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Post by HalcyonDaze on Sept 10, 2023 7:04:12 GMT -5
I was reading an article in the SMH today and it mentioned that last year only 13% of payments in Australia were made by cash.
I do have to stop and think now about when I last paid for something with cash. I used to make sure I had enough for the banh mi place, as they had a surcharge, but then they put the prices up and my favourite lemongrass chicken one went over the limit.
For years we did a gold coin donation (so $1 or $2) at each bookclub meeting -it goes to charity at the end of the year. A few meetings back someone said why are we still doing this, they didn't have coins anymore and couldn't they just transfer an amount at the start of the year.
The market holders all use Square.
And I'm generally not going to cafes to buy a tea.
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Post by Liiisa on Sept 10, 2023 7:32:07 GMT -5
Yeah, that's a great question. I think I used cash at the farmers market a couple of weeks ago because the fruit I was buying added up to exactly $10, and I happened to have a $10 bill. Which meant that I wasn't going to get a bunch of change back - I literally have no use for change anymore, since most parking meters take the app that's on my phone, the metro card is on my phone, etc.
I had so little use for cash in Scotland that I think the next time I go somewhere that isn't some town in rural Central America, I probably won't exchange a bunch of cash to the local currency before I go. Maybe just $20 or something, just in case.
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Sept 10, 2023 7:36:18 GMT -5
Yes - transport is the Opal card, uber is an app, a lot of places at the markets won't take cash. Even LC's pocket money is done via an app that goes to a card he has.
LC needed a gold coin donation for school on Friday as it was a mufti day - we do have a coin dump area so getting one wasn't an issue (and he didn't get to school anyway) But the coins can sit there for months before they get moved to the bank.
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Post by Liiisa on Sept 10, 2023 7:40:26 GMT -5
The art of counting change back is probably completely lost now - I remember working at Woolworth's as a teenager, and if they gave you a $5 for something that cost $3.50 it would be like hand them a dollar and say "four-fifty" then two quarters and say "and five."
pero still uses cash for a lot of things and it's excruciating to stand there waiting as cash is counted... like just put the card on the thing and we can goooooo
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Sept 10, 2023 7:42:58 GMT -5
When LC played soccer, each team had to 'volunteer' to work at the canteen the club ran one weekend - for the kids, it was of course the parents doing the work. Anyway, I had to teach a few people how to do the couuntback as the cash register there didn't work out the change for you.
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Post by tinaja on Sept 10, 2023 9:58:49 GMT -5
Yesterday for a coffee. Since I started selling, I am more aware of the hit that small businesses' fee (3%) for taking cards. Some discount for cash, but it is too much hassle for me. But I use cards a lot. It all evens out eventually.
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Post by Webs on Sept 10, 2023 10:13:33 GMT -5
Yesterday, I went to a new bakery in my neighborhood and I wanted to make sure I paid in cash and I left a good tip because we have to support small, women owned, businesses.
I bought 2 cupcakes, a flan and a passionfruit mousse. The flan was amazing. The Smores cupcake needed more cake, less filling, because the cake was delcious. I haven't had the other two items yet.
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Post by Queen on Sept 10, 2023 10:30:47 GMT -5
Genuinely can't remember. It might be pre-pandemic.
I don't carry a wallet anymore.
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Post by riverhorse on Sept 10, 2023 10:49:44 GMT -5
Well, here in Germany you still need cash. So many bars, cafes and restaurants will only accept cash. We're about to pay cash for our (very yummy) dinner in Aachen.
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Post by Liiisa on Sept 10, 2023 10:57:06 GMT -5
Yesterday, I went to a new bakery in my neighborhood and I wanted to make sure I paid in cash and I left a good tip because we have to support small, women owned, businesses. I bought 2 cupcakes, a flan and a passionfruit mousse. The flan was amazing. The Smores cupcake needed more cake, less filling, because the cake was delcious. I haven't had the other two items yet. I should probably carry some ones around, since sometimes (like yesterday) the tip option on the card reader doesn't pop up, and I always want to leave a tip at the coffee place.
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Post by tzarine on Sept 10, 2023 11:00:00 GMT -5
a day or 2 ago
many shops give discounts for using cash here even @ the fmrs mkit & in many ctown shops
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Post by tucano on Sept 10, 2023 11:02:45 GMT -5
I don't remember. When contactless payment came in I used to feel strange paying by card for something that cost £2 but not any more.
If I'm travelling I try to carry some cash because a lot of places still prefer it, due to the high card fees they have to pay as traders.
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Post by Liiisa on Sept 10, 2023 11:05:19 GMT -5
I see the cash discount prices and think "that would be nice but then they would give me all this CHANGE"
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Post by lillielangtry on Sept 10, 2023 11:07:48 GMT -5
Hahaha yeah Germany. I used cash 3 times today.
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Post by tzarine on Sept 10, 2023 13:18:56 GMT -5
today @ the tamale/taco stand
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Post by sprite on Sept 10, 2023 14:17:42 GMT -5
I have used cash in the past week, twice. Our barber, who is likely fiddling the taxes, only takes cash.
the little card readers have become very cheap, so quite a lot of very small traders have them, and the charges from the banks are built into the prices. There are several businesses now who just don't take cash at all.
One of my nuttier relatives is convinced this is a nefarious plot to put us under the gov't thumb. He and his buddies go on fits where they refused to use anything but cash, and are convinced that 'card only' places will go out of business...
I do think it's a problem that cash is becoming less available, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to refuse it as payment. BUt I don't think there's a deliberate plot.
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Post by snowwhite on Sept 10, 2023 14:22:29 GMT -5
Certainly every week, normally, because our local bread shop (the actual bakery is further into town) only takes cash. Also our local zero waste shop prefers cash, because of the charges and our local over-the-road shop also has a minimum charge which isn't met if we just need some milk or something... and if I send a child then I send them with cash, so I guess that's use by proxy?
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Post by lillielangtry on Sept 10, 2023 14:36:28 GMT -5
I think everywhere should have the choice. It drives me crazy when Germans try to justify not being able to use cards for sometimes large amounts (loads of restaurants don't take cards - if you're paying for a whole family that could reach a couple of hundred euros) on the basis of the "crippling" charges. Equally, I had some cash to get rid of in the UK and it was near impossible. One restaurant said I could pay cash but they couldn't give me any change. Hmmm.
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Post by Queen on Sept 10, 2023 14:56:28 GMT -5
Oh, I just remembered sthg, sometime over summer there was a bank outage and none of the card systems were working in the stores, that's the last time I used cash, and it was the only time this year. I do have a stash of about 40 euro in my bag for such occasions.
I've just done a little bit of reading and here's a factoid that intrigued me: most transactions are debit card (about 60%), but most people carry a little cash just in case, and the amount they carry hasn't changed since 2010 - its about 45 euro.
There are a few places that say "card only", but most places just strongly encourage it.
It helps with their book keeping, and prevents fraud. Businesses in general like it. We have some mobile systems here so even all the stall holders have them. You just swipe your card/watch/phone and go on your merry way.
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Post by lisamnz on Sept 10, 2023 16:44:24 GMT -5
Yesterday to buy a bottle of milk. And the day before to pay for some secondhand horse gear we bought from the riding for disabled sale.
We use cash quite a bit.
@hal, we got the kids each one of those cards. But they can only use them in places that accept credit cards (assuming they're the same ones) and hardly any of the dairies (corner shops, convenience stores, whatever) take credit cards because people either expect them to cover the cost of processing CC payments, or they complain when the stores try to add the charge on to the payment.
And those are the main places they'd want to go in to and buy things themselves... so, we use cash.
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Post by sprite on Sept 10, 2023 17:03:00 GMT -5
In Scotland, people used to charge extra for card payments, but that was made illegal. I can think of 3 places that have minimum payments, but one of those I only go to 3 or 4 times a year. I think, nowadays, card payments are so frequent that businesses have to consider it a pricing factor, like electricity or rent.
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Post by lisamnz on Sept 10, 2023 17:13:51 GMT -5
This is only for credit cards, not what we call eftpos cards (which are like debit cards in the UK)
ETA: Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale
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Post by shilgia on Sept 10, 2023 17:37:58 GMT -5
Hahaha yeah Germany. I used cash 3 times today. My dad has a volunteer job (in the Netherlands) driving a bus. (A route that doesn't have enough passengers to justify regular bus service.) The area tends to get a lot of German tourists. Almost every time, payment is an issue. Passengers can pay by transit pass, bank card, or credit card, but not cash. And German tourists, almost universally, only carry cash.
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Post by groo on Sept 10, 2023 18:07:55 GMT -5
All of which explains the comparative rarity of ATM machines these days. I just checked my wallet - there's $200 there, but it must be at least 6 months since I used an ATM or made an efptos withdrawal. I only ever really use cash at the roadside fruit and veg stall I frequent.
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Sept 10, 2023 18:18:16 GMT -5
Yesterday to buy a bottle of milk. And the day before to pay for some secondhand horse gear we bought from the riding for disabled sale. @hal, we got the kids each one of those cards. But they can only use them in places that accept credit cards (assuming they're the same ones) and hardly any of the dairies (corner shops, convenience stores, whatever) take credit cards because people either expect them to cover the cost of processing CC payments, or they complain when the stores try to add the charge on to the payment. And those are the main places they'd want to go in to and buy things themselves... so, we use cash. Yes, there aren't really the little corner stores here anymore. And LC has to pass the big supermarket on the way home from school, so if he wants anything he goes in there. It's also handy as if I realise I'm out of one or two things I can message him to pick it up on his way home. At the start, the main reason to use the app was so we could see how he handled the money and card - did he go stupid and buy all the rubbish, and constantly need top ups, or was he sensible and able to manage. Turns out he was able to manage it all. I have been annoyed when he goes out with his mates that he is always shouting one kids, whose parents haven't given that kid a card of any sort, but also don't seem to hand over cash. So over summer when LC would be out and buy himself a drink or an ice block, he'd always buy one for this kid as well. Even at school (the canteen doesn't use cash) somedays he'll be buying this kid an ice block. Lovely kid, great family, but this bit bugs me. Other friends all have cards of various descriptions.
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Sept 10, 2023 18:19:58 GMT -5
All of which explains the comparative rarity of ATM machines these days. I just checked my wallet - there's $200 there, but it must be at least 6 months since I used an ATM or made an efptos withdrawal. I only ever really use cash at the roadside fruit and veg stall I frequent. Even the roadside egg lady we go to takes cards. I assume the honesty box ones are still cash based.
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Post by jimm on Sept 10, 2023 18:28:03 GMT -5
I rarely use cash - last time was maybe 2 weeks ago for 2 apples - less than $3 - and I wanted to lighten my wallet of coins.
On the other foot - I help run the membership system at my U3A, and when re-enrolment day comes around at the end of the year we like to take fees by card or PayPal. Some members (we are mostly old fuddy-duddies) still use cash and/or cheques, and that's a pain for us. Someone has to stay back after closing to record the cheque details, count the cash, fill out the deposit slips, and take it to the bank. It is MUCH EASIER for us volunteers if members use cards.
And on the remaining foot - personally, if on the rare occasion I sell stuff (no longer used tech stuff for example) on Gumtree I ask for cash, because I don't have the means to process cards and I don't want to give out my bank account details. I know I can set up some sort of PayPal link or use PayId, but I can't be bothered working out how to do that for something I do maybe once a year.
Edited to add - hmmm - looks like I already can receive payments by PayId - just never used it. Must be getting old.
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Post by groo on Sept 10, 2023 19:02:33 GMT -5
And then there's that other form of currency. I've just added up the bottle return vouchers in my wallet and find that I have $28.60 available next time I visit the supermarket.
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Post by ozziegiraffe on Sept 10, 2023 19:48:44 GMT -5
Yesterday. The noodle shop next to the supermarket is cash only. It created a bit of consternation with volunteers, army, etc after the flood, as very few other takeaway places in the district were able to open. My bank is phasing out cheque books at the end of the month, and they will only be able to be deposited at post offices.
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Post by tzarine on Sept 10, 2023 19:59:57 GMT -5
after sandy, many businesses went to cash only
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