Is cash on the way out?

OneEyedDiva said:
I've been to restaurants in the past year that seem to want to get back to cash. Well at least IMO, because they are charging 3% and 4% fees for using credit cards. Unless my card is giving 5% or more in cash backs for restaurants, that causes me to use cash. Otherwise, unless it's something under $5, I hardly use cash anymore.
Click to expand...
Dining out is fast becoming a thing of the past for us. Prices are out of sight and more of an unnecessary expense, along with unneeded 'stuff'. Just making the best deal on food items has become our latest quest. One caveat, I still carry cash for the things that accept cash, fuel, some dining, gambling, tips,,,etc.
 

Last edited:
gilead said:
Dining out is fast becoming a thing of the past for us. Prices are out of sight and more of an unnecessary expense, along with unneeded 'stuff'. Just making the best deal on food items has become our latest quest.
Click to expand...
I hear ya! Yesterday, my son treated his friend, her daughter who are up here from North Carolina and me to "Linner" (my word for a meal between lunch and dinner). The bill was a little more than $95, including the tip. I was the only one who ordered a full course dinner and none of us ordered dessert. Of course now suggested tips are up from 10% to 20% and even 25%! At least I had enough to bring home for dinner tonight.
 

OneEyedDiva said:
I hear ya! Yesterday, my son treated his friend, her daughter who are up here from North Carolina and me to "Linner" (my word for a meal between lunch and dinner). The bill was a little more than $95, including the tip. I was the only one who ordered a full course dinner and none of us ordered dessert. Of course now suggested tips are up from 10% to 20% and even 25%! At least I had enough to bring home for dinner tonight.
Click to expand...
You didn't say what kind of place it was , but anyway, that = $23.75 /person for the 4 of you.

It was similar to that when I ate lunch out yesterday with 5 other people at I-HOP. We all got separate checks, so I don't know what the others paid, but I heard one person say a cup of coffee was $4.00. :(

I still have my receipt; I'm looking at it now. My total was $16.34 (for an omelet and order of hashbrowns, no drink). A 20% tip would be $3.26, making it $19.60, so I just gave him a $20 to settle my bill.
 
Who_so_ever said:
When cash is gone, the government could potentially shut off or empty your banking account to control you.
Click to expand...
precisely that.. and people who are using Cards because they get cash back or discounts, are fooling themselves if they think that will continue once we're a digital currency only world. There will be absolutely no incentives to use card as opposed to cash..in this way
 
I will use cash wherever it's accepted.
If we go out to eat, we only go where they accept cash. Usually it's a small business.
Contractors love cash. Less paperwork for them and a smaller bill for you.
The cash and barter system still works well here.
I pay bills with a check because I want the paper trail.
My wife uses a card for groceries and whatever else, which I pay off every month. She also takes care of any bills that only accept electronic payments.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
You didn't say what kind of place it was , but anyway, that = $23.75 /person for the 4 of you.

It was similar to that when I ate lunch out yesterday with 5 other people at I-HOP. We all got separate checks, so I don't know what the others paid, but I heard one person say a cup of coffee was $4.00. :(

I still have my receipt; I'm looking at it now. My total was $16.34 (for an omelet and order of hashbrowns, no drink). A 20% tip would be $3.26, making it $19.60, so I just gave him a $20 to settle my bill.
Click to expand...
I had mentioned the type of restaurant in the daily accomplishments thread (of course I don't expect that everybody reads every thread). It is a halal restaurant (meaning safe for Muslims to eat without fear of pork contamination) that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Actually, compared to the Italian restaurant I've eaten at with 3 other people when we have gone to see a good friend perform, the above price wasn't that bad. But then again, they have to charge enough to be able to pay their performers.
 
All the stadiums, arenas, theaters, and the like in my area are card only... no cash at all. Some have reverse ATMs that convert your cash to a CC.
The venues are not likely to change, as not using cash requires less manpower at the end of the day (and zero skimming!). No one needs to count, to reconcile, to deposit, etc.
Many parking garages are CC or app only.
I don't see them changing back to cash, even if they could hire more people.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I had mentioned the type of restaurant in the daily accomplishments thread (of course I don't expect that everybody reads every thread). It is a halal restaurant (meaning safe for Muslims to eat without fear of pork contamination) that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Actually, compared to the Italian restaurant I've eaten at with 3 other people when we have gone to see a good friend perform, the above price wasn't that bad. But then again, they have to charge enough to be able to pay their performers.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I'm sorry I missed your post in the other thread. Sounds like a nice place.
 
That Lady in PA said:
All the stadiums, arenas, theaters, and the like in my area are card only... no cash at all. Some have reverse ATMs that convert your cash to a CC.
The venues are not likely to change, as not using cash requires less manpower at the end of the day (and zero skimming!). No one needs to count, to reconcile, to deposit, etc.
Many parking garages are CC or app only.
I don't see them changing back to cash, even if they could hire more people.
Click to expand...
I'm reading a lot of posts where people are reporting it's like that where they live. To my knowledge, there is no business in my town that refuses cash, but it's a small rural community with a lot of seniors, which may make a difference.
 
That Lady in PA said:
All the stadiums, arenas, theaters, and the like in my area are card only... no cash at all. Some have reverse ATMs that convert your cash to a CC.
The venues are not likely to change, as not using cash requires less manpower at the end of the day (and zero skimming!). No one needs to count, to reconcile, to deposit, etc.
Many parking garages are CC or app only.
I don't see them changing back to cash, even if they could hire more people.
Click to expand...
I don't understand what you mean by zero skimming. Credit cards are what's at risk to be skimmed (even from distances), unless you're using the term differently than the way I've heard it used in the past. Also...ATMs that convert cash to credit cards? How does that work? That's also a new one on me.
 
Going off topic, but since we’re talking about the price of meals, have you noticed that appetizers are nearly the price of an entree. Many think an appie is something you have with every dinner out.

Start with a cocktail and maybe a wine with dinner. It sure adds up.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I don't understand what you mean by zero skimming. Credit cards are what's at risk to be skimmed (even from distances), unless you're using the term differently than the way I've heard it used in the past. Also...ATMs that convert cash to credit cards? How does that work? That's also a new one on me.
Click to expand...
Me too! I guess it's a way to secure a purchase for the un-carded since cash is flakey, I'll bet there's a healthy fee attached to the process. Nobody does anything for free anymore.
 
Last edited:
Jules said:
Going off topic, but since we’re talking about the price of meals, have you noticed that appetizers are nearly the price of an entree. Many think an appie is something you have with every dinner out.

Start with a cocktail and maybe a wine with dinner. It sure adds up.
Click to expand...
Always thought they were over-priced for what you get. At a local establishment they serve an app of 4 half-cut veggie wraps, wife & DD make it their meal, problem is it's getting pricey too. Used to order 2 but now only 1. Then share a dessert.
 
Last edited:
OneEyedDiva said:
I don't understand what you mean by zero skimming. Credit cards are what's at risk to be skimmed (even from distances), unless you're using the term differently than the way I've heard it used in the past. Also...ATMs that convert cash to credit cards? How does that work? That's also a new one on me.
Click to expand...
Skimming as in taking cash out of the till, stealing, shorting the take.

Oxford definition:
the action of stealing or embezzling money, especially in small amounts over a period of time.
"every business owner he knows who has cash receipts does a little skimming"


Reverse ATM is where you insert cash and receive a prepaid debit card.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I'm reading a lot of posts where people are reporting it's like that where they live. To my knowledge, there is no business in my town that refuses cash, but it's a small rural community with a lot of seniors, which may make a difference.
Click to expand...
Seniors have little to do with it... I would think that you don't have much in the way of stadiums, arenas, theaters, and the like in your rural community.
 
Do you realize how much VISA makes off debit card charges? Many cities are enacting laws that would penalize businesses that refuse cash. It's a can of worms and it's all about money. I was reading about it, it was quite an eye opener. Billions, we're talking Billions.
 
i read that the IRS will no longer be issuing paper check refunds starting in September. Also starting in September, you have to pay electronically. No paper checks. There will be exceptions for people with hardships.
 
AnneTeak said:
i read that the IRS will no longer be issuing paper check refunds starting in September. Also starting in September, you have to pay electronically. No paper checks. There will be exceptions for people with hardships.
Click to expand...
Oh! That would affect us. Do you have a link to that? I have not heard that, and we file quarterly estimates.
 
gruntlabor said:
I've run across the same thing. I was told that they have every right to refuse cash.
Click to expand...
They do.
"There is no federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law that says otherwise." = from the Federal reserve site

If a business decides that it would rather take credit cards instead of keeping cash on the premises, that is fine, they can simply decline the business of anyone proffering cash.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top