When to Use Cash Instead of Credit

I know. This is 2019. We have contactless cards, peer-to-peer mobile payment systems and services that will offer you an installment loan for a pair of pants. But I’m not here to talk about any of these newfangled schemes. No no. I’m here to talk about money.

Cash has gotten a bad reputation these days. Bonus credit card fans think that missing out on points is silly. The salad bowls tried to ban this. My local baseball stadium, always looking for new ways to get somebody, somebody to play, doesn’t want my money – at least not that money .

Despite the skeptics, I am humbly advocating cold hard money. I always have at least a few dollars in my wallet, which is as practical as frequent conversations among my card-loving friends.

Cash comes in handy more often than you think.

Aside from budgeting techniques (and I’ll come back to that later this week), cash can help you out of a lot of 20th century situations. It is useful to have cash in case of unforeseen circumstances, for example, when taking a taxi home without warning. This is useful in establishments – usually small businesses in the neighborhood, mind you – where a minimum purchase is required to use plastic.

And cash is helpful in helping you cut your spending. It’s easy to swipe! This takes away the pain of actually paying for something by delaying the actual transaction of your money. Pulling out cash somewhere close to the amount you plan to spend can be a real test of your budget. Or, knowing that you have a certain amount of money in your wallet can help you cut costs before you even start.

In honor of the almost endless use of cash, I present a list of places and situations in which you might want to get a few dollar bills:

• Advice! Your bartender, your hairdresser, your airport shoe shiner, your massage therapist – everyone gets a tip. Many establishments do not allow tip cards; for those who do, tip cash means that your service provider means they will take the cash home the same day instead of waiting for their next paycheck.
• Entrance fees to bars, music venues and comedy clubs. Those who do not accept cards will often point to a nasty-looking ATM as your solution. You don’t want to use this solid ATM machine.
• Garage sales . Don’t be the kind of person trying to use plastic unless this sale explicitly advertises the adoption of Venmo or Paypal.
• Expired library books. Are you really going to get your library to pay the card for your $ 0.85 fine?
• Giving back to friends or family for a small purchase, such as a lunch you share. You can of course use a peer-to-peer payment service or agree to go to the next tab. But sometimes it’s nice to just give someone the money you owe them and put an end to it. This works especially well for friends or family who are notorious for not accepting your money.
• Parking for events. A kid working in a dirt parking lot half a mile from a baseball game won’t have much sympathy if you roll out without the announced CASH ONLY $ 10.
• Bright pickles from the Renaissance. You are in an old place, use your old money.
• Gas stations that charge higher plastic refill fees. These gas stations are random and many only charge credit cards for the convenience. But if you drive a lot, you might want to have cash on hand in case of an unexpected refueling.
• Laundries. You need dollars to get quarters! Because someone always uses two washing machines with card readers.
• Ice cream truck. Nothing distracts from the spontaneous waste of ice cream more than waiting for the PIN to be entered while the cone melts in your hand.
• Children’s benefits. When they handle cash, young people can learn about money and math.
• Car rental fees. The rental companies charge a daily fee to use their transponder for charging, and let’s face it, you probably forgot to get it out of your car for the ride. You would of course turn down an offer from a car rental company to rent such a car , but what will you do when you realize that a toll collection point is fast approaching on your own highway? (I promise you don’t want to pay breakout rent.)
• The street musician you really like. Of course they take Venmo. But drop the old school and drop them a dollar. Then search SoundCloud for them.
• Girl Scout Cookie Season. I know Girl Scouts use Square, but let the ladies change you. See also “child benefits”.
• Bribes! You don’t need this paper trail!
• Poker game. Nothing takes the buzz off a good hand like “Okay, now every Venmo Mike is $ 20.”
• An old soda machine at a recreation center. It doesn’t have a card reader. Are you thirsty. You can guess how this will end.
• Greeting Cards. You know you love getting $ 5 or $ 10 cards! Do with others!
• Tooth Fairy. Unless your tooth fairy is handing out Five Under gift cards or something.
• Overnight trips to the deli / wine cellar. Corner shops often have a minimum of cards, which doesn’t really matter if you’re buying multiple items. But if you’re wandering late at night, you might want to put some cash in your pocket.
• Kab that swears the card reader does not work. You know ~ the law ~, but you are also tired, irritable and just want to be in your house. There are times of struggle, but it may not be.
• The lemonade is worth it. These kids set up an unlicensed drinks establishment on the sidelines. They didn’t think about payment processing.
• Jumbo slice pizza shops. You don’t buy slices for all your friends, Heather. You are about to give your $ 5 for a slice and a Coke and go home. Now. HEATHER.
• Collection basket in the church. Unless you are the person who checks his offer, this is a real comeback.
• Roadside fruit stands. You’re in luck if there is a Wi-Fi service on this country road to process Square payment. Just give them cash.
• Jukebox. If you’re on a tight budget, I can’t put up with downloading this TouchTunes app.

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