MSE Poll: Are you part of the cashless society? How often do you use cash?

MSE_Petar

Poll started 27 October 2020

The pandemic has accelerated the decline of cash, with the use of contactless cards soaring and more ATMs shutting every day. This week, we want to find out how cashless our society is now – and how many still prefer using it.

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203846930

Just wondering what MSE has got against cash.

DCFC79

Before Covid19 I used cash where card wasn't accepted and card elsewhere but now its card everywhere.

vanderbull

Very rarely use cash now, only when my curry house says any transaction under £10 & my local veg. man who takes cash only !

Ectophile

I paid for my haircut with cash recently, as the barber doesn't take cards.  One day soon, I might have to put some more cash in my wallet - I last topped it up in March.

avoman

I have not carried notes or coins in the UK for four years. it works fine for me!
I was in Greece a couple of months ago. Because tax evasion is the national sport there cash was hitherto vital. But this year everything has changed, even there. I did take euros cash. And returned home with all of it unspent.

Freyagirl

Prefer to use cash for day to day purchases especially spends under £10, use card for bigger. Resented being forced to use card so pleased shops are now relaxing that rule, enables me to budget properly.

newlywed

Since March I have been entirely cashless. Before that it was some and some.

With the amount of homeless people and drunks on our city streets, I much prefer being able to truthfully reply that I have no cash on me.  Must make it more difficult for them though. (I have offered to buy them food or a coffee from the shop I am going into before,  but that isn’t always what they want)

Bonnypitlad

For more than 20 years I’ve considered cash as “ drinking vouchers”, The only time I need cash was in a pub. I have a £1 coin that I keep for the supermarket trolley. There’s 1 charity shop near me that accepts only cash
Cash? Huh! Horrible stuff covered in germs

MalMonroe

I stopped using cash when I was mugged a couple of years ago. There was cash in my bag and of course that's not refundable by any bank. 

I feel safer just carrying cards now. If they're lost or stolen I can phone to cancel them - if they're used after they've been stolen I'm more likely to be refunded. No way can I be refunded if cash is lost or stolen. Been there, done that.

There's such unjustified snobbery about 'still using cash'. It's far safer to use cards, also from the germs point of view. 

I still do use some cash, such as to pay window cleaners but it's very rare that I need it. When I used to go out - classed as vulnerable now so I don't - I used cash to buy a Big Issue whenever I could but sadly have not been able to do that of late.

Mrcsmrs

I’m one of the weirdos that still uses cash, not because I want to but because when dealing with the majority of people I have to with horses, most will only take cash. These would include instructors for lessons, farrier, osteopath, saddler and so on. Most don’t accept any other payment type. Outside of horses, I don’t use cash for anything so it’d be really nice if the industry caught up so I don’t have to realise I’ve forgotten to get any at the last moment!