A hopefully short IT outage – but would you have had cash on you to pay?
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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 30 August 2025
Posted as part of Six Word Saturday
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Travel with Intent 
This is an interesting reversal – how much cash do we carry around anymore?! Our little wet market in Singapore is starting to do digital payment as well, so it looks like even the last frontiers are heading that way. We noticed that many places we frequented in London take only digital payments … except the markets.
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I would have to dig into the bottom of my purse. Here is mine…https://the59club.blog/2025/08/30/scooping-ice-cream-in-all-seasons/
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I rarely have cash. Might have enough for tea? I’d have enough for a meal in cash when pigs fly…
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Ha ha! And a great link, Rebecca.
I’m the same, but I do keep cash at home for emergencies. And to pay the window cleaner.
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Thanks, Debbie. Hiring a window cleaner sounds fabulous, must check into that!
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I would have as I always carry a little “pin” money.
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Very sensible. I always intend to but it’s always in the wrong purse!
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When I was teenager my Mom always made sure I had enough money to make a call to get help or get a cab home. It’s a lesson that stuck. 😊 Maybe preload your season’s purses with a little cash so you don’t have to worry about that. I have a lipstick case I have a twenty tucked under my current lipstick so that always goes with me as well.
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I’ve learnt the hardway to carry cash. I usually have a $20 on me for those occasions when the dump truck takes out the lines and the grandkids want ice cream!
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Very practical 🙂
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On that particular occasion I asked if I could use a check and they said no but the guy behind me in line said I could write him a check and he would give me cash. Small town Saskatchewan people! Anyway my husband found a second ATM that hadn’t had the power disrupted so arrived back with cash.
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Always, we don’t want to become a cashless society
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I strongly agree!
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Very true, Alison. The trouble is that lots of people say that but don’t actually use it.
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Mostly the younger generation!
We have had to pay for a young guys petrol because all the pay machines were down, well we didn’t have to but did. He transferred straight away
But should always keep cash handy
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Ah yes, I do that sometimes but the other way round. Someone only has cash and the shop or bus doesn’t take cash – so I pay on my card and they give me the cash!
Changing times!
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The loss of banks is a national disgrace…its not just cash (in and out) but there are times when you need to talk to someone real. Playing the numbrr punching game, listening to strings of options or worse speaking to am automated voice which asks you to speak clearly then connects you to the wrong extension…they call it progress..lets embrace technology but not at the exclusion pf humans. Banks make huge profits amdvwe reap poor service. Thank goodness we still have Post Offices (well for now)
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I agree entirely, David. We are moving into a person-free world. I hate self-checkouts too. For some people shopping tills and bank counters are their only chance to talk to someone. A year or two ago I was doing some work in a small not-well-off town and a lot of local people came to the same shop several times a day so they could have a chat with people – they’s buy a newspaper, then a bar of chocolate, then a can of beer, etc.
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We have lost our way in so many
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of course, always prefer that option to the other one.
https://lessywannagohome.blogspot.com/2025/08/a-good-day-to-buy-art.html
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I always have cash. I never use my card for small purchases as the surcharges add up. When one cafe I go to went cashless in Covid time, they still had their 1% surcharge for using your card.
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We don’t have that over here. Surcharges aren’t allowed. I hadn’t realised it’s so common in Australia. You’re one of the top cashless nations in the world so plenty of people are paying those surcharges. Do they charge for ApplePay etc on phones too?
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I don’t know. The banks charge the businesses and they are passing on that so their profits aren’t swallowed by the banks.
Not all places do it though, mainly small businesses
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Oh yes, the banks charge for anything they can! Sadly, the cash carriers are now putting their prices up too, as they don’t have as much to carry at a time. All of those costs hit us in the end even if it’s not in the form of a surcharge 😦
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So true 🙄
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Simply answered: no
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In this increasingly cashless society, nope! Anyway, here’s mine for today: https://suejudd.com/2025/08/30/looking-to-the-leafy-tunnels-end/
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Me neither. Despite my work background. Fortunately I had a card and was able to pop to the ATM next door.
I then went back and sat watching everyone coming in and how many had to leave. I have to say, I reckon just over half had some cash on them even if it took a lot of rummaging through bags to find it!!
And cashless is growing as you say. But lots of countries are trying to push it back a bit. Partly because ayes some people really want / need to use cash. But also because ayes we need cash if there’s a big cyber attack or power loss or war. And if we’ve given up on cash we won’t have it as a backup.
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Precisely…
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Demand for cash wouldn’t have stopped me but sometimes names would make me think … https://picturesimperfectblog.com/2025/08/30/would-you-go-to-cafe-gulpingbeer/
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I didn’t have any cash (other than a couple of euros) so had to go to an ATM. And was lucky I could do that as I don’t often carry a card! I carry everything when travelling but at home I’m lazy and use my phone.
Are you still finding it easy to use cash when you want to, Elke. Or are shops moving to cashless?
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Germans are very resistant to a cash-less society. They are not impressed that 1 and 2 cent coins are going to abolished. I haven’t seen a shop yet that completely refuses cash but … who knows? Until a year or two ago it was difficult to use a card for small amounts (smaller than say 10 Euro) but that limitation is now gone. And parking fees or similar, even cents only, can now be paid with card. Or, of course, phone.
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I know Germany has a strong cultural attachment to cash. I think Berlin is a bit ahead of the game as I’ve seen one or two cashless places there. I’m glad to hear that isn’t spreading too quickly. Some countries are so close to being cashless that I fear they may not be able to turn it around. Sweden is very close to cashless and the Riksbank is encouraging people to a) store cash at home for emergencies and b) pay with cash occasionally to keep it alive!
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I’ve heard about Sweden. Even buskers in the street accept cards, I’ve been told.
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Oh yes. The same over here.
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That seems unbelievable to a German.
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Nope. That would have been me, coffee-less 😕.
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Like me, except for the ATM next door.
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👍
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Yes! Not even an IT outage would stop me 🙂
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nope – would have gone without (unless we had change in the car)
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It can be a real problem, notes OK… but coins in your pocket or purse, rare. Here is my linkfor this weeks 6WS :- https://davidoakes-images.com/2025/08/30/6ws-6-word-saturday-challenge-62/
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I agree. And the shops also find it hard to have coins in their tills to give change, because there are no longer enough bank branches to provide this service.
My regular coffee shops is outwardly card only but always takes cash if you ask. BUT, the baristas often have to do a quick run up the road to the bank to get a few bags of change. Luckily we still have a reasonable selection of branches in St Albans
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Yes, I always have cash. Good six words.
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Very sensible, Janet. I’ve become lazy about that.
The US generally are keener to use cash than much of the world. I know some States have now brought in rules to force shops to accept cash. Other parts of the world look set to do the same. The UK powers aren’t sure whether to do it or not
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My sister-in-law lives in Norway and says that they’re a cashless society. I know that’s the trend, but I think a combination of both is the best.
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Reply, yes the Nordic countries are practically cashless. But Norway has just (or is about to, I can’t remember the details) brought in regulations to force retailers to accept cash. If you’re ever talking to her about it I’d love to hear if shops are following those rules! I have heard that in US, some retailers are threatening to move State to avoid these rules. But that may well be threats and rumours.
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Thinking about a bit more, I think there are several reasons to continue to have cash as a means of payment. One is for situations like this. Another is to have actual physical back up means of payment that are private.
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Yes, you’re right there. Privacy is very important as we never know what might happen.
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Nope! I never have cash or even a bank card with me. It’s pretty bad. I want to try and use cash more as many places add a surcharge now for using a card.
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That varies a lot by country. Surcharges are not allowed in UK for payments.
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Oh that’s brilliant.
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