It’s how I buy eggs. Don’t use it for anything else though.
During covid I carry a little IPA gel in my rack-pack to wash the coins for the honesty box.
And I always leave a few extra coins for happy hens and grateful for service. I suppose it could work via paypal but I like it this old fashioned way.
I think using bit so faninals to make the cash, is a separate debate to whether we need it at all, it worked fine when it was just metal
It probably is yes, but I’d resist any move to try and do away with it entirely. It’s always good to have a backup if systems go down or for some other unforeseen reason. I encourage anyway to always have a small amount of cash to hand.
The Chinese Communisy party is launching their own electronic cash, so they can have 100% suveillance on every transaction in the country. However, one nice design feature it you can transfer cash between two mobiles without access to the central bank, so in the event of a network outage, transactions can continue (up to the amount you have downloaded to your wallet).
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/28/china-starts-major-trial-of-state-run-digital-currency
I imagine the problem with modern computerised systems is that you probably still wouldn't be able to buy anything with cash as it couldn't go through the till. Cashier might not even be able to open it to give you change! Might be feasible at a small convenience store though.anybody know the situation in Texas?
I imagine the problem with modern computerised systems is that you probably still wouldn’t be able to buy anything with cash as it couldn’t go through the till. Cashier might not even be able to open it to give you change! Might be feasible at a small convenience store though.
without trying to lead the question, that was kind of where I was going. In a city wide powercut/state of emergency is there a use for cash or are the shops completely hobbled with their internal systems/unable to trade for other reasons like not being able to unlock the doors?
That's still relying on some quite complex technology to be working, and that both parties have access to it.
Santander to close more than 100 branches
From previous experience where one institution goes the others follow.
A neighbour owes me about £24 for some sanding sheets I ordered in bulk for both of us. He's wanting bank details etc to pay me back. I can't even be bothered digging them out. Some cash would actually be quite useful; all those little shops with '£5 minimum card charge' etc. I might actually request in in gold. I think that's about 0.58g at current prices. Still cheaper than Cocaine.
I can’t even be bothered digging them out
If I was your neighbour I was be annoyed at having to find my debit card, head into town and use a cash point. It only dispenses notes in increments of £10 so I would need to buy something with cash to get the right change for you.
Pay contacts, PayPal gift, PayM, lots of options for moving money electronically.
I had to write a cheque yesterday. I checked the stubs, it was the first time I had written a cheque in over three years!
If I was your neighbour I was be annoyed at having to find my debit card, head into town and use a cash point. It only dispenses notes in increments of £10 so I would need to buy something with cash to get the right change for you.
It's a fair point. I'm so not bothered about the money though; it's such a small amount (to me at least), that I'm quite happy to write it off against any future 'reciprocation'. We get on really well, so a few quid on something he needs, is fine to me really. But yeah; it's a bit of a pain in the bum, finding cash when you don't really use it day to day. We always keep a bit in in case of 'emergencies', but seldom use it these days, especially what with Covid and that. One particular annoyance is our plumber/heating engineer, who has done loads of work for us over the past couple of years, but is really shit at keeping tabs on things like payments (he has a bit of an issue with organisation of admin etc). His wife fortunately does his accounts etc, so will send us a gentle email reminder, but if it were left to him, he'd forget to charge us. Paying someone like that in cash, would be much easier for him. And what about tips for delivery people etc? I'm loathe to ever include it on a restaurant bill, for fear it goes straight to the business owner rather than the staff I want it to (was it Giraffe, that didn't pay their workers their rightful tips?). Cash still definitely has its uses.
I had to write a cheque yesterday. I checked the stubs, it was the first time I had written a cheque in over three years!
My mum insists paying for large purchases etc by cheque. She won't do any online banking, ever. I've had to step in quite a few times to sort things. She probably owes me a few quid. I'll let her off cos she raised me though.
All the details are on your card which is probably in your pocket? Or plenty of ways to zip cash accross by phone number or email address, way easier than going into town to take out cash and not having correct change.
The only cash I have at all now is the £1 coin for the trolley or if I want to buy something illegal
