Have you gone "plastic"?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I've had credit cards for 50 years. And I used them for big purchases- electronics, etc. About 10 years ago, my back went out, and running to the ATM for cash wasn't fun. So, I decided to go all plastic. I do all my banking on my phone, and use only credit/debit cards. I used to feel weird charging $1.24. Today, it doesn't bother me at all. I do keep some cash for an emergency, but for years, I haven't touched it Have you gone all "plastic"? Do you still mail checks? Do you use internet banks?
 

Since this Covid hit, we've used our credit cards more. I haven't seen a gas station, for example, in the past couple of years, that doesn't require a credit/debit card, or pre-pay. Anymore, we use one of our cards for groceries, etc., and get a few dollars/mo. back, which I apply to the CC bill every couple of months/
 
There are a few bills that I have to pay by check because the local vendors don't accept credit cards online. I live in a small town and some of the service providers are small businesses that still send paper invoices and only accept checks for payment.
 

I still use checks for bill paying . Only 2 that I pay over the phone.
Try to always use cash for purchases, or debit card if have to.

I never use a credit card...I'm trying to pay it off.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Have you gone all "plastic"? Do you still mail checks? Do you use internet banks?
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Nope. Got rid of all my plastic when I retired in 2012.
Yes, still pay the electric bill, cable, garbage bill and property taxes by check.
Cash is mainly what I use to purchase most things and it works well for me.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I've had credit cards for 50 years. And I used them for big purchases- electronics, etc. About 10 years ago, my back went out, and running to the ATM for cash wasn't fun. So, I decided to go all plastic. I do all my banking on my phone, and use only credit/debit cards. I used to feel weird charging $1.24. Today, it doesn't bother me at all. I do keep some cash for an emergency, but for years, I haven't touched it Have you gone all "plastic"? Do you still mail checks? Do you use internet banks?
Click to expand...
There has been a credit card in my wallet for about 56 years, not that it gets much use. My debit card is just as redundant. All my finances like pensions and wages are paid into my bank, nearly all my outgoings which are mostly utility bills, local tax and insurances for the house and cars, get paid at the local post office, in cash.

The $1:24 spend that fuzzybuddy mentioned being weird, my experience is the reverse. My recent dental work came in at quite an expense, hundreds of pounds. Poor dentist freaked when I pulled the cash from my wallet. Much the same happened when I had a new blazer. a made to measure blazer. The tailor saw his payment in cash and his expression was priceless, he probably thought that I was into money laundering.

Paying cash is the only way that I can avoid profiling, if a bank or credit card company were to promise that my spending record will not be amassed, profiled and sold, I will stop using cash.
 
Everything autopay, auto deposit
Debit for fuel and large purchases
Cash for small purchases (I hate clutter on transaction history)
 
Almost 100% CC or online autopay or auto deposit.

I only carry a $5 bill and a loonie to unlock the grocery cart. I should carry a $20 for an emergency. I do have coins in the car for the parking metre.

Have plastic, will travel.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I've had credit cards for 50 years. And I used them for big purchases- electronics, etc. About 10 years ago, my back went out, and running to the ATM for cash wasn't fun. So, I decided to go all plastic. I do all my banking on my phone, and use only credit/debit cards. I used to feel weird charging $1.24. Today, it doesn't bother me at all. I do keep some cash for an emergency, but for years, I haven't touched it Have you gone all "plastic"? Do you still mail checks? Do you use internet banks?
Click to expand...
Same here. All plastic and have been for at least the last 5 or 6 years. I carry a few bucks for a newspaper or an ice cream treat, but other than that, it all goes on the check cashing card. Bills are all auto pay. I don't even see them, except online to check to make sure they are valid.
 
No. I use cash frequently. CC for online purchases and grocery. Cash for gasoline is cheaper here. I think paying with cash and having cash is a good idea because when computers go down, and they sometimes do, I can still buy stuff. I write and receive checks so no electronic banking either although I have paid bills online occasionally if I need to and it's a good option. There are really no hard and fast "always" rules to this in my book. I do what is right for me at the time. :giggle:
 
I do all my banking and bill paying online. Except for my rent which I get a money order for (have been trying to get them to switch over to direct deposit since they do that for their other buildings) and the money I put on the laundry card. I do use credit cards but do not use them to pay any bills (purchases only).
 
CC for most things, its just easy.

Online billpay with checks sent from bank to some. Things like insurance, property taxes, and utilities.

Cash for most things with individuals, handyman, fishing charters, etc. Sometimes a lot of cash, but I find these people prefer it, often give cash discounts and better service. Just have to be careful not to pay ahead or for things you might want to go back on later. Some fishing charters require it...
 
Just about all plastic, with the usual recurring bills on autopay.
I visit the bank about every 5-6 months for a few hundred dollars in small bills. I use that primarily for small purchases and tips.
 
Once every 3 or 4 months I go to the ATM and get $200 in cash. Everything else is by credit card. The reason for the cash is like someone pointed out. Many small town businesses don't accept credit cards. I avoid those businesses most of the time, but sometimes I need them. Not taking credit cards seems so out of step with the times. I actually feel sorry for the cash only hicks. Some gas stations offer a discount of 2 cents a gallon if you pay cash. Whoopie do!! But I have a credit card that gives me over 12 cents per gallon in cash back at current prices. It's a strange economic world.
 
Mainly plastic, although there are places that want
cash only, like the little coffee shop that I use.

Mike.
 
oldaunt said:
With the high rate of interest on most credit cards, I stick to debit and Paypal 6 month same as cash account.
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Paying immediately by debit, or paying later with a credit card, (as long as you pay the cc balance off when due and don't accumulate a debt), favors (all though I believe there are/might be some debit cards that give a certain percentage of 'cash back' for purchases made) the credit card.

For example we currently, (as of yesterday's shop), have $140 on our cc that we can spend at the supermarket we frequent, (a store that we found to have the best prices anyway), or outlets that are affiliated with them.

One of our financial mottos is "Interest is for earning not paying."
 

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