Pocket Change In A Plastic World

I don't think it will happen in our time .

I only use cash, plastic is an absolute last resort for me.

I wonder if age has any bearing on this, but I know plenty of people my age who use their cards for all sorts of stuff.

The way I see it is that cash is the most secure form of payment, the easiest to manage and the most convenient. The only time plastic is a useful option is in an emergency or for big items where you require some sort of protection (when you buy on credit such as with a credit card all sorts of consumer protection apply - useful when booking a holiday etc)

I can see why government would want to do away with cash, taking away peoples freedom to independently make transactions would offer a way to combat black market activities and evasion of taxes. I think it would be strongly resisted though because it would be an infringement of civil liberties that only the nonchalant would accept. More so than gun control or any other freedom being taken away the ultimate freedom that can be taken is someone's ability for free trade. In a cashless society you can be tracked, monitored and ultimately cut off.

If we ever had an EMP strong enough to take out every system in the entire world, then we would bigger problems to deal with than money.

It can happen... Magnetars... Gamma ray bursters... Coronal mass ejections...

I used to use cash exclusively, but found that is not possible in a world where bills must be paid with electronic money from a bank account. I do make a point of always having a few emergency stashes--enough in my house for a couple weeks of gas and food; enough in my wallet for a tank of gas and a meal, and enough in my car for a few gallons of gas, a toll, and to operate an air pump.

Other than that, it's hard to argue that a credit card isn't a heck of a lot more convenient, especially when said card gives you 2% back.

I know but it sounds plausible so shhh

Agreed. While I think we will be cashless eventually, we will need a 100% connected country before it could happen. That statement then touches on many other issues.

Plastic? I try to always avoid it and broke that rule once in the last couple years. I used to use plastic the smart way in paying for things during the month and making sure the card was paid off that month. But even then the interest gained by banking the money was not all that significant.

I also agree with the wisdom already posted by Bad Thad and others. Its none of the anybody's business how much I spend and what I spend it on. Cash keeps Big Brother's Big Nose out of my doings.

Besides - when you don't live in a city, cash comes in real handy - even "worthless" pennies and nickels can be used at garage sales and such. And I LIKE garage sales