After writing about 6 reasons why I hate cash a couple days ago, I started to wonder if I really do hate cash that much. Cash can’t be that bad, can it? Once I started thinking about it some more, I started to realize that there are quite a few things I do like about cash. In fact, you might even say there are a few things I love about cash.
Photo by Argenberg
1. The smell.
There’s nothing like the smell of money. It has such a distinct odor, and it’s even thought that out of the five senses, smell is most closely linked to emotion. That may explain why people spend less when they only use cash. Maybe we should start making scented credit/debit cards.
2. The feel.
Soft, tender bills trump cold, rigid credit cards any day. Hmm…how about credit cards that feel and smell like cash?
3. The taste.
Just kidding. I’ve never tasted cash before. It just felt like taste should go next on the list. However, if I did do a taste test between cash and a credit card, I’m pretty sure cash would win by a landslide.
4. The inefficiency.
I remember constantly recounting my tooth fairy money as a little kid. It was absolutely pointless, but it was a ton of fun. There’s a certain charm to cash, because it doesn’t keep track of itself for you. You actually have to sit there and flip through each individual bill to add up how much you have.
5. The mystery.
Unlike debit cards and credit cards, cash doesn’t come with your name on it (unless you write it on there). The cash is yours until you spend it, and then it gets passed along to someone else who will spend it and pass it on to someone else. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who has ever wondered where my cash came from and where it ends up going. Actually, I’m absolutely positive I’m not, because there’s a site called Where’s George? that helps you track your currency. I love the fact that every bill has its own story.
6. All of the above.
Just like combining two colors to make a new color, I’m combining all of the reasons above to make a new reason. Cash is great because you simply don’t get any of the above with credit cards. Cash has more personality. My roommate even carries around a “lucky” two dollar bill in his wallet. When was the last time you heard about someone carrying around a “lucky” credit card?
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This post was funny …although I prefer the hate cash one.
You should do the taste test to prove to your readers that you research your posts
I’ll do the taste test…if someone pays me
I love Where’s George! I started entering marked bills I’d find when I was a teenager - my parents worked a stand at a local festival, and we’d usually get 2 or 3 of them over the course of the weekend. Now there’s a guy that comes in and spends them at the place my mom works, so she’ll always swap the dollar in the cash register out for a dollar in her wallet, and gives the marked dollars to me to enter.
I’m seriously considering getting some stamps and sending some of my own out into the world!
Why I love cash:
I can send my receipts with anyone for a return, and they don’t need to bring my credit card with.
I’m not supporting the credit card industry by screwing over other purchasers.
I can purchase at small businesses that can’t get credit card approval. ie: aren’t willing to be raped by the CC companies (ever wondered what happened to locally owned gas stations? The gas companies credit bureaus just withheld payment on monies owed… but the incoming supplies needed cash up front - can you say cashflow issues?)
I’m never tracked on what I purchase. My medical insurance company may be purchasing my loyalty card listings from my grocery or my credit card, but they’re never going to see the bad things I purchased with cash.
Ditto to nosy girlfriends.
Ditto to cops & lawyers with subpeonas.
I never get hit with overdrawn fees.
I never pay interest charges or other nickel-and-dime charges. In fact, I’m never in debt.
I can purchase things when the power is out, or the satellite is down, or the phones aren’t working.
I can shop at yardsales.
I don’t need to show ID to that nosy clerk, and that clerk doesn’t get my name, my address, nor my CC# and approval date, nor a chance to clone my credit card.
I’m immune to identity theft, since I have no credit rating, even if my information gets stolen, they can’t smear my name by taking out credit cards in my name.
The list goes on, but you don’t want to hear it.
Hope you have a great life!
What a great list ~ender!!!! Much better than the post.
The only reason I have a debit card or checking account is because the company I work for requires direct deposit. I hate it.
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