There’s a trend going around that I don’t like at all. More and more venues are refusing to take cash. Everything has to be paid for with a debit or credit card. You see it at concert venues and sporting events. If you’re lucky, they have a reverse ATM. That’s a machine that will take your cash and spit out a card that you can use at the venue.
The reason I don’t like this trend is simply because I like using cash. I budget myself with cash. Each week, I take some cash out and I know that’s all I can spend that week. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Credit and debit trick you. “Oh, it’s just a few dollars more,” and before you know it, you’ve blown way past your budget.
I also really dislike cards. Credit cards put you into debt. Debit cards are vulnerable to skimming devices. Neither one happens with cash. Plus, there are always fees with cards. Cash is worth what it’s worth. You don’t have to pay extra to use it. And with cash, they can’t track everything that you do.
The argument on the other side is that cards are more convenient. Also, it’s harder to rob a place if there’s no cash on the premises. These arguments are weak tea, though. If a cashless venue gets hacked, it would be a disaster not only for the venue, but for all of their customers, too.
So, let me use cash. Let us all use cash. We’ll appreciate it.
Thank you to Carolyn Blake for the topic.
