Do you carry cash?

dankind said:

brianlux said:

dankind said:

Wobbie said:

brianlux said:

Meltdown99 said:

brianlux said:

Both.  Actually, all three:  I carry cash, a checkbook and credit cards.  If what I'm buying is from a major chain store, I used the credit card to give my wife airline miles with which to go visit her daughter (unless its under 10 few bucks, then I just pay cash.) 

If the store is a small business, family owned business, or charity thrift store, I pay cash.  If it's more than I have on me, I offer to write a check in order to save them money.  If they don't accept checks, I either come back with cash or use a credit card as a last resort.

My feeling is that using credit cards at most small businesses is... how shall I put it?... very not cool.

But using credit cards at corporate stores and paying the c/c bill off in full each month is smart.

Do people still use checks?

It would be thoughtful for those who use a credit card for small purchases to understand that doing so at a small business is hurtful to that business.  If you like or love your independent retailer, please consider using cash or a check on small purchases.

hear that, dan?

I don’t like (and I certainly don’t love) a single independent retailer around here.

FWIW, I used cash in Brooklyn all the time.

Sorry to hear that.  I would be bummed.

The only thing that keeps me going is my exit plan. 

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

bootlegger10 said:

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

I think the chimney guy was happy not because of credit card fees, but now he won't have to pay taxes.  Ha. 

PJ_Soul said:

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

I don't carry cash because I feel that it's just more convenient and cheaper not to. I don't like having to actually go get the cash. I have to get it from machines that my own bank owns - otherwise I have to pay fees to withdraw it. I don't want to have to hunt for my bank's machines. Also, I get Scene rewards on my debit Visa and cash back on my Amex. I actually gain from using my cards instead of cash. That last point is the most important, and the main I reason I actually avoid cash whenever possible. Not using it makes all my trips to the movie theatre free, and I get back $200 or so a year from cash back. With the reward factor, I actually don't understand why most people would carry cash (all of my tips can be paid with my card - I'm don't use valets and shuttles, and the majority of people don't IMO, so I'm not relating to that (but sure, if you expect to pay tips in cash for some reason, that's a reason to have some). Anything prepaid includes the tip where I am. And who is still making people sign for credit card payments? Most people just tap the card or their phone on the machine - it's way faster than cash. If they don't have tap (I don't because there is no security with it), you stick in the card and enter a code and it processes in literally 3 seconds. Also, in Canada, card payments at the table is the norm, with portable machines that all the servers carry, so no issues there (I gather that this isn't the norm in the US, but I have no clue why not).

All of this works for me. If it doesn't for others, I don't care... but at some point cash is going to go away (I hope so, as it's a waste of money of resources IMO). Basically all of it will be done with smartphones and cards and microchips. I'm glad I'll already be used to it when that happens!

PJ_Soul said:

bootlegger10 said:

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

I think the chimney guy was happy not because of credit card fees, but now he won't have to pay taxes.  Ha. 

Yep! So many tradesmen do this.

dankind said:

PJ_Soul said:

bootlegger10 said:

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

I think the chimney guy was happy not because of credit card fees, but now he won't have to pay taxes.  Ha. 

Yep! So many tradesmen do this.

Which is why we always pay these fuckers with a check.

You make enough money to afford a fleet of expensive trucks, equipment and whatnot; you can afford to pay your fucking taxes like the rest of us.

F Me In The Brain said:

dankind said:

F Me In The Brain said:

PJ_Soul said:

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

I don't carry cash because I feel that it's just more convenient and cheaper not to. I don't like having to actually go get the cash. I have to get it from machines that my own bank owns - otherwise I have to pay fees to withdraw it. I don't want to have to hunt for my bank's machines. Also, I get Scene rewards on my debit Visa and cash back on my Amex. I actually gain from using my cards instead of cash. That last point is the most important, and the main I reason I actually avoid cash whenever possible. Not using it makes all my trips to the movie theatre free, and I get back $200 or so a year from cash back. With the reward factor, I actually don't understand why most people would carry cash (all of my tips can be paid with my card - I'm don't use valets and shuttles, and the majority of people don't IMO, so I'm not relating to that (but sure, if you expect to pay tips in cash for some reason, that's a reason to have some). Anything prepaid includes the tip where I am. And who is still making people sign for credit card payments? Most people just tap the card or their phone on the machine - it's way faster than cash. If they don't have tap (I don't because there is no security with it), you stick in the card and enter a code and it processes in literally 3 seconds. Also, in Canada, card payments at the table is the norm, with portable machines that all the servers carry, so no issues there (I gather that this isn't the norm in the US, but I have no clue why not).

All of this works for me. If it doesn't for others, I don't care... but at some point cash is going to go away (I hope so, as it's a waste of money of resources IMO). Basically all of it will be done with smartphones and cards and microchips. I'm glad I'll already be used to it when that happens!

Tips in cash don't have to be reported and people who I tend to tip work hard enough, for little enough, without the govt trying to fuck them some more.  Put the money in their pockets and keep 100% of it.  It is a gift, one of appreciation from me to them - I don't want that being taxable.

Mr White's speech holds true.

I did predict you would mention that -- it is certainly the scene I thought of.

(Now, give me my dollar back!)

Gern Blansten said:

F Me In The Brain said:

PJ_Soul said:

mace1229 said:

I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t carry cash. It’s not big or heavy, a few 20s in your wallet and you don’t even notice, what’s the big deal?
There are times when you can only tip in cash (free shuttles, valet, prepaid things, etc) and you need cash to tip.
There are times when cash is a lot easier. I saw Willie Nelson this weekend. Venue held about 6000 and there were just a few big bars. Lines for drinks were 2-3 people deep. I watched for about 7 or 8 minutes waiting each person ordering a few drinks, hand over a card, wait for it to process, wait for a receipt, sign it and hand it back. Those with a tab took even longer waiting for the bartender to find the tab in a giant pile and ask for ID. When it was my turn I asked for 2 beers, dropped some cash and left. Took about 10 seconds verses 2-3 minutes everyone took.

I also often pay local businesses in cash, and more often than not they thank me. Sometimes even give me a discount. I had my chimney swept by a local guy, when he was writing the bill I asked if he prefers cash, he said he’d take off 5 or $10 if I paid cash and thanked me.
I don’t see any reason to not carry some, and then when you run into a minimum for card it doesn’t matter.
Carrying change is annoying, a few bills is no big deal.

I don't carry cash because I feel that it's just more convenient and cheaper not to. I don't like having to actually go get the cash. I have to get it from machines that my own bank owns - otherwise I have to pay fees to withdraw it. I don't want to have to hunt for my bank's machines. Also, I get Scene rewards on my debit Visa and cash back on my Amex. I actually gain from using my cards instead of cash. That last point is the most important, and the main I reason I actually avoid cash whenever possible. Not using it makes all my trips to the movie theatre free, and I get back $200 or so a year from cash back. With the reward factor, I actually don't understand why most people would carry cash (all of my tips can be paid with my card - I'm don't use valets and shuttles, and the majority of people don't IMO, so I'm not relating to that (but sure, if you expect to pay tips in cash for some reason, that's a reason to have some). Anything prepaid includes the tip where I am. And who is still making people sign for credit card payments? Most people just tap the card or their phone on the machine - it's way faster than cash. If they don't have tap (I don't because there is no security with it), you stick in the card and enter a code and it processes in literally 3 seconds. Also, in Canada, card payments at the table is the norm, with portable machines that all the servers carry, so no issues there (I gather that this isn't the norm in the US, but I have no clue why not).

All of this works for me. If it doesn't for others, I don't care... but at some point cash is going to go away (I hope so, as it's a waste of money of resources IMO). Basically all of it will be done with smartphones and cards and microchips. I'm glad I'll already be used to it when that happens!

Tips in cash don't have to be reported and people who I tend to tip work hard enough, for little enough, without the govt trying to fuck them some more.  Put the money in their pockets and keep 100% of it.  It is a gift, one of appreciation from me to them - I don't want that being taxable.

That's actually not true.  Cash tips are required to be reported.

They are LESS likely to be reported but that's another angle.