It’s been decades since I’ve carried cash. Use my debit card for everything. If they don’t accept debit cards, I don’t do business there.
A few years back I got a thousand dollars in travelers checks for a trip to Saigon, Vietnam. Went to an official money exchange for Dongs and Dollars.
On the way out I stopped quickly and said “Wait! Is this US dollars?”
“Well yeah” said my Vietnamese friend who’s never been outside his country.”You don’t know your own currency?” my friend laughed.
“Yeah but the heads are bigger on these. The dollars I use have smaller heads”
“Oh that’s the old dollars these are the new ones he said
“Wow! I’ve never seen these ones”
“That’s because you use too much the card” he said.
Not wise. I use a credit card for everything; and pay in full every month. That way ...
* I keep my money in the bank longer, earning interest.
* If I have a problem with the transaction, it's easier to get my money back from a credit card company.
“Use my debit card for everything.”
I have too many friends and family who’ve had their bank accounts messed up because of debit cards. We have them, but never use them. I know there’s a PIN attached to them but have no clue what it is.
For large purchases we use credit card; for small things and restaurants it’s only cash.