In 1960......

[BamaJohn]

.......a lady came to our high school for "assembly". Among other banking talking points, she held up a small plastic card and said:  "You will see a time when you no longer need to carry cash...you'll pay for things with a little card like this."  

Since cash was king, I thought: "Yeah, right!"

 

And, look at us now!

 

Most of us carry a little plastic card with a magnetic strip on the back and a computer chip in one end, so we pay with "swipe n go".  I reckon most of us use a card that provides some % of cash back (it's not cash, but an entry on a ledger somewhere).  Losing that little plastic card presents an EMERGENCY, since we are as exposed to losing our money as we would be if we lost cash.  (hopefully, we have the phone # stashed somewhere so we can call and cancel the card immediately).

 

I'll sign off now.  I'm heading to the grocery store and to get gas in my truck....and paying with that little plastic card.

[John Ranalletta]

I carry a little cash for infrequent trips to the hardware store and use our credit card by itself or via Apple Pay.  I see lots of folks using debit cards.  If they can qualify for a credit card, they're crazy for using the debit card.  Most ccards only require payment of the "remaining statement balance" which means the remainder of the balance is "borrowed" interest free until the next payment.

[RandyShields]

And it is not stopping there.  Mini cards on keychains; tap your watch with _____ Pay; and already adopted by some an implanted chip that you can wave at the terminal.  

[Skywagon]

In the 60’s I carried change. Didn’t have any cash😁

 

I carry a debit, visa, AMEX, and I get nervous if I have less than$200 in cash. I almost never use cash, but old habits are hard to break. If they want to charge me a fee for credit card I pay cash or if less than $10. 

[Skywagon]

40 minutes ago, Rougarou said:

wife pays for everything

Just the opposite. Have to remind her to take money with her when I’m not there. 

[BamaJohn]

1 hour ago, RandyShields said:

And it is not stopping there.  Mini cards on keychains; tap your watch with _____ Pay; and already adopted by some an implanted chip that you can wave at the terminal.  

 

My daughters & sister gave me an Apple Watch for Christmas 2022.  Two weeks later it told me I was having Afib, so I went to my Doctor.  Daughters & sisters were delighted to know their gift kept on giving.

 I haven't yet set up an option to pay for things with the watch.

[John Ranalletta]

6 hours ago, BamaJohn said:

 

My daughters & sister gave me an Apple Watch for Christmas 2022.  Two weeks later it told me I was having Afib, so I went to my Doctor.  Daughters & sisters were delighted to know their gift kept on giving.

 I haven't yet set up an option to pay for things with the watch.

Ruth's Apple watch has been a real boon except it keeps asking her if she fell over.  

[MikeB60]

I've investigated 2 mishaps where a Apple phone has sent a message to the 911 operators. Impressive response time. 

[Hosstage]

6 hours ago, Rougarou said:

Dick tracy predicted the wrist phone right?

And Maxwell Smart predicted the portable shoe phone!

[Red]

My general rule is use cash if item is less than $20.  I always carry a couple hundred bucks, even around town, as it comes it really handy when the power goes out.  Hardware store, grocery store, gas station your golden.  The cashless folk, well they have to wait or go without while I'm on my way.  

[wbw6cos]

Just wait until you give them a penny to make the change simpler.   

[John Ranalletta]

At the grocery checkout and the lady in front of me spends 2 minutes trying to fish out the nickel she's sure she saw in her purse two weeks ago. 

[EdM]

Unless your gas station has hand pump or gravity feed pumps, you're gonna be waiting for power like everyone else. Plus, most retailers couldn't sell anything now without their computer systems and electronic registers. About the only thing I use cash for anymore is the car wash and only because I get cash for my empty bottle returns next door.

[John Ranalletta]

6 minutes ago, Rougarou said:

You musta been behind my wife 

...or mine.