Originally Posted by
Optimistic Nick
Last bought petrol 2 weeks ago- £5 to fill the mower. Last used cash by choice in the mid noughties. I keep some spare coins in the car in case I fancy a burger from one of those car park burger vans, or to pay for parking. But that is it. If shops take only cash i don't use them. To be honest if they dont take amex I dont bother unless I have to- B&Q is ditched in favour of jewsons and wickes. If a tradesman won't accept a bank transfer and insist on cash i wont use him, but that is more on moral grounds than convenience. The only one who insisted on cash after the event never turned up to collect it anyway. I cannot remember the last bar, pub or restaurant that didnt take card. My local chinese is cash only but its rubbish anyway, so no loss there. But otherwise, card payment acceptance is so commonplace that using cash would be very odd. I cannot imagine how long it would take to get a drink in some bars if everyone still paid in cash.
When my kids are old enough to learn about money i will start using it again for small items - I think it is more likely to help them learn than credit cards. But otherwise I see no reason to roll back the clock 15 years.