# When was the last time you handled cash? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2012, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819 "2012-02-24T08:19:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/41 "2012-02-24T17:59:30Z")
10 min ago. Bought beer and cigarettes. I’m still hurting from breaking my pelvis so my husband is doing the running in and out of places and he HATES the card. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/42 "2012-02-24T18:05:50Z")
The only time I deal in cash is when I’m preparing to make a trip to visit my mom. I need money for the toll booths. Everything else goes on the debit card. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/43 "2012-02-24T19:15:08Z")
I’m afraid I’m an outlier here. I spent much of the 20th century in U.S.A. and used an ATM card only once: doing an errand for my mother with her card. I use a card in Thailand, but only at ATM machines and always for the maximum single-button cash amount. I use a credit card only in situations (e.g. plane ticket reservation) where it’s required. Although I’ve never even remotely approached a “hookers and blow” lifestyle, cash is appropriate in enough “high-ticket” situations, that using a plastic card at a 7-Eleven or such strikes me as incongruous. Many people in rural Thailand have literally never seen a check. We needed the equivalent of about $10,000, after subtracting trade-in, to buy our Toyota, so I spoke to the cashier of a large business on the phone: “Would bank draft or bank transfer be more convenient?” They wanted only actual banknotes. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/44 "2012-02-24T19:21:28Z")
A little over two hours ago when I bought dog treats to take with me to volunteer at the animal shelter. We bleed money when it comes to food, so we’ve been pulling out our budgeted amount in cash each payday and paying cash for everything. We use cash several times a week as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/45 "2012-02-24T19:56:44Z")
Someplace between $20 and $50, I switch from cash to credit. There is usually between $30 and $200 in cash in my wallet. Paper checks are getting rare, but I’ve written 3 in the last month, all to pay repairmen. So while most of my transactions are in cash, most of the dollars spent are on a credit card. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/46 "2012-02-24T20:10:07Z")
80% of my transactions are cash. One exception is the grocery store. I use self check out and hate feeding the machine with bills that often spit back out. ---
**Author:** ![Lo-Slung\_Denim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@Lo-Slung\_Denim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lo-Slung_Denim)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/47 "2012-02-24T20:14:32Z")
About an hour ago. I had to raid the change tin, because I really wanted a can of fizzy pop, but it’s right before pay day and I don’t have enough in my current account to withdraw any cash. I was so pleased with myself for all the times I’d put a 20p or 10p coin in there along with the coppers, because I had enough for a Dr Pepper, a choccy bar and still had about 90p left over. Which will see me through until Tuesday, surely. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/48 "2012-02-24T20:18:53Z")
So, did the thread title remind anyone else of the Monty Python sketch? “I love money! All money! I’ve always wanted money! To handle! To touch! The smell of the rain-washed florin! The lure of the lira! The glitter and glory of the guinea!..” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/49 "2012-02-24T20:58:13Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I’m afraid I’m an outlier here. I spent much of the 20th century in U.S.A. and used an ATM card only once: doing an errand for my mother with her card. I use a card in Thailand, but only at ATM machines and always for the maximum single-button cash amount. I use a credit card only in situations (e.g. plane ticket reservation) where it’s required. Although I’ve never even remotely approached a “hookers and blow” lifestyle, cash is appropriate in enough “high-ticket” situations, that using a plastic card at a 7-Eleven or such strikes me as incongruous. When I lived in Beirut I was on an ATM-to-cash economy - paying for everything with cash that I got from my US account. Didn’t bother with a local bank account until my last year there, when I was getting paid locally. ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/50 "2012-02-24T21:00:36Z")
who’s the person who hasn’t used cash in the last month? unless you’re agrophobic or on an oilrig or military deployment or something I can’t fathom this ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/51 "2012-02-24T21:02:15Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > I understand the gist of the question and I admit months will go by where I don’t have any cash in my wallet. When I do need some I usually have to look up the PIN for my ATM card because it’s been so long since I used it. Even my daughter’s girl scout troop now accepts credit cards for cookies using card readers on smart phones. > > However, last night I did in fact have to use cash when I paid for parking at a hockey game. The lot attendants don’t have credit card readers yet. Do you actually go months without using cash? Does your wife do all the shopping? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/52 "2012-02-24T21:14:33Z")
Today, bought a used (never fired) .45 pistol, a cleaning kit, a trigger lock and two boxes of ammunition. Paid about $485 cash. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/53 "2012-02-24T22:44:52Z")
Anything less than 20 dollars I pay cash for. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/54 "2012-02-24T23:29:11Z")
This afternoon. I paid with 2 $1 bills to buy a bottle of Coke because I needed a small amount of change for a parking meter. Prior to that, I was at an ATM where I withdrew $40. I rarely pay in cash, though. Today was unique because I needed money for the meter. Otherwise I would have charged the soda. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/55 "2012-02-24T23:35:39Z")
This thread is very different from [an earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=554876) I did on a similar topic where quite a number of dopers were adamant that they never carried and used cash. I wonder what accounts for the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/56 "2012-02-24T23:43:16Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > This thread is very different from [an earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=554876) I did on a similar topic where quite a number of dopers were adamant that they never carried and used cash. I wonder what accounts for the difference? I didn’t respond in that thread, but I would have responded $1 -$10. Now it’s more because in order to stay in budget we use cash. When the cash is gone, the spending stops. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/57 "2012-02-24T23:45:57Z")
Paid the taxi when I arrived home last night, about nine hours ago. 60 baht (US$2). Credit cards and such are not uncommon over here, but even large transactions are typically paid in cash. For example, we recently handed over 86,200 baht ($2800) all in 1000-baht notes (and two 100s) to our travel agent for airline tickets. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/58 "2012-02-24T23:52:56Z")
10 minutes ago or so. I pay my bills with checks or online, I shop online a fair amount and use a CC, but when I’m out in the real world I use cash for everything. Food, drinks, clothing, drugs, etc. I don’t carry a lot of cash with me, or my ATM card, so it helps me be mindful of my spending. Plus I work retail and I am kind of annoyed by people who use cards for every purchase, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/59 "2012-02-25T00:15:00Z")
A couple of hours ago. Went out to lunch with a bunch of friends. When the check came, we split it and we all put cash into the pile. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819/60 "2012-02-25T02:39:50Z")
I normally do once every couple of months. In January my card fell behind my seat so I paid for my fast food with cash instead of getting out and retrieving it; before that it was in Florida at state park that only accepted cash (that I could tell). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-handled-cash/613819.md?page=4)