slo’s WEDNESDAY 2/19 poll - Paying With Cash 💵

[jo-jo]

Last year did a cash only trip to WDW. Like hard cash. I've done this a few times, live with what is in my wallet no more. More of a challenge/game for me rather than need. I arrived at AllStar Sports with my wad of cash to pay for my room (deposit had been paid with my debit card). WOAH did I send them for a loop.

NO cash is at the counter so the CM checking me in had to get a supervisor that approved them to go get a cash drawer from the back. Then they had to pull out the cash equivalent of my cash but in small bills/change in order to give me change. They then put my cash in the drawer so no change in it's count. She then had to figure out how much change to give to me .................. she was younger but counting out money was def not something they were used to doing and it took some time, too much time. She then handed me my change and put the amount of my hotel bill in to a small bank bag. After supervisor approval of process it was all taken back to the back room.

Was easier to use cash within the parks but still not fluid transactions when it came to counting change.

I still do cash transactions as I like to challenge us (2) to eat for $25 total for meals.

Before a trip, I figure out all the tips for cars, bell services, etc and then add about $50 in small bills for unexpected things. Then in both our wallets, we carry about $125 in cash and then will use CC for 98% of purchases. Just with that, I feel like a walking ATM, A whole trip doing cash, you must have had either very large bills or a wagon to carry it all.

To the poll, if there is a CC charge, we'll use cash or a check. Picking up something under $10 , cash. But as many others, use CC, get points, pay off end of month. We do carry about $50 in wallet at all times.

 

[BayouQueen]

I pay with cash quite often.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I always use a CC for all purchases. I carry cash, from the ATM. I request about $200 every other month. Most of it goes to the grandkids over that time. A few restaurants charge the extra 3%. I still use CC there which gives me 3% at restaurants so it's a wash with those. If going on a trip I will get a couple hundred dollars in 1's, 5's and 10's for tipping.

 

[disneychrista]

The only time I specifically use cash is at the donut shop because they charge a fee to use credit cards.

 

[ford family]

In the UK it is illegal to charge extra for using a credit or debit card over cash. Some cards that charge retailers a higher percentage such as Amex are less widely accepted.
We pay amounts up to GBP10 in cash but use cards that give rewards for anything else.

ford family

 

[tvguy]

These days, you really have to be prepared for anything. Cash only. Credit Card Only. Or Credit Card with a charge.
The local mini mart I frequent charges 75 cents if you use any card for a purchase under $10. Two mom and pop fast food type restaurants charge 65 cents per card purchase without regard to the dollar amount of the purchase. Our dry cleaner went credit card only, but only because they found a company to handle their card purchases that does not charge them a fee.
I use my credit card far more often than I ever expected I would. I NEVER EVER expected I would charge my groceries every week, but I do.
However, I just got bids on replacing all the siding on my house, putting in dual pane windows and painting the house. NONE of the contractors take any other form of payment other than cash or check. And this is a $50,000 project.

 

[disneychrista]

In the UK it is illegal to charge extra for using a credit or debit card over cash. Some cards that charge retailers a higher percentage such as Amex are less widely accepted.
We pay amounts up to GBP10 in cash but use cards that give rewards for anything else.

ford family

I am not sure what the current credit card agreements state but I know it used to be against your credit card agreement to charge a fee for credit card use. You can however give a discount to those who use cash.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Until Covid I paid with cash 100% of the time.
After Covid hit and everyone wanted cashless I got a debit card from my bank.
Now its rare that I have cash because I either have to go to the ATM or bank when I want it where before I just went and cashed my check putting some in savings and taking the rest home. It was a one and done deal.
I'll go take a little cash out just to have specifically for doctor's appts etc but otherwise its all done by debit card, credit card, zelle, or venmo.

 

[HopperFan]

Before a trip, I figure out all the tips for cars, bell services, etc and then add about $50 in small bills for unexpected things. Then in both our wallets, we carry about $125 in cash and then will use CC for 98% of purchases. Just with that, I feel like a walking ATM, A whole trip doing cash, you must have had either very large bills or a wagon to carry it all.

I leave most in safe and only carry my daily budget to park.

 

[Toolulu22]

I used to use my debit card or Amex for almost everything. I don’t want to pay the additional fees that many are trying to put onto the consumer, and my husband’s credit card info was stolen from our local gas station last year so I’ve shifted to paying with more cash. I have Zelle, but only used it once when someone reimbursed me for movie tix.

I still use credit/debit for online purchases and when I don’t have enough cash on hand.

Today, I had an oil change- $60 even, tipped for a massage in cash, paid for prescriptions using my Medical Reimbursement credit card.

 

[tvguy]

I am not sure what the current credit card agreements state but I know it used to be against your credit card agreement to charge a fee for credit card use. You can however give a discount to those who use cash.

I think that, for the most part, is an urban legend, old wives tale situation. It has never been illegal under Federal law to charge extra for paying with a credit card AS LONG as the fee does not exceed the fee the merchant is paying for accepting the card.
However, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico do have laws that prohibit such a charge. California had such a law, but a Federal Court threw it out.

 

[disneychrista]

I think that, for the most part, is an urban legend, old wives tale situation. It has never been illegal under Federal law to charge extra for paying with a credit card AS LONG as the fee does not exceed the fee the merchant is paying for accepting the card.
However, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico do have laws that prohibit such a charge. California had such a law, but a Federal Court threw it out.

Something being against the credit card agreement a business has with their credit card processor is different than it being illegal.

 

[tvguy]

Something being against the credit card agreement a business has with their credit card processor is different than it being illegal.

Could be. Sort of like the Rental Car insurance Visa gives customers. Some rental car agencies would try and scare customers into buying insurance by saying they would expect to you pay for any damage to a car and be reimbursed later by Visa and that they would not bill Visa directly. Visa finally put it on their website "if the merchant accepts Visa, they have agreed to bill us directly in event of a claim"

 

[AppleDumpling]

I use cash to pay for small amounts fairly often. I usually carry at least $40-50, up to about $200. I also use it for tips to service workers. I eat out regularly with a group of old friends; we split the bill and each of us pays cash rather than ask for separate checks. Some restaurants here charge a fee for credit; I don’t like paying that on principle. No hard and fast rules though; it really depends on the place and situation. Sometimes cash, more often a credit card. Always pay off the CC monthly balance. I’ve never had a debit card.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

The only time we use cash is to pay our dog groomer, so she doesn’t have to pay a card fee. Otherwise, we almost exclusively use our debit card for in person charges. Online is credit card only. Also, my bank has closed branches and it’s a pain to get cash now. I typically get extra cash when I go grocery shopping as I check out with my debit card.

 

[tvguy]

The only time we use cash is to pay our dog groomer, so she doesn’t have to pay a card fee. Otherwise, we almost exclusively use our debit card for in person charges. Online is credit card only. Also, my bank has closed branches and it’s a pain to get cash now. I typically get extra cash when I go grocery shopping as I check out with my debit card.

I only use my debit card to get cash at my bank. Never felt comfortable with the less strict security measures for debit cards versus credit cards. And as luck would have it, my bank caught an attempt to fraudulently withdraw $4,000 from my checking account. Not that I had that much money in the account. Bank caught it, handled it immediately but won't tell me if they found out who did it or how. But my bank statement shows the attempt was made inside one of my bank's branches in another city 150 miles from here. I would like to know how my debit card number got into someone else's hands. Although they apparently did not have the pin which I suspect they attempted to get around. Sounds like an inside job to me.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

When I'm in an actual store I use cash. The debit card on my account doesn't have my name on it. It's astonishing how most cashiers don't ask for ID when using a credit or debit card, but I'm always afraid I'll be the one that gets asked so I only use it for online purchases.

 

[leebee]

We use credit cards 99.9% of the time. I have cash in my wallet, most likely less than $20, but I have no idea how much. There is a small stash of cash here at home, courtesy of my sister. She does everything possible with cash, so when we go out to dinner, I use my cc to pay the bill and she reimburses me in cash. That's the cash-stash here in the house. We don't have debit cards; too risky, IMO, and also DH would never remember when he used a card and how much, so... I pay off the bills in full each month, and have a tidy stash of rewards points with Disney, Southwest, Hilton, and Delta.

In Maine, it's illegal to charge a credit card convenience fee. Here are the rules for each state: https://merchantcostconsulting.com/...ing-fees/credit-card-surcharge-laws-by-state/