Privacy

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Decided to start paying predominantly cash again (lemmy.mtate.me.uk)

submitted 3 months ago by smeeps@lemmy.mtate.me.uk to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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I had two reasons, the first is because i found it way too easy to spend on my card without thinking, and the second because I wanted to regain a bit of privacy alongside everything else I'm doing. Ive set it up in my bank that on payday, an amount of my salary automatically goes to the bills account, some goes to long term savings, some to short term savings, then the rest I take out in cash.

It really does change my perception of spending I think: Ive found myself not buying things because I didnt want to break a note and carry change. I can physically see how much I have left. I can take £20 to the pub and leave when its finished. Plus it feels really good knowing every single transaction isnt stored forever. I have a small amount of money on a contactless ring for emergencies like a bus fare or somewhere that unexpectedly only takes card.

Is anyone else still predominantly using cash day to day?

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[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 16 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

I would consider paying with cash again IF $100 bills weren't so much trouble.

It's hard to get a $100 bill. ATMs just don't spit them out. Many places refuse to take them. It's just hard to carry over $100 in cash without quickly having your wallet explode in size.

Back in the day $100 was like caring $1,000 now. You could get a lot done with $20 bills... You can burn through the majority of $100 just going to dinner and I also have no desire to manage all that cash at my house or hit up an ATM every other day.

[–] smeeps@lemmy.mtate.me.uk 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Interesting, we have £50 notes in the UK but they essentially don't exist for most people. No cash machines will give you one, and shopkeepers mistrust them, although generally accept. 20s are the highest people deal with here usually.

[–] Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg 4 points 3 months ago

We also have 50s, they have the same problem as 100s.

There are definitely places that will take the 50s and 100s but the number of times you can get burned by it is too high for my liking. I once was on vacation and a state park (I think it was) wouldn't take anything bigger than 20s for their admission fee.

I think I only had 50s so I think I ended up having a stranger help me out.

[–] Avero@feddit.org 4 points 3 months ago

50€ notes are really common in Germany (and probably the rest of the euro zone), mistrust only starts at 100€ and above, most shops don't accept 500€ anymore and 200€ also became quite rare

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah I do agree that American cash doesn't stretch as far. I'm definitely having to hit the ATM or cash back option way more than before for how much things cost. 50s are good for restaurants and the like but 100s are so weirdly distrusted and a pain. But I rarely get back 5s and 10s cause seriously inflation is just so good damn high.

I keep thinking I'm gonna pull out a bunch of cash to have but then... Yeah I am not one to stuff it under my mattress and it being available electronically is so useful... Sigh..

Trying. It's all we can do until things change for real.