How much cash do you still use and how (card) light is your wallet?

Robisere

GaleSF63 said:

The people who don't use cash anymore, how do you give your younger children pocket money? How do grandparents give something to their grandchildren on a visit - or doesn't that happen any longer?

ETA.  Just curious; I don't have either children or grandchildren.

I used to keep anything up to £100 for grandchildren, then the little devils became big ones and all have bank accounts, to which I can transfer money for birthdays, etc. Eldest is now 14 and she has her own account, but I do give her cash occasionally for RAF Cadet camp, holidays, etc. Now I keep only £10 to £20 unless youngest grandson (21) has time off and comes to see if we need work doing. Atm we are in the process of moving, so he is coming fairly often t help get rid of stuff as we are downsizing. His low paid job and the motorbike to get him there from his rural home, means he is always short of money, so I always give him something despite his protests. We are near a Market Town (Louth) which has 3 weekly markets and cash is necessary for purchases there. Fortunately there are several ATM's in the Marketplace. I use a very small wallet with an RFID section for bank cards an a small front section for driving licence, library card and a little cash. I remember with horror the days when I had a bulging wallet. If I need any extra cards, they stay at home and are usually used for online purchases.

JES_F1

1. How much cash?  Rarely more than about £30.  Rarely pay cash for anything.
   
2. How many debit and credit cards? Which ones?  Three debit cards, all for Santander accounts, only used to withdraw cash.  Four credit cards: Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday and Santander All In One (both used for almost all my normal monthly spending to get the cashback), Hilton Honors Platinum Visa from Barclaycard (used for subscriptions and Hilton stays to get Hilton Honors points), and Barclaycard Forward (only used to automatically buy a £5 Amazon top-up voucher each month to stop it going dormant).
   
3. How many rewards/loyalty cards? Which ones do you carry?  At least six: Co-op, M&S, Boots, Waitrose, Nectar, and Body Shop.  I think I've also got Superdrug, Waterstones, and Holland and Barrett too.
   
4. What else do you carry in the wallet? (e.g. gym pass, travelcard, etc).  Stamps.
   
5. Do you pay for things with your phone? Which app?  Yes, almost always - Google Pay.
   

Fingerbobs

1. How much cash? - £30 for emergencies, e.g. today when the card machines in the canteen weren't working. 
2. How many debit and credit cards? Which ones? 2 Debit and 2 Credit (primary/backup), and a Curve card. 
3. How many rewards/loyalty cards? Which ones do you carry? Crikey, loads. Some I never even use. 
4. What else do you carry in the wallet? (e.g. gym pass, travelcard, etc) Stamps, discounted Gift Cards, a few business cards.
5. Do you pay for things with your phone? Which app? No, never. The concept doesn't appeal. 

db2016

1. How much cash? - £250 ish, maybe more, tend to get cash out, as it gives that "do i need it" feel as i open up wallet etc.
   
2. How many debit and credit cards? Which ones? - 1 Barclays debit, 1 tesco credit card, 1 revolut card (this is where any ebay / paypal / amazon sales go to).
   
3. How many rewards/loyalty cards? Which ones do you carry? 1 tesco (but this could get binned as the tesco CC is a clubcard itself.
   
4. What else do you carry in the wallet? (e.g. gym pass, travelcard, etc) - seperate card wallet has bus pass, clubcard (full sized one, cinema card, and a card magnifying glass in.
   
5. Do you pay for things with your phone? Which app? - only banking apps, and paypal one. - no actual tap n go ones.
6. and a seperate small coin wallet for change, eg for taxi's on a night out.
   
7. i also carry a multi tool "card" a victorinox swiss card, and a larger pocket swiss army knife on keys (all uk legal).
   

db2016

amazing how many people say cash is outdated, but they carry stamps lol.
i like cash, it gives that feeling of.. being able to be spent anywhere should any banks be down etc. and also it makes you mindful of spends eg, one tap and theres £50 quid, its too easy to spend.
and thats usually one of the first things the DFW pages say, use cash, for that very reason of control..

bricoleur

1. I don't use cash unless I have to and so it never stays in my purse. 
2. Two cards in the UK: Barclays Premier debit card and Barclaycard Platinum credit card. Abroad: Nationwide FlexPlus debit card and Halifax Clarity credit card.
3. Tesco, Co-op, Sainsbury's, parkrun key tags. Paul and Artisan coffee cards. 
4. Driving licence, gym pass, Oyster. Zara gift card and a Love2Shop voucher, leftover from Christmas. 
5. Mobile contactless pay is active but I use it very rarely, only when I don't have my debit card or my Oyster with me. 

gingerdad

1. How much cash? £100 
2. How many debit and credit cards? Which ones? 4 Debit Cards (First Direct, HSBC, Bo & Starling) 2 Business Cards (HSBC & Barclaycard) 1 Credit Card (Tesco)
   
3. How many rewards/loyalty cards? Which ones do you carry? Booths, Uni Coffee,  - load on my keys and also on my phone
   
4. What else do you carry in the wallet? (e.g. gym pass, travelcard, etc) Bluelight Card, Student Card, Driving Licence, Rugby Club Membership 
   
5. Do you pay for things with your phone? Which app? Apple Pay - use it loads. more than cards. 

Fingerbobs

db2016 said:

amazing how many people say cash is outdated, but they carry stamps lol.

Valid point. I don't really know why I carry stamps with me, as I rarely use them, and when I do I'm usually at home. Force of habit, as I've always kept them in my wallet, I suppose.

Mrs_Ryan

1. There’s a £20 note and some coins in there at the minute 
2. 2 debit (Barclays and NatWest) 3 credit (Marbles, Vanquis and Capital One) 
3. None- my Boots Advantage Card is on the app and I only carry my Superdrug card when I need it 
4. Driving licence, Disabled Persons bus pass and Disabled Persons Railcard
5. Apple Pay

MountainGoat88

1 I never choose to carry cash unless I know I'm going somewhere that doesn’t take cards (the last hold out for this is my barber, but I would switch if I found a decent one who takes card). Carrying cash feels risky to me, but also not real money, my statement helps me budget much better than cash.

2/4 I love a minimalist wallet that I know is getting me the best deal. It only has 4 things in it, driving license, American Express for best rewards, barclaycard rewards for the approx 30% of places I go that don’t accept AmEx. And a nationwide debt card for if cash is needed or more often I’ve been given cash and need to deposit it. (I switch out the nationwide for a Starling when traveling)

3 All loyalty and rewards cards are on my phone, if that is not an option I’m not interested in carrying them.

5 I have cards available on my phone but I always carry cards over flat battery fear.

It frustrates me in a shop when people in front of me are using cash as it slows everything down. I also assume that businesses that mostly use cash (and some individuals) are criminals, probably dodging tax. As a small business owner who pays my honest tax I cannot bring myself to use cash only businesses on principle.

One last thought, as this Coronavirus is going around the biggest surprise is the number of people who seem to need a reminder to wash their hands, filthy individuals. Virus or not, cash is certainly not clean.