NBR: Do you carry cash?

myonetruelove · January 2010

I created a budget sheet and have been keeping track of all of our expenses to see where money is going. It has worked nicely and we have been able to cut back in areas where money is being wasted. My only problem is DH always takes money out of the bank to keep in his wallet. He normally takes anywhere between $40.00-$80.00 to just carry. I on the other hand use my atm for everything. It also makes it way easier to track everything and normally I just through his cash out in our expense other account.

I guess I just hate carrying cash and was wondering what everyone else does. Do you take cash out to carry or do you prefer plastic?

Bhobbsdz · January 2010

I always keep some cash on hand. You just never know when you will need it. I also keep $30 in dd's diaper bag.

xtencornfield · January 2010

DH does the same thing but he usually takes out $100 at a time and it drives me batty sometimes (he'll usually ask first though if he knows we might be lower on funds).

I usually carry a very small amount of cash (less than $20) with me but I also frequently go a few weeks with nothing in there. Right now I have more in there because we got cash back from returning something. It really just depends on what I'm doing/where I'm going etc as to how much cash I have and need.

CTri17 · January 2010

I usually carry less than $5 everything else goes on the card and gets tracked in Quicken

mara005 · January 2010

I never have cash on me, except if I know I'm going out with a group and need to split the check. Luckily my husband usually always has cash, he is like my atm with I need one, hehe.

Jeni182 · January 2010

I don't because I'll be more apt to spend it for some reason. If I have to pull my card out and think about it coming out of the bank vs. it already being out of the bank I don't spend as much.

beth329 · January 2010

I have more tendency to spend money on snacks and eating lunch out if I have cash. So I try not to carry it. If I keep it in the bank then I force myself to look at how all those little charges add up.

adam+katie · January 2010

Never. I find it easier to spend (read: waste) on small things (starbucks, magazines, gum, etc.) when I have cash on me.

DH almost always has some cash on him.

IrishBrideND · January 2010

Yes. You never know when you might be in a situation when you might need it. Not everyone takes ATM cards.

BBachmann · January 2010

I'll take $20 cash out to have with me just in case. It's nice because if I'm at Target or the mall I'll try to limit myself so that I don't have to swipe my card. And also, it will cut back on those stupid atm/debt card fees where they charge you just to swipe your card.

jkfranklin · January 2010

I don't just because it's usually a pain to go to the ATM and get some out. I like having around $20 on me just in case, but normally my wallet has about 72 cents in it.

poison489 · January 2010

I rarely ever carry cash. I am completely dependant on my ATM/Debit card.

myonetruelove · January 2010

mara005:
I never have cash on me, except if I know I'm going out with a group and need to split the check. Luckily my husband usually always has cash, he is like my atm with I need one, hehe.

I do have to agree with you on this one. He does become my personal little ATM when I need cash.

Mrs. Braxton · January 2010

Personally, I do not carry cash. My husband does...I think it's just a "man thing." They need to have cash in their pocket for some reason. I just budget out a certain amount of cash for him every pay period he takes it out on pay day. Most of the time it will last him until next pay day but if for some reason he's getting low on cash and needs to take more he just lets me know what he's going to take since I do all the bill paying and budgeting for our household. Maybe you could try asking him how much cash he needs to have for "spending cash" on a weekly basis and just work that amount into your budget. For some reason my husband prefers cash to debit so this works for us.

cajungirl0717 · January 2010

I hardly ever carry cash. I don't take cash out to carry on me. If I get cash for something, that's the only time I have it on me. My DH is like yours. He pulls $100 a week out of his spending account to carry on him. But, he hardly ever uses his debit card besides that.

NiniJ55 · January 2010

I usually make sure I have cash for the weekend - in case I need something from the corner store or something like that. During the work week I don't bother because pretty much everywher takes plastic in the City.

If your DH likes to carry cash - just budget for that. For example each of you can have an allowance to spend for the week (he can carry his in cash). And if you need to go over that set number just be sure to consult with the other person so that everyone is aware of what's going on with the account.

AnotherChance · January 2010

Both DH and I like to keep $10 to $15 in our wallets for small purchases (under $5). If it's over $5, we use our credit card. We don't take much cash out each month, usually less than $50 total between the both of us.

justrachet · January 2010

I like having cash on me, but rarely carry it because I spend it all and am too lazy to go get more. If money's not in the bank account, mentally I count it as money already spent, so it's easy for me to waste cash. DH usually carries some cash.

beekkah · January 2010

I work at at bank and still rarely ever carry cash. Using my card is so much easier for me and I can keep track of what I have spent. I do have a new wallet to keep in my diaper bag and my DH has said that he wants me to keep at least $10 cash at all times in case I need it.

Mrs_Springbride · January 2010

Not really. I never carry more than $20.00 a week for lunch. DH hardly ever carries cash, maybe less than $10. so he can get sodas at his work. We both use our MAC card for everything!

Amorlinda · January 2010

lasposa425:
I never do. I know it sounds strange, but I control my spending more when I can see what I spend on my credit card statement. Plus, I had my purse stolen once and it stunk - you can always get your money back with a credit card but with cash, once it's gone, it's gone.

This is my reason exactly. I can control myself better using the card. When i have cash in my hands it goes way to fast and i never know where i've spent it.

melody921 · January 2010

I definitely prefer plastic. I usually have less than $20 on hand in case a CC won't be taken.

jhoanna.delgado · January 2010

I usually use my debit card just b/c I hate going to the ATM machine. Dh usually takes cash out for whatever, usually for snacks at work. I actually budget cash in as a misc expense and leave it at that. I know if he takes out more than $100 in a month than it's something we need to look at and talk about.

Fuzzy8252 · January 2010

I try to keep a bit of cash on me for emergencies (i.e. our car broke down last weekend while we were out of town and we paid for the repair with our combined cash). Normally most of our purchases go on the debit or credit card, but if it's something small or just not worth my time to swipe, I'll pay cash... especially if it's something I know I won't be returning. The DH carries more cash than me, although I'm still not sure what he spends it on.... but then he also makes it last for a long time. It can take him over a month to burn through $100.

NELCORP · January 2010

I keep cash on me as my "spending money". If I do this I see exactly how much I'm spending and it makes me think about if I really want it or not. If I just use my card, I would spend more, because for me "out of sight out of mind" and I won't keep a good track on my funds.

kristinem17 · January 2010

I never carry cash. Ever. DH on the other hand hates plastic, even if it is debit and not credit. He always uses cash.

Kie310 · January 2010

Not normally, no. but every pay I take out my husbands "allowence" for that pay period & give it to him in cash. I started doing this because he was always swiping the card to either take money out or buy something & it was really messing with the budget. Sometimes he keeps the cash, sometimes he puts it in his personal checking account.

I have my checking account attached to our joint account, so I move my "allowence" into my personal one, and normally don't carry cash.

scubaspot · January 2010

I carry a $20. My dad said it is always important to have an emergency "stash" on me. Other than that I don't carry cash and I have never used the $20. I am pretty sure it is the same $20 my dad gave me when I was 16.

HawkeyeMommy · January 2010

I like to have some cash, but mostly use plastic.

sejabernathy · January 2010

Though 'safe' to carry a little bit (there are many reasons to still need cash...say like $20-$40 or so it is much safer to use debit. If something happens, you can do something about it. Can't really get cash back from someone if they steal it or you lose it

duchessII81 · January 2010

I've had the same $20 in my purse for months.

AmandaAllison · January 2010

I almost never have any cash but DH does. When I need cash I usually ask him for some. We've also sometimes kept cash in the house in the event we want to pay for snow shoveling/pizza/unexpected small expense. I really should carry cash, but the ?bank we use is a few towns away. We never switched when we moved because so much came out automatically.

Want a personalized experience?

NBR: Do you carry cash?

Re: NBR: Do you carry cash?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards