Do you want to prevent I.D. Theft?  Use cash to pay tabs.  That way the barmaid, waiter, cabbie or anybody else who uses the job to obtain identities will be frustrated by the fact that on a dollar bill: 1) There is no card number. 2) There is no expiration date.  3) There is no security code.  4) There is no name of a card issuer.  5)  There is no first name, last name or middle initial of the payor.  Fantastic!

Cash is also great for bargain finds:  garage sales, thrift stores, sidewalk sales, church bazzars, etc.  Sometimes, no tax.  Big savings.

Those are great reasons to love cahs, but it still remains as my main and only reason I Do Not Carry Cash... Cash can get lost!!!!!!  You loose your purse or wallet or worst case senerio, you get robbed and poof, it's gone, no replacing, no nothing.  You use your debit/check card or credit card and remain disciplined in paying it off or tracking your purchases and instent security.  Now if that thug from around the corner takes your purse or you leave your wallet at a store and within hours you can cancel cards/accounts and guest what, you're not out for than the cost of a new purse or wallet verses loosing cold hard cash.  Even if that thug starts making charges, most of the time, you aren't out that money and can claim fraud.  So in the end Donna Freedman, would you like a metal for your response to the Reasons to hate cash, cause good for you and the few old fashion americans that don't have control of their finances or self control with the credit cards, but the rest of America is going to play it safe and not loosing their money other than b y their own decisions (bad or good).

My husband is more spend on anything than I am. I pay the bills and balance our checkbook every month. When we go out to eat, we always pay with cash. When we go shopping, we always use the joint debit card.  That said, we do have two credit cards that we use for going out of town to book a room, and buy gas on occasion. But we still carry cash to pay for everything else. I  have a jar that my husband puts his spare change in everynight. When it gets full I cash it in. The most we ever had was $115.00 but that went toward our vacation. We also have a Christmas club account that money is taken out of our checking and deposited every month so that we wont be strapped at Christmas. When you don't see it, you don't spend it. I have a budget that we stick to and we both have a ROTH  IRA that we contribute to.  We decided to not trade either vehicle and pay them off and the boat before thinking of getting into debt for five years again.  We are not perfect, rich or out of debt but we are trying to be better stewards of our money. I just Tank GOD we both have a good job that we love. Times are tuff.

My husband and I live on a mostly cash-only basis; I do have a debit card, but it's only for occasional online purchases and nothing else.  You don't overspend when you know exactly where you stand (or at least you shouldn't).

And I'd like to make a suggestion.  Some of our bills are paid online (insurance) and I buy a gift card from our bank and use it to pay.  I buy just enough to pay the bill and maybe have a dollar or two to get a Napster download.  Then if someone does hack the insurer's system, they get a card that's absolutely worthless.

My husband recently lost his job and went back to school...We decided to keep out money each week for gas, groceries, etc.....When the money is gone it is gone...

The funny thing is, is that holding the cash in our hands makes us less apt to spend then we were when we "used our card" for anything we wanted.  We have cut our grocery bill in half, quit going out to eat, and have found that it hasn't killed us, but has helped us to begin saving...

It's funny how one can live better with less money...We have done it, you should try.

I use my debit card which is tied to frequent flier miles. To me it's like writing a check.  The money has to be there.  But we teach our kids with cash only.  We also save change and then allow them to cash it in for bills.  A portion goes to savings and another portion they can spend.  For getting your children financially savvy there is nothing like cash.  <creditmomblog.com>

Glad to see others doing what I've been doing for years (and I thought I was a throwback to the dinosaur era!). This is the way our parents - if you are a boomer - got by during the lean years. We are at those lean years again, and it's getting leaner day by day. I have credit cards, but seldom use them and ALWAYS pay them off. Used to be I could get by with $100 cash each week for gas, food, and mini splurges. Now that gas is up around $4 I need $150 a week. But if you are a smart shopper you can stretch that cash and live reasonably well. Dollar stores (99 Cent Only is a Godsend) provide many grocery  items, and thrift stores have provided GAP and Burberry shirts for a buck or two apiece, not to mention five hundred dollar vacuum cleaner for $64 and $700 air purifiers for $20. I can stretch a penny so far you could use it for copper wire. Cash rules because everyone will accept it, and you know exactly what your budget is. It worked for Mom and Dad (thanks folks, I miss ya). It will work for us!

G

I think this is all hogwash. Self control is what you need.  Use your credit cards always , get flyer miles , insurance,  and build your credit scores. Oh just make sure you pay your cards off every month interest free and let your money( Cash) work that month in the bank.

i think this is good advice