# I decided to use cash now for all purchases to save more money **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229 "2016-09-18T01:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/21 "2016-09-18T17:12:41Z")
The cafeteria at work barely accepts cash. They expect you to do self-checkout with a credit card. To post in cash, you need to get the attention of a server, and wait until they are done serving, and come over to check you out. Cash is on its way out. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/22 "2016-09-18T17:13:44Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > How do you track your spending for your taxes? How much of your spending is relevant to your tax return? Get (or jot down) receipts when you will need that info. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/23 "2016-09-18T17:31:49Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > No. > > Don’t you have any self-control? I only buy what I need. It’s easier to buy what I need when I am using a smaller funding source ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/24 "2016-09-18T19:24:33Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > It’s easier to buy what I need when I am using a smaller funding source When I don’t want to spend more than, say $100 at a store, I add up the cost of the items to keep it below $100, same as I would if I only had $100 cash on me. So at some point you are making a conscious decision how much you want to cap your spending when you decide how much cash to bring. You can make that same choice with a debit card, by walking into the store and saying " no more than $100 ", then add up your items and cap it at $100 same as you’d have done if you only brought cash ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/25 "2016-09-18T19:49:32Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > When I don’t want to spend more than, say $100 at a store, I add up the cost of the items to keep it below $100, same as I would if I only had $100 cash on me. > > So at some point you are making a conscious decision how much you want to cap your spending when you decide how much cash to bring. You can make that same choice with a debit card, by walking into the store and saying " no more than $100 ", then add up your items and cap it at $100 same as you’d have done if you only brought cash But if something in that store cost $120 I will end up getting it because the money is coming from a larger pot. If I have $100 in cash it can’t happen because I have only $100. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/26 "2016-09-18T19:52:07Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Don’t you have any self-control? I only buy what I need. > [@cg16](#): > > It’s easier to buy what I need when I am using a smaller funding source In other words, your answer to **beowulff** ’s question is No. I’m actually a little bit (just a little) on your side. I did use cash a lot more a year or so ago, but I’ve realized that getting cash back (can’t remember if it is 0.5% or 1%) even if it isn’t a lot, without paying **any** service charges **ever** outweighs self-control fears in my case. Getting a larger than expected Visa bill occasionally is enough to reinforce my self control (and I still don’t get dinged interest or service charges; I am also a great believer in having a “nest-egg” to draw on). ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/27 "2016-09-18T20:01:38Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > So I am confident now I can increase my savings by paying cash for everything. Like last night when I was in the market my bill came to $17.57 and I just happen to have $18.00 in cash on me:D Where will you keep that 43 cents? The answer to that makes all the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/28 "2016-09-18T20:43:28Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > If I only take a certain amount of money to buy food from the market, I will spend less money than using my cc/debit card because I am spending what I have in my wallet > > When I use the CC/debit card, I am using a bigger funding source so I will likely spend more money. Like when I was in the market on friday, my bill was $17.57 and I gave her $18.00 in cash. if I was using the CC I would have spend more money because In my mind I am using a bigger funding source vs a few bucks in my wallet > > make sense? No, no it doesn’t. Why would you buy something you didn’t need because you had more money? I never spend cash, and I never buy impulse items. If I need it, I buy it, and if I don’t, I don’t. I put everything on a single credit card and pay it in full every month. What, you go, “I can afford this, therefore I have to buy it?” ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/29 "2016-09-18T20:54:46Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I never spend cash, and I never buy impulse items. If I need it, I buy it, and if I don’t, I don’t. You _never_ get a meal or a drink away from home? No entertainment spending of any kind? That’s hard to believe. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/30 "2016-09-18T20:59:55Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Where will you keep that 43 cents? The answer to that makes all the difference. the money jar in my apt which will be used for whatever. The bigger savings will be in my online savings from all the money left over in the checking account ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/31 "2016-09-18T21:06:28Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > - People who see cash as real money, and credit cards as essentially play money. . . . > - People who see credit cards as real money, and cash as essentially play money. . . . This is grossly over simplified. Many people perceive both as “real money,” and are able to avoid overspending in general. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/32 "2016-09-18T21:13:16Z")
Renting a car with cash is extremely troublesome if not damned near impossible. My new apartment complex will not accept cash for rent, but they won’t accept credit or debit cards either. Strictly checks or money orders. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/33 "2016-09-18T21:21:55Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > No, no it doesn’t. Why would you buy something you didn’t need because you had more money? I never spend cash, and I never buy impulse items. If I need it, I buy it, and if I don’t, I don’t. I put everything on a single credit card and pay it in full every month. What, you go, “I can afford this, therefore I have to buy it?” Well, that’s ever so nice for you. Many other people, however, struggle with overspending. Some of them are quite nice and not rat-faced garbage people at all! You wouldn’t even know it to look at them. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/34 "2016-09-18T21:25:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Renting a car with cash is extremely troublesome if not damned near impossible. > > My new apartment complex will not accept cash for rent, but they won’t accept credit or debit cards either. Strictly checks or money orders. Maybe I should have been more clear. I am using cash now for things like food toilet paper clothes Juice Personals needs restaurants Of course when it comes to things like paying rent renting a car online purchases Cash is obviously not a option ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/35 "2016-09-18T21:33:53Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > Maybe I should have been more clear. I am using cash now for things like > > food > toilet paper > clothes > Juice > Personals needs > restaurants > Of course when it comes to things like > > paying rent > renting a car > online purchases > Cash is obviously not a option I tend to use cash for such purposes myself except sometimes in restaurants. I have not felt queasy about it. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/36 "2016-09-18T21:36:13Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I tend to use cash for such purposes myself except sometimes in restaurants. I have not felt queasy about it. I forgot to add cleaners ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/37 "2016-09-18T21:42:34Z")
Cash is a fine option if you don’t have the self-control to use cards. (No insult, many people don’t.) But cash-only means you’re limited in your purchasing options, and we probably save $5,000 or more a year by buying many things online - even dog food and many household staples. Truly slashing your spending and learning to save requires more than tying one financial hand behind your back. And one extra stupid like having a wad of $20s fall out of your pocket can undo a lot of careful scrimping. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/38 "2016-09-18T21:50:57Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Cash is a fine option if you don’t have the self-control to use cards. (No insult, many people don’t.) > > But cash-only means you’re limited in your purchasing options, and we probably save $5,000 or more a year by buying many things online - even dog food and many household staples. > > Truly slashing your spending and learning to save requires more than tying one financial hand behind your back. And one extra stupid like having a wad of $20s fall out of your pocket can undo a lot of careful scrimping. I will never have more than two $20’s in my wallet unless I am going out to dinner with family or friends or going out of town which will be NYC in 2 weeks. When I go to NYC I plan to have 5 $20’s in my wallet and my Debit/credit card for backup just in case I need it ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/39 "2016-09-18T22:27:36Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > I will never have more than two $20’s in my wallet unless I am going out to dinner with family or friends or going out of town which will be NYC in 2 weeks. > > When I go to NYC I plan to have 5 $20’s in my wallet and my Debit/credit card for backup just in case I need it Well, $100 will last a morning in NYC, if you are frugal… ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229/40 "2016-09-18T22:29:45Z")
Well, the point is that cash can be irretrievably lost, and that hurts your personal finances more than small savings benefit it. And if you’re spending exclusively cash, it means you have a varying stash of cash somewhere that’s subject to loss and theft. And if you’re just hitting an ATM every so often to replenish the $40 or whatever in your wallet, it’s not nearly the brake on your spending the concept should be. The only real gain is that you can’t dig a hole in money you don’t have… but nothing much about your system keeps you from spending yourself broke, possibly before you realize it. I think it’s far more important to apply all the self-improvement to considering what you spend your money on, and why, rather than to try and choke the financial flow. Learning to eat better is a far more effective strategy than attempting to starve yourself, if you get me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-decided-to-use-cash-now-for-all-purchases-to-save-more-money/766229.md?page=3)