How much cash do you carry?

[Smithbat]

I usually have about a tenner on me. I do everything on contactless on my phone if I can.

 

[Tim Hall]

Yes, taxes are high as it's supposed to be a deterrent to stop heavy/binge drinking, but it doesn't.

The same is true of Sweden and Finland, although Denmark has a similar drinking culture to Britain and the prices are very reasonable there, similar to the UK.

Years ago I was in Stavanger and asked the same question. My Norwegian host answered in much the same way. My supplementary question of "does it work?" was answered by "No, but it makes the Government feel better."

 

[Tim Hall]

I've noticed in some of these "soap operas" lately that the barmaid hands over a card machine to the customer when they buy a drink. Using a card to pay for something costing 3 quid or less seems a bit odd to me.

First time I was in a pub and paid by card, I was asked if I'd like any cash back. My brain processed this as BEING PAID TO DRINK BEER. The future had finally arrived.

 

[arch684]

It's farking amazing! Do you know how many penny whoppers you can get for ten bob?!

In the 60s 120 penny whoppers for ten bob

 

[midlife]

none. I take a tenner with me every second Monday to Newcastle to pay for the car park.

Shaun

 

[raleighnut]

Not much cos as we all know,

Spoiler

 

[marknotgeorge]

As little as possible. I use my card for most things, even piddly transactions of a couple of quid. After bills and budgeted costs, I have little spare funds. Spending £3 on my card means I've spent £3, whereas using cash would mean taking out a tenner, then having £7 burning a hole in my pocket, which will soon get spent on fizzy pop and chocolate (yes, really). I only take money out when I go out of an evening.

 

[Brandane]

Just in case I need to buy a round, I always carry a ten bob note.

When I was at Glasgow Nautical College in 1979 (incidentally, laughing at the Police recruits running past our TV lounge with their ridiculous haircuts and white vest tops. Three years later I had to hide my face as I was that new recruit out running to Glasgow Green for more punishment ), when ATM's were a new phenomenon, I used to take out a fiver for a night out. Mind you, a pint of Tartan Special was 43p in the Cathadhmara in those days. A few pints, a chicken curry and fried rice from the St. Enoch Chinese carry out at throwing out time, and still some change left over!

These days that fiver has become £50. Generally I tend to use cash more than card for day to day purchases. I rarely have any more than £50 in my wallet; anything costing more than that qualifies for the plastic card.

 

[Jody]

Loadsamoney

 

[marzjennings]

Maybe the guy on the Titanic was moving to America, 'cos when I moved here I took as much cash as I was legally allowed to carry into the US. I wanted the cash so I could quickly open a bank account, pay a healthy deposit on car and cover other initial costs. Carrying $10000 in your wallet makes one a very, very nervous traveller.

On average though I carry about couple hundred dollars to pay folks who still prefer cash in hand.

 

[r04DiE]

I draw out £100 and then use it until I need another £100. I just keep drawing £100 out.

 

[mjr]

Last night i had a bit of a Titanic evening. I watched a few documentaries about the ship's sinking and about the background of the passengers. One mentioned a wealthy passenger who's body was found with 2,500 dollars in cash in his pockets.

Generally, I carry a similar amount to others and I use contactless where I can. I'll usually ask small shops if they have a preference for cash, if there's time, as I know some of them get stung for even contactless payments on small amounts.

ETA: The one time I carried a significant amount of cash was on a transatlantic journey to a country where cards are unreliable but apparently £20 notes were very welcome. It was stashed in pockets, a money belt, one boot (that was the get-us-back-to-the-airport emergency wedge ) and a couple of lockable compartments in different bags IIRC.

You can also do the same using your smartphone if you have the App.

What are the benefits and are they sufficient to outweigh the risk of the smartphone being much easier to hack remotely than a card?

Granted, living in a city makes this much more feasible than your post office and pub village but it really wasnt a hardship at all.

I'm pretty sure both post office and pub (in the next village - mine has neither any more) take cards. I think the main need for cash here is to buy fresh food from the smallholding stalls or to buy travel on the busopolies - Go-Ahead and the small independent competitors offer 5% off if you pay by card, while Stagecoach and First don't accept them at all!

In fact, over 2 weeks, the only time I regretted not having cash was to settle a food bill with a friend who didn't have any means of accepting online payment from me!

Anyone here tried mPay and how was it for you?

 

[spen666]

Just in case I need to buy a round, I always carry a ten bob note.

you must be one of those flash yuppie types drinking in expensive bars or is that 10 bob to last the week in a normal bar

 

[mythste]

Anyone here tried mPay and how was it for you?

I use Barclays pingit between most friends and family and it works great. As I understand it thats a barclays branded version of mPay?

It's one of those things that just seems to work.

 

[Gert Lush]

I normally have no cash on me, just a whole bunch of receipts. I normally put any change in my car and leave that in there for when I need money for parking. Saves worrying about having no change in my wallet when I get there.