Cashless Society

[lulubel]

I suspect that, worldwide, society is far less cashless than it appears if you live in the UK. That was certainly the case when we came to Spain, and I can count the number of times I've used my credit card in a shop here on the fingers of one hand (and that's in over 3 years). The only thing we don't pay for with cash is our phone line rental and internet (all in one payment). Everything else, including rent, electricity and water bills, as well as obvious things like shopping, is paid for with cash. You can even order a washing machine (for example) online from Worten and pay cash on delivery.

I don't think that's likely to change in any hurry because the main reason for so much use of cash in Spain isn't anything to do with fees and charges (although there are a lot of fees, including fees for having a basic bank account). It's because no-one pays tax if they can get away with it, and cash makes that easier. In the current economic climate, with rising unemployment and less money to go around, the incentive to keep using cash and not paying tax is getting stronger.

Although I haven't travelled that much, I'm sure most people in countries at or below the same level of wealth/poverty as Spain have similar incentives to use cash as much as possible.

 

[Archie_tect]

When you shell out a handful of £20's for something rather than just bashing in a chip number it hurts a lot more.

I've heard about places like that...

 

[ianrauk]

I see that Barclays offer this 'customise your credit card' thing at the moment...if it were me, it would have a picture of ME on it, passport-style, holding a big piece if paper saying "I am the rightful owner of this card!!"

Funny thing you mention that.
I read this a while back. That there has been a lot of fraud due to dumbo's putting up pictures of their customised cards on twitter for the world to see.

 

[roadrash]

Why?

simple ...because thats the way i like it

 

[Saluki]

The only people who use lots of cash these days are the unemployed, the retired, those who use car boot fairs, drugs dealers and those not having a bank account nor wanting a transaction to be traceable. Consequently many notes have traces of drugs on them, I am told.

Oh really!
I am a very very hard working self-employed woman who has a cash based business. I do not take credit or debit cards as it costs too much for me to do so. 80% of my customers pay me with cash, a few by cheque and a few others by direct transfer into my business account (very handy for my dog walking clients).
I pay for most things by cash as that is how I mostly get paid. I have no problem with my transactions being traceable, I keep my accounts honestly, do not take drugs, don't visit boot fairs and am definitely not unemployed. I do have a bank account and am a good few years off retirement (unless I win the lottery). No credit cards, overdrafts, loans etc for us, they all cost too much. I probably couldn't get a credit card as I have no credit rating as I have never had a credit card.

I think your post is a bit of a generalisation. I know a lot of people who use mostly cash, none of whom are deadbeats. Sure we use paypal for buying things online but cash is so accountable for us. If I want something and its £40 and I only have £25 in cash in my wallet, I can't have that item until I have saved another £15. I can see how much money I have and I can see instantly, when its gone.

 

[Maz]

Funny thing you mention that.
I read this a while back. That there has been a lot of fraud due to dumbo's putting up pictures of their customised cards on twitter for the world to see.

 

[Dangermouse]

I honestly cant remember the last time I used cash, well I can as we have a card at work that we use to clock in, and buy coffee which we have to put money on by cash in the machine, but apart from that I really cant remember as we use debit card or credit card for everything, even all the petrol stations here mainly use a card system, the last time I had £50 in cash was when someone local bought something from me and that went straight into the bank.
I dont think a cashless society is scarey so long as you know your limit, budget and stick to it.

 

[MacB]

Some strong ideas here, I use a mix, cash, paypal, debit card and bank transfer...the only one I've struggled with is a cheque as it took me ages to find our chequebook last time. I know where it is now but it had been a long time since I'd written a cheque.

I would feel a bit weird without a wodge of cash in the wallet though.

 

[Maz]

My kids use a cashless payment method for school meals - I top up their credit online and they pay for meals with a finger-print.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I would feel a bit weird without a wodge of cash in the wallet though.

Is that why you never spend any in the pub? That's what tc, rich, etc. said anyway.

 

[tonyhalsall]

The only cash expenditure outside occasionally nipping to the pub is the window cleaner.

 

[MontyVeda]

A primary school teacher I spoke to commented that teaching young children about money and addition has become more difficult because parents tend to use cards when paying for items.

what the heck has that got to do with a teacher teaching maths in a school?

sound like that teacher is talking out of his arris to me Maz.

 

[lulubel]

what the heck has that got to do with a teacher teaching maths in a school?

He actually said money and addition. I can understand it being difficult to teach kids about money if they've got no frame of reference because they never see any.

 

[skudupnorth]

I have no problem being cashless because i'm Skint !

 

[musa]

I prefer cash especially when you can withdraw £5 from the cash machine

But with a goodness know how much percent boom in online shopping