MSE Poll: How often do you use cash?

MSE_Emily

Poll started 5 April 2022

During the pandemic we saw a decline in the use of cash, with people favouring other methods of payment, such as contactless. However, it seems more people are turning back to cash as a way to keep tighter control of their spending in the wake of the cost of living crisis, according to new research from the Post Office. We want to find out how cashless our society is now, and whether people are using cash more or less than they were six months ago.

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SalsaBob

The majority of salsa clubs only take cash at the door only a minority are set up for a card payment and/or if they are there is a long form to fill in, quite a few people get caught out and have to leave in search of a cash machine. I currently get 1% cashback for a year with Chase app-only bank so I prefer to pay by card, but in practice the majority of my spending is cash through necessity

HumberFlyer

I'm touching 70 yrs old.... I'm all for a cashless society, even though I know it will never happen..... but then again, who knows. I only carry a bit of cash..... just in case.

maisie_cat

I just paid the chimney sweep with cash I'd had in a jar for months, I took it out for a Facebook purchase that didn't happen and never go around to paying it back in. I used to be embarrassed to pay by card for small amounts but it doesn't matter anymore and it's much easier to see where the money went.

kags

I pay the window cleaner in cash. Other than that it’s only tips at restaurants (I resent those that automatically add a “tip” to the main bill … if you think your staff deserve more, pay them more and raise your prices, but be transparent about it) … and the rare occasions when I’ve been asked for my PIN and forgotten it (usually small purchases like a coffees … I make a point of reminding myself before large purchases).
Oh, and then I nearly got caught out last week by a taxi driver who didn’t take cards: it was a reasonable fare but fortunately we had enough cash between us (and yes, it was properly booked through a well-known local company!)

SeanMaria

I recently had some painting done in the house, bought 2nd hand furniture and every month for my travel pass the small shops selling them will generally only take cash due to bank charges and taxis' EFT machines don't always work due to signal. Occasionally I'll pay for small amounts of shopping in cash and when going out I do prefer cash to help me budget however, less and less places are taking cash. I was horrified earlier in the year to go into a cafe when my contactless didn't work and I offered cash only to be told 'cash is forbidden'. During the pandemic, I saw an older person turned away from a staffed supermarket till when they tried to pay with cash. My 2021 holiday in the Highlands of Scotland, cash is King and there weren't many banking facilities and cash machines. Likewise a few years back in the Greek Islands, only cash due to banking charges and access to banking facilities. Recently, I've been in pubs and shops where they've instigated a minimum charge for EFT payments and I'm ok with that. Small, independent businesses see cash as guaranteed income with no fees attached and some people don't have contactless cards and cash is their best way to budget on a very low income or benefits.

BobbinAlong

It should be made illegal to refuse cash since it is discrimination against those who, for whatever reason, can't use a card. 
Time for an M.S.E. campaign?

Torry_Quine

I pay the man who cuts my grass in cash. Everything else is card payment 

Mike_Sussex

Another reason for more cash being withdrawn via the Post Office, may also be due to ongoing bank closures.

In our small town, there used to be four banks all with ATM’s. Now there is one. That bank’s ATM is in a fairly open position and in sunlight cannot be seen. That is why I withdraw cash from the Post Office as required.

Bridlington1

The only time I ever use cash is if I find some money on the floor. I don't really want to go into the bank to deposit 5p or whatever so I will usually withdraw £20 in cash in one bank to then deposit it at another with the money I've just found. 

JGB1955

I 'have' to get out £6 every 3 weeks (from my local Post Office) to pay for my U3A MahJong sessions.  Otherwise, I get my OH to pay the £1 coin for the half-dozen eggs on his daily walk.