What things fo you still pay for with cash?

Fingerbobs

I was just thinking - I've been a credit card user for many years now, and I pay for virtully everything using plastic. Even where credit cards are not accepted, debit cards often are. I normally carry a bit of cash around with me, but I don't often spend any of it!

After a quick brainstorm, the only things I could think of that I still pay for with cash are:

• My work canteen for small transactions (e.g. just a cup of coffee) as they only accept plastic for transactions over £2,
• Bus fares
• Taxi fares
• Occasionally the "tip" in restaurants etc.
• Sometimes tradesmen (plumbers etc.) prefer payment in cash, although even this is getting rarer now.

Everything else goes on plastic.

Just wondering if there are other things that people still use cold, hard cash on?

antonia86

School early morning club, work canteen, dog groomers - that's pretty much it for our house!

silverwhistle

Additionally:
- in the pub
- social club
- footie club match fees
- at the market
- newsagent
- anywhere else I need to feel the pain/the hit to my budget of spending...

marleyboy

I always use cash in the newsagents, fast food joints or public transport. I generally have a £20 float in my pocket for the "just in case" scenario.

reclusive46

I must admit, I'm struggling to remember the last time I used cash. I used to use cash to pay for parking in town but they even started to accept Visa/MC/Amex since November. Probably last time was when I was tipping a valet in LA last September.

Pretty much everywhere I go takes card and most places I make small purchases at take contactless, which I find more convenient than change. Even the last time I got a taxi, they took card.

My Dentist has some ridiculous 5% surcharge on both credit and debit transactions (Surly this must be breaking the surcharge rules). So if I knew I'd need anything done, I'd probably withdraw cash for that.

ares14

The only things I pay cash for are pumping up my tyres at a garage, parking and on a night out.

I just don't like the bulk in my wallet. In the event I do have to withdraw cash for one of the above, any money that I have left over when I get back home goes into a money tin. The only downside to not carrying cash is not being able to buy anything from the local newsagents or smaller independent shops.

It's so easy to pop your card out than messing around with change. Even more easier now with contactless.

AlexLK

Since starting my journey to become debt free, I very rarely use my debit card, preferring to use cash for just about everything.

ricer10

I pay for pretty much everything with cash, it leaves no audit trail, its easy, convenient, and doesn't massive irritate shopkeepers when I try to pay for a 28p banana on card.

20aday

Typically anything less than £5 I try and pay for with cash.

Working in a shop myself I know about processing fees etc so I pay the cold, hard stuff to avoid any surcharges!

parksajj

I give my sister £2 per day for her school dinner and I also give her money on the weekend for busses, cabs or other expenses. (she's 13 and has her own Visa & American Express for her regular purchases)

My daily spending with cash.

Taxis (only one firm in manchester take cards and they used to overcharge me)

Restaurant tips

Takeaways (the ones that don't take cards)

and on a sunday I like to go to car boot sales so I take cash with me.

I recently had to use cash to fill up my tank because the card machine wasn't working (luckily an ATM right next to the pay window)

I keep £1 in my car for the supermarket trolly and normally £30 in £5's £20 in £10's and a £20 note.

I'm not a fan of change so I nip to the bank every so often and get £2 coins for my sisters lunches.


And reclusive46

give your dentist a cheque instead. there's a much greater reason than the fee for charging a 5% fee. my guess some kind of fraud.

Nebulous2

I have a cut-off point around £10. Below that I normally use cash. However I find a few pounds in my wallet lasting much longer than it used to. Not because my rules have changed, but because I have cut down my casual expenditure. I'm not sure that has been deliberate, it has just happened slowly and incrementally, over several years.