Should I use cash instead of card?

Is it better to use cash or card?

Okay, so cash versus card, right? Uhm, honestly, cash is better most of the time.

Like, with cards, that interest just kills you. I know, because I’ve paid so much interest in my lifetime that it’s scary. My credit card debt situation is a nightmare, so I now use cash whenever I can.

It also, you know, helps you not go into debt. You literally can’t spend more than you have. It’s just the facts.

Here’s a breakdown, like, bullet-point style, because I’m helpful:

• No interest: Duh, you already own the money.
• Debt control: Easy budgeting. I’m telling you, I know budgeting is hard, but with cash, you have to budget.
• Fees are avoided: No late payment fees. My bank charges a lot for overdrawn accounts.

So yeah, cash! Plus, I feel like you actually appreciate what you’re buying more when you physically hand over the money. And you aren’t tracked. And maybe small businesses like cash better idk.

Why do people pay cash instead of card?

Cash persists despite the digital age.

• Avoiding interest is a significant motivator. Credit card interest rates are…ouch! Cash neatly sidesteps that issue.

• Saving a little? Actually, cash discounts are real, especially with smaller businesses. My local bookstore always gives me 5% off for cash.

• Mindful spending is another advantage. Handing over physical money makes the transaction more… tangible. Almost painfully so, in a good way.

• Budgeting becomes easier with cash. Envelopes and mental accounting suddenly make sense.

• Some worry about data privacy. No digital trail means no tracking. A valid concern, it seems, considering the omnipresence of data collection in 2024.

It is simple human psychology—the pain of parting with physical money. After all, money, like time, is limited.

Is using cash only a good idea?

Nah, cash only isn’t great. Feels limiting, you know? Like, I tried it in 2023. It sucked.

No credit history building. This is seriously important. Missed opportunities, man.

• Difficult online shopping. So inconvenient. Annoying.
• No rewards programs. Those points add up. I really miss that.
• Feels unsafe carrying large amounts. I worry about getting robbed. Seriously.

But yeah, avoiding interest is a huge win. That’s the one good thing. I’m still paying off that stupid loan from last year. The interest is killer.

Budgeting? Easier, I guess. But the trade-offs… man. It’s a real struggle. I regret going full cash. It’s hard.

Really impacts my life, this whole thing.

Why use a card instead of cash?

Cash? Oh honey, that’s so last century. Seriously, you might as well be bartering with seashells.

Why fumble with crumpled bills when you can just swish your plastic? Cards are basically bribery disguised as convenience. Genius, really.

Perks galore! Signing bonuses, cashback – it’s like being paid to spend money, a concept I fully endorse (obviously).

• Rewards points: Basically free stuff. Who says no to free stuff?
• Frequent-flyer miles: Escape your life, one purchase at a time.
• Fraud Protection: Cards are safer than lugging around a bag of unmarked bills, right?

Plus, let’s be honest, cards don’t wrinkle in your pocket. And you look way cooler paying with plastic. Admit it.

Think of cash as that well-meaning, but slightly clueless relative. Cards? The suave, sophisticated one.

Did I mention the apps? Keeping track of spending has never been easier! Not that I always do, mind you, but the option is there. Right next to my takeout order button!

Cash, more like trash. No really, though I get it. My grandma still uses checks; sometimes, tradition can be cool. So, I mean, you know.

What is the reason for cash discounts?

Ugh, cash discounts. Okay, so I kinda get it. It’s about getting paid fast.

Remember last summer, June 2024, working at my aunt Carol’s flower shop, “Blooms & Things,” in downtown Asheville? Carol was always stressed about cash flow. She’d grumble about waiting 30 days for some corporate accounts to pay up.

Then her accountant suggested cash discounts. “Give ’em 2/10 net 30,” he said, sounding all finance-y. I was like, huh?

Basically, if someone paid within 10 days, they got a 2% discount. If not, they had the full 30 days to pay. Carol was skeptical. But it worked!

Suddenly, people were pulling out their checkbooks – okay, more like, paying online – way faster. Carol could actually, like, pay her flower suppliers on time. No more frantic calls. It was about getting that money in hand, like, yesterday. Seriously. That’s the whole point, no?

• Speed of Payment: Speeds up cash inflow. Faster access to money.
• Reduced DSO: Decrease days sales outstanding. Less waiting.
• Improved Liquidity: Better manage cash flow. Pay bills on time.
• Lower Risk: Reduced risk of bad debt. Money now is better.
• Cost Savings: Potentially lower financing costs. No need for short-term loans, maybe.

Do you spend less with cash?

Yeah, I do spend less with cash. It’s… weird.

When I physically hand over those bills, it feels different. Like, viscerally different. It’s a real loss.

With my card? Swipe. Tap. Done. It’s just a number, not my money, not really.

I hate thinking about how much debt I racked up in 2023. It’s still there, haunting me. Stupid impulse buys… stupid convenience. I still have 3 credit cards to pay.

• Cash creates more awareness: Seeing the money leave my hand makes me think twice.
• Credit cards are too easy: The seamlessness is the problem, isn’t it?
• Debt is a weight: That 2023 debt? It’s a constant reminder of my lack of control.
• Impulse control: A lot harder to do with plastic.
• Budgeting feels different: Sticking to a cash budget is more effective.

My grandma always said, “If you can’t pay for it in cash, you can’t afford it.” God, I miss her. She was right. It’s as if my grandmother’s words keeps me rational.