people who carry no cash (or very very little)

[doug funnie]

The truth is most of my friends owe me from all the pokerstars transfers, so I just have them pick up the tab whenever I buy stuff.

[spamuell]

I genuinely have no idea how much cash I have on me most of the time, if I don't have cash it's just absent-mindedness. But if I'm going to buy something worth less than about £5, I'll check first. Soon though in London our Oyster Cards (little blue plastic cards which are effectively prepay debit cards) will be usable to pay for stuff other than public transport, which is great because they take literally less than a second to register, I'm not sure how they work exactly, you just touch them against the reader, you don't need to type anything or put in a code.

[Cubswin]

I rarely carry any cash with me unless I know i'll be going to a place that doesnt accept plastic. My reaasons:

1) I earn points/miles with my credit card.

2) I enjoy the float offered by credit cards.

3) I like the buyer protections offered by credit cards.

4) I like the ability to easily track spending.

5) I work in the DC and worry about crime.

6) You arnt lying to homeless people when they ask you for money.

[obsidian]

Well I think the underlying problem is that I never cash I pay check where I could simply keep some out. Therefore, the only time for me to get cash is to head to an atm, and most near me are not of my bank and thus charge a fee. So, I use plastic to buy most everything and it is generally just as fast as cash.

[Cubswin]

[ QUOTE ]
I use my debit card to buy pretty much everything.


[/ QUOTE ]

For the reasons I just listed, it is better to use a credit card.... assuming, of course, you are in controll of your spending.

[StacysMom]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I use my debit card to buy pretty much everything.


[/ QUOTE ]

For the reasons I just listed, it is better to use a credit card.... assuming, of course, you are in controll of your spending.

[/ QUOTE ]

I almost never use cash. I have no problem using my card for a $2 Taco Bell purchase.

CUbs,

Does using a card than can be run as debit or credit, but ultimately comes from your checking account not offer the buyer protection? Mine for example has the visa logo on it.

[Cubswin]

Both offer protections, but if there is a dispute with a credit card you will not have any money tied up in the dispute. With a debit card you dont have access to the money until the dispute is resolved. Also, many credit card offer other perks such as insurance on rental cars, BVG (best value guarentee) etc etc

[Cubswin]

These two threads are very helpful:

Link #1

Link #2

The fatwallet finance forum is full of great advice and I highly recommend it to anyone who takes their finaces seriously.

[UATrewqaz]

I try to have between $5 and $20 cash in my wallet at all times, more if I think I'm gonna need it.

[djj6835]

I never carry cash. Up until a few months ago the bank I used didn't even have a location on campus so I had no way of getting cash with out paying a fee at an ATM.

I recently switched banks but I still don't carry cash. I just never need it.