Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

Nuatha, I'm thinking that cash is the way to go for all sorts of things. Partly because I'm increasingly bothered by the amount of information that commercial entities hold about us (logged of course against "loyalty" cards, debit and credit cards), and partly because I think making more transactions with cash is an insulation against banking failures (see Cyprus). There is a clear drive by banks towards more electronic transactions, because it reduces overheads and increases profits. They have attempted to abolish chequebooks already and with the drive towards "contactless" debit card transactions for small amounts I think there may be a further drift away from cash. I don't see the cashless society as being a secure set up, there are so many things that can go wrong and while you can't eat money, it does give some security to have cash in hand. Besides, if we have hyperinflation then we could use fivers for toilet paper and jars of pound coins as a handy paperweight, not much you can do with numbers on a screen.

100% in agreement with the above.

Governments would just love to do away with cash as it would give them an unpredented degree of control over the population. Want to sell some of your previously-taxed purchases 2nd hand at a bootsale? Govt could trace and tax that. Give a teenager a note for babysitting or an acquaintance "a drink" for doing a wee job for you? They'd want their paws on that, too.

Every time the government takes a % of a transaction, they rob us of our purchasing power. Many's a self-employed person who has looked at the costs of providing goods or services and realised that the govt take is so big, and at so many levels, that they're working just to pay taxes without enough left for themselves for a very modest living.

Governments should be regarded with suspicion by all honest citizens. They use taxes for nefarious purposes such as making wars and expanding their remit to create jobs for the boys (and girls).

I pay cash all the time. Caused great consternation once paying for this computer in used twenties; don't think the shop was accustomed to seeing so much folding stuff at once. They counted it six times to make sure they'd got it right, and had two different people count it out.

Right, time for a few gulps of tea then off to the office. Laters, GQ xx

mardatha

We pay cash for everything always. John Lewis only have one till that takes cash and you're escorted across the floor by two salesmen, causing looks - and yes, they count it twice, two different salespeople. The Co-op is much better, they seemed unfazed.
I'm saving for a holiday and opened a savings account, then took fright after a month and emptied it.

notjustlaura

kat360 wrote: »

Was doing a Tesco shop so I thought I'd stock up on some tins. 33p for a tin of carrots! When did that happen! :eek: Is it just me or is the price of food creeping up again?

I've certainly noticed the weekly shop getting more expensive. I thought it was me being too good to myself but perhaps not ...

nuatha

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

Nuatha, I'm thinking that cash is the way to go for all sorts of things. Partly because I'm increasingly bothered by the amount of information that commercial entities hold about us (logged of course against "loyalty" cards, debit and credit cards), and partly because I think making more transactions with cash is an insulation against banking failures (see Cyprus).

I fully agree.
Though the dongle post was just to warn people that there is far more to it than just buying a PAYG dongle, and there's lot more involved in trying to remain trackless on the internet.
As you say PP the same applies in the rest of life. Your mobile phone tracks where you've been, your card payments track what you've bought, CCTV tracks who you're with (and their phone and cards confirm it) privacy is an illusion.

There is a clear drive by banks towards more electronic transactions, because it reduces overheads and increases profits. They have attempted to abolish chequebooks already and with the drive towards "contactless" debit card transactions for small amounts I think there may be a further drift away from cash. I don't see the cashless society as being a secure set up, there are so many things that can go wrong and while you can't eat money, it does give some security to have cash in hand. Besides, if we have hyperinflation then we could use fivers for toilet paper and jars of pound coins as a handy paperweight, not much you can do with numbers on a screen.

If you have cash, you actually have money, if you have "money in the bank" you have, at best, an unsecured debt owed to you. If the bank decides that you've infringed its rules and incurred a charge then that charge takes priority, even to the extent of the bank taking money from another account with your name on it.

GreyQueen wrote: »

100% in agreement with the above.

Governments would just love to do away with cash as it would give them an unpredented degree of control over the population. Want to sell some of your previously-taxed purchases 2nd hand at a bootsale? Govt could trace and tax that. Give a teenager a note for babysitting or an acquaintance "a drink" for doing a wee job for you? They'd want their paws on that, too.

I used to be part of a team of independent IT consultants, we'd refer work between us when it matched different skill sets. We'd also pick each others brains, and the at some point the term "Standard Consultancy Fee" became used for the cup of tea that went with picking brains - right up until it was mentioned in passing to a tax man - we all ended up being interviewed over the substantial amounts we owed the tax man.

Governments should be regarded with suspicion by all honest citizens. They use taxes for nefarious purposes such as making wars and expanding their remit to create jobs for the boys (and girls).

It is long past time that government was reminded that its job is to serve the people (though that's not strictly true in the UK, where the job is to serve the monarch)

Hard_Up_Hester

I used to work in a car showroom, someone came in and paid £4k for a used car in cash, they were treated with great suspicion.
Hester

boultdj

GreyQueen wrote: »

100% in agreement with the above.

Governments should be regarded with suspicion by all honest citizens. They use taxes for nefarious purposes such as making wars and expanding their remit to create jobs for the boys (and girls).

Yup! All goverment department's have a strong core of nepitizum[sp?] running through 'em.

I pay cash all the time. Caused great consternation once paying for this computer in used twenties; don't think the shop was accustomed to seeing so much folding stuff at once. They counted it six times to make sure they'd got it right, and had two different people count it out.

Right, time for a few gulps of tea then off to the office. Laters, GQ xx

You should see what there like when you buy a car with cash at a garage,:eek: is their face's, evil arn't I:D

nuatha

Hard_Up_Hester wrote: »

I used to work in a car showroom, someone came in and paid £4k for a used car in cash, they were treated with great suspicion.
Hester

boultdj wrote: »

You should see what there like when you buy a car with cash at a garage,:eek: is their face's, evil arn't I:D

Cash used to the norm for used cars round here, now its a card up to £2500 and BACS or cheque above that. There are quite a few car dealers who don't take cash at all - two of them lost sales that way recently as I had to replace my car and I prefer cash. (Not that it works from the privacy point of view since the transaction has to be recorded with the DVLA)

boultdj

I also got told at 1 dealer's 'we don't take cash', so I walked away as well, and I know they get paid by commission there, so it's their loss.

nuatha

boultdj wrote: »

I also got told at 1 dealer's 'we don't take cash', so I walked away as well, and I know they get paid by commission there, so it's their loss.

I was actually at the point of signing the paperwork, produced the cash to pay for it, when they told me they don't take cash. Sales guy's jaw dropped when I said "its cash or no sale" when he repeated "We don't take cash" I thanked him for wasting my morning and left.

Given that £1 coins and up over are legal tender in any amount (I wasn't intending to pay for a car in coins), I do wonder when the government will be imposing limits (or introduce the Scottish system, where only coins are actually legal tender).

alltrustgone

May be a bit off topic but wanted to let you know that My Supermarket have added Aldi to their website. All helps the consumer fight back a bit.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/

ATG