To me it means it is highly probably they are lying about the amount. Or if it was paid at all. > > Do you use cash to any extent in your daily life? Routinely. For budgeting. I have a bunch of debit cards. Never used them. I have never used an ATM either. Cash or credit cards. Both work, but cash is better for bugeting. My youngest kids use debit cards though. Not sure why. The oldest switched to cash back in college. He came home one summer and had to work for half the summer to pay off his credit card. He started using cash after that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980/80 "2011-05-07T12:44:23Z")
Because the ex bounced a couple of checks for child support, I get enough cash at the first of the month to cover daily expenses : groceries, gasoline, and whatnot. Monthly bills go on debit, except for checks for rent and water /sewer/trash. Hubby and I share a checking account, so it’s easier if I use cash for daily operating expenses. Can’t bounce Benjamins. But I know people - grandmother and uncle in particular - who literally pay cash for everything, up to and including new cars. A little scary when the salesman calls and tells me that granny just walked into the dealership with enough to pay for a new Buick… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-use-cash/580980.md?page=5)