She says you must have at least $1 in your pocket so you're not a vagrant, whatever that is...

 

:lol2::lol2:

I always have $100 or so cash on me for tips, the farmers market, fresh eggs, and assorted things like that.

 

Other than that, we pay for everything with our credit cards, and pay our credit cards off every month. I mean everything, groceries, gas, restaurants, everything.

 

If they are going to let me use their money for free, and reward me with miles. Then I am going to take advantage of it.

 

I got 3 or 4 roundtrip tickets to Tampa just for using my Southwest card to pay for things.

I put almost everything on my credit card, which I get cash rewards on. Then every time I build up enough points, I can get the cash deposited back into my account.

 

Maybe I'll keep $20 or less in cash on me for bar cover charges and an occasional vending machine craving.

Wife and I have recently started giving ourselves a "weekly allowance" where we withdrawal a set amount each week, she takes half, I take half, and that's the money we have to spend for that week. We use our cards for gas, groceries, and bill pay. So far it's been saving us a ton. Before we started doing this, I never carried cash. Never.

 

I've just recently started to TRY to do the same thing myself. It's certainly a work in progress.

I had an interesting situation last night when I saw the other side of this topic. My hair stylist's credit card machine was broken and she was trying to get my CC to process through a Square reader on her cell phone. When I asked, she told me that Square took about 2% from each transaction. Those fees can certainly accumulate for a small business like hers. I told her not to bother and I took a twenty out of my wallet instead. I may try to keep a little more cash on hand for those kind of "small business" situations.

....

 

Sure....

I always have $100 or so cash on me for tips, the farmers market, fresh eggs, and assorted things like that.

 

Other than that, we pay for everything with our credit cards, and pay our credit cards off every month. I mean everything, groceries, gas, restaurants, everything.

 

If they are going to let me use their money for free, and reward me with miles. Then I am going to take advantage of it.

 

I got 3 or 4 roundtrip tickets to Tampa just for using my Southwest card to pay for things.

 

We like using the CC for the ability to track and organize expenses, the rewards are nice too. I also like the protection our CC companies offer us, I just am uncomfortable with the debit card/access to our checking account were there to be a breech in security. Not for everyone and you have to pay them off each month if you're going to use them.

I always use cash at restaurants. That's allegedly where a lot of credit card hacks occur. I've been hacked once (Chase Mastercard), so I'm a bit cautious. I use a dedicated Discover card (linked to Paypal) for online purchases and nothing else. For gas, Home Depot, Kroger, Reds tickets, I use either bank debit card or Visa card. Wife uses her Delta Airlines Amex card for everything in order to get free travel miles. Important: Monitor bank debit/credit card accounts regularly online.

I'm the opposite. I carry only cash and a credit card that has dust on it.

 

This. Cash and a couple of debit cards.

I had an interesting situation last night when I saw the other side of this topic. My hair stylist's credit card machine was broken and she was trying to get my CC to process through a Square reader on her cell phone. When I asked, she told me that Square took about 2% from each transaction. Those fees can certainly accumulate for a small business like hers. I told her not to bother and I took a twenty out of my wallet instead. I may try to keep a little more cash on hand for those kind of "small business" situations.

 

That's why a lot of smaller bars will have a tab minimum for cards of at least $10-$15.

I usually carry a few bucks with me just in case. But pay everything via credit card. If you have the discipline financially with the rewards it's the financially smartest thing to do.

I never have much cash, but I always enjoy paying with it.

I use cash for most things except monthly bills.

I usually carry a few bucks with me just in case. But pay everything via credit card. If you have the discipline financially with the rewards it's the financially smartest thing to do.

 

This...I pay almost everything with credit card. I keep $100 or so in my wallet but hardly ever use it. If I go thru a fast food drive thru...credit card. Then I pay the ENTIRE bill at the end of the month - ALWAYS. I get at least two free flights a year with the points from the card.

 

Also, I have NEVER used a debit card. If someone hacks into your debit card, they can clean out your checking account. If they hack into your credit card (and it has happened to me three times), you get a new card and the card company has to deal with the problem. You will eventually get your money back most likely if they clean out your checking account but it can take time...not good.

I usually carry a few bucks with me just in case. But pay everything via credit card. If you have the discipline financially with the rewards it's the financially smartest thing to do.

 

Add me to the list that handle finances like this. The reward points are nice. Pay the card off monthly. It helps track spending/expenses. I usually have $20-40 on me for little purchases. If I have less than $10, I feel uneasy and make a stop to the ATM.