How much cash are you carrying?

[Nutria]

typically $0-60 but never for a long period of time

That's my exact cash range, too. Currently it's $44.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Which reminds me of an interesting thing. Do you know what's the most useful denomination when we go to Hawaii? $5. Carry plenty on your trip there and you can thank me later : )

Huh, $5 bills? I lived in Hawaii for 36 years and never came to that same conclusion. Enlighten me please.


My wallet ranges from $40 - $60 in cash. Mainly for gas where discounts are offered for paying in cash. And like rennigade I like to buy lottery tickets.

Now keeping cash at home is another story for me with about $5000 stashed. Not sure why I do it. I've tried depositing most of it or investing it but it keeps building up for some strange reason. I think subconsciously I'm afraid of a run on the banks some day and therefore it gives me peace of mind having a store on hand.

[disneysteve]

I think subconsciously I'm afraid of a run on the banks some day and therefore it gives me peace of mind having a store on hand.

I'm not afraid of a run on the banks but I have seen enough instances of natural disasters where computers and phone lines were down so merchants couldn't accept credit or debit cards for a few days. If you wanted anything, you needed to have cash in hand.

[disneysteve]

I just checked. I've got $404.

My daughter just gave me $10 to reimburse for something we bought her at Target yesterday so it's now $414.

[41Fin]

Usually between zero and sixty.

Every check I take out sixty bucks to last until the next paycheck for all the random things I would like to do or for eating out. Usually put the excess in a book and use it for spending money during vacations (along with cashing rolled up coins).

[sv2007]

Huh, $5 bills? I lived in Hawaii for 36 years and never came to that same conclusion. Enlighten me please.
.

It's a recommendation for visitors.

We've visited there many times since '99, hard to count but probably 20-30x. We like the place a lot and even bought a vacation house there. However, HI nickel and dimes its tourists and runs on tips; $5 is the perfect amount for many situations.

[clatoden99]

What are your daily cash expenses?

How safe do you feel carrying cash around?

What access do you have to cash to replenish your wallet?

Is it just the ATM?

What does that cost per withdrawal?

Can you use a credit card free of charge, and responsibly?

Basically it comes down to this. I like cash. I like to pay with cash, it's faster, and everyone but the landlord takes it. I don't like credit cards. I don't need them, except for traveling.

I feel perfectly safe carrying a few hundred around in my wallet. I live in a very safe city, I'm 2m tall, and 125kg. I'm not a target. Everyone is different. Remember though, no one knows if you do or don't have cash. So your chances of getting robbed are the same regardless. That's a personal awareness and situational safety issue.

Carry cash if you feel safe doing so. Carry enough to cover your expenses for the day. Keep enough at home (if it's safe to do so) that will cover you for a couple of days. There's not too many bigger pains in the butt than running to an ATM every day.

[creditcardfree]

I have $15 in my wallet. We take more cash out then we once did because we need to tip the baggers at the commissary. Everywhere we go does take credit cards.

If I know of a impending disaster, I would get cash out ahead of time. I also have a daughter at home that has her own stash of cash (over $600) that I would dip into. Once kids leave the house, I will probably start holding more cash ourselves at home.

I'm actually more shocked that some of you think you NEED that much cash on hand daily. I would challenge you to try going a week without it. I bet you can use a debit or credit card nearly everywhere. Even parking on the street will accept credit cards over coins.

[disneysteve]

Even parking on the street will accept credit cards over coins.

Some places now have meters linked to a smartphone app. It's pretty cool and sends you alerts when your time is running out. You can add more time from wherever you happen to be and not have to run back to the car to do it.

Do I need the cash I carry? Nope. The only time I know I'm going to use a significant amount of cash is when we go to the casino. The other time I make sure I've got plenty is when we go out to yard sales and flea markets which are still predominantly cash-only. You find the occasional vendor who uses Square but that's more likely at a craft show or antique mall.

I will sometimes pay cash for gas if the price difference for using credit is significant.

[Nutria]

we need to tip the baggers at the commissary.

Are you in the military?

[phantom]

Even parking on the street will accept credit cards over coins.

I still have a roll of quarter in my glove box from the days before this was the case. I'm pretty sure the roll I have there now has been there over 10 years, so I certainly don't need it often. But, I've been grateful for it at old school parking meters and toll booths, as well as once when I "really needed" a bottle of pop from a vending machine.

[MonkeyMama]

What are your daily cash expenses?

$0. That's all it really comes down to, for me.

[creditcardfree]

Are you in the military?

My husband is. He is full time for the Army Reserves. Usually we aren't near a post, but this time we are. Great savings by shopping there!

[Like2Plan]

I usually have $100 or less. Right now, I am rolling in dough!
1. I have cash for a hair cut tomorrow (my hair stylist only takes cash).
2. I have cash to make a money lei for a nephew who is graduating from high school (I have the cash components in my pocket book--I will assemble after I arrive because I am afraid it will get all messed up in my luggage).
3. I am going to stop by Disneyland on my way to the graduation, so I have a little bit of extra cash for that -tip money for housekeeping. (I was going to use cash for the DL tickets, but I found out that I could save an extra $10.00 by using my CC. )

[Jluke]

(I was going to use cash for the DL tickets, but I found out that I could save an extra $10.00 by using my CC. )

those evil credit card savings rearing their ugly heads again

in reference to another thread...