How much cash do you usually carry with you?

[JayhawkCO]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

In general, I use an ATM probably 4-5 times per year in the U.S. (Foreign travel is a different story.) Not having ATM access (when in the U.S) would not be a concern for me.

[-- US 175 --]

All of my bills/rent are electronic now.  Rarely do I need $$ for anything.  If I ever do, I can get it through a grocery checkout with no fee.  There are still occasions, like a self car wash, that I need change for, but otherwise most transactions are cashless, including the washers/dryers at the laundry room at my place.

[doorknob60]

I don't have any regular situations where I use cash. Everywhere I go to shop, dine, etc. takes credit cards (except Winco, which takes debit cards). I always use credit cards when I can, they're safer and you can get cash/points back.

These days, we pretty much only need cash at events like conventions and swap meets, where you're buying stuff from different booths. Most of those take cards these days too, but sometimes you need cash. Also buying things on FB Marketplace or Craigslist. These aren't regular thing for us though, maybe a few times a year.

All that said, I try to keep around $40-60 in my wallet. Just in case, I guess. If I walk into a Wendy's or pull up to a gas station and their CC machine is down for whatever reason, I want to still be able to pay. Can't even think of the last time that came up, but having a backup is never a bad idea. Any more than $100 and I'll go deposit some of it, I don't want that much in my wallet.

[vdeane]

I don't agree with that because it's quite easy just to go to an automatic checkout at the grocery store or wherever, buy something small, and pay with a $100.

Assuming you can.  Around where I am, a lot of those lanes don't accept cash payment anymore.

[1995hoo]

I don't agree with that because it's quite easy just to go to an automatic checkout at the grocery store or wherever, buy something small, and pay with a $100.

Assuming you can.  Around where I am, a lot of those lanes don't accept cash payment anymore.

The only store I go to that doesn't accept cash at the auto checkout is Wegmans. At this time of year I use Discover there anyway to get the 5% cashback bonus.

[Road Hog]

I get $200 at a time because I hate driving 4 miles to the bank and then waiting in line at the ATM. That lasts me a month normally.

For everything else I use a card that I pay off in full every month. The main thing I hate is balancing a checkbook. I no longer have any checks to write other than maybe a youth fundraiser every once in a while.

[Rothman]

The amount in cash I spend a year is under $500.

[JayhawkCO]

The amount in cash I spend a year is under $500.

I would argue that in the U.S., I spend less than $100 in cash. Mostly parking fees at state parks and that kind of thing.

[ZLoth]

I get $200 at a time because I hate driving 4 miles to the bank and then waiting in line at the ATM. That lasts me a month normally.

My credit union I use is about ten minutes away in each direction. They moved in the past year, so at least now I can combine shopping with any deposits I have to make now, but still ten minutes away. However, they also have a withdrawal-only ATM (yes, it's branded) at a gas station/convenience store that is two minutes away not to mention a local warehouse club.

[1995hoo]

Regarding ATM location, we maintain accounts at multiple banks, and one of those is a local bank that does not charge you to use someone else's ATM and reimburses the fee the other bank charges (up to a certain number of transactions per month). I quite like that feature precisely for the reason you're noting about not having to be concerned about what particular ATM is convenient if I need to use one.

[SEWIGuy]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

[vdeane]

The only store I go to that doesn't accept cash at the auto checkout is Wegmans. At this time of year I use Discover there anyway to get the 5% cashback bonus.

The machines at Market Bistro (the flagship Price Chopper/Market32 location) sometimes take cash, but almost always don't.  I assume it's the same in other locations.  Hannaford seems to be random whether they do or not on a given day.  They used to reliably, but not since the pandemic.

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

A few reasons, at least in my case:
-I don't want to stop at an ATM to top off.
-Even if I did, my bank isn't nationwide or international, and I don't want to pay fees to use another bank's ATM if I travel out of the regional area where my bank has branches.
-It seems like the majority of time I actually need to use cash is at roadmeet meals where the restaurant can't split the check.

[JayhawkCO]

-It seems like the majority of time I actually need to use cash is at roadmeet meals where the restaurant can't split the check.

There are no restaurants in the world that can't split a check. Maybe unwilling to, but 'can't' isn't a thing.

[MikeTheActuary]

When local / on a day-to-day basis, I haven't carried cash since the start of pandemic lockdowns.

However, because I'm aware that ATMs and plastic frequently don't work during disasters and would potentially be susceptible in a major cyber event, I do have an emergency stash of cash, biased towards small bills, stored in a few secure locations, and a portion of that stash will come along when traveling out of town.

My primary hobby these days is amateur radio, and I do collect QSL cards, so a couple of times a year, when I'm catching up with my QSL card collecting, I'll run by a bank and get some cash to include when I mail out cards in lieu of return postage.

[hbelkins]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Imagine a scenario where your bank's "intelligence" cuts off access to your card because it notes a bunch of suspicious transactions on your account from hundreds of miles away from your usual haunts.

[SEWIGuy]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Imagine a scenario where your bank's "intelligence" cuts off access to your card because it notes a bunch of suspicious transactions on your account from hundreds of miles away from your usual haunts.

I travel frequently and that has simply never happened. And they are just a phone call away anyway. And if that doesn't work, I have two other cards with different companies that I can use.

[JayhawkCO]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Imagine a scenario where your bank's "intelligence" cuts off access to your card because it notes a bunch of suspicious transactions on your account from hundreds of miles away from your usual haunts.

That's why I have credit cards from multiple banks.

[Rothman]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Cash-only businesses in unfamiliar areas.

[JayhawkCO]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Cash-only businesses in unfamiliar areas.

I like to think I'm well traveled. Within the US, I don't remember the last time I was at such a business. Maybe 15 years ago?

[Rothman]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Cash-only businesses in unfamiliar areas.

I like to think I'm well traveled. Within the US, I don't remember the last time I was at such a business. Maybe 15 years ago?

The practice of two-book keeping cash-only restaurants is slowly dying off (even in NYC), but still kicking.

[vdeane]

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Imagine a scenario where your bank's "intelligence" cuts off access to your card because it notes a bunch of suspicious transactions on your account from hundreds of miles away from your usual haunts.

I travel frequently and that has simply never happened. And they are just a phone call away anyway. And if that doesn't work, I have two other cards with different companies that I can use.

I had it happen when I went to Florida.  Between being on the road most of the time, me not answering calls from unknown numbers, and my voicemail not working (which I wasn't aware of until a hotel called me during lunch the next day and thankfully alerted me to the problem; it was pure dumb luck that I had an issue with them, them calling repeatedly, and one of those calls being when I wasn't driving that they got through at all, and who knows how long it would have been until I discovered the problem if they hadn't), I was reliant on my Discover card for two days until I could call the bank and straighten things out.  At the time I thought it was because I was further from home than ever before, but in hindsight I think it was due to another unusual aspect of the trip: the reason why I went down was due to my cousin's wedding, and then I did more exploring afterwards.  While I got gas in Jacksonville with my Discover card, between the wedding and reception themselves, family being invited to the rehearsal dinner since most of us where from out of the area, and my parents and I getting brunch, I never actually used my MasterCard anywhere between north of Florence and north of Miami, a MUCH longer distance than usual.

I've seen a few people comment on running low on cash when traveling. If I am going to take a multi-night road trip, I will generally get at least $200 (if I have it to spare) from the ATM prior to traveling.

A friend/coworker forgot to withdraw cash on a cross-country trip and his home bank suffered an outage that affected his ability to access his bank account via ATM. His solution was to stop frequently at Walmart, make small debit card purchases, and then take the maximum amount of cash back that was possible (I think Wally World's max is $100.)

I can't think of why I would need more cash for traveling than I would for my every day life.

Cash-only businesses in unfamiliar areas.

Speak of the devil:

I hope this isn't too late for everybody, but I was just reminded that Redamak's is cash only. They do not take credit nor debit cards.

Good think I keep $60 US on me.  I should be prepared even if there's a post-meet dinner with payment snafus.

[JayhawkCO]

Just googled Redamaks since I had no idea what that was. Right on the Google description it says cash only. I wouldn't be going to the place unless I had googled it, so I would have had ample time to find an ATM, and had it not been working, find another place to go.

[kkt]

I have the $5 bill that's been sitting in my wallet since early 2000.  I use credit cards pretty much everywhere (and pay it off every month).

[andrepoiy]

I keep a $90 in "paper" money and an unknown amount (but a good amount) of coins - mainly because I frequent a lot of Chinese businesses that are typically cash-only, or give 10-20% discounts if you pay by cash.


Also, if anyone is interested, there is a currency tracking website (where essentially you put in the bill's serial number, and you mark the bill so that the next person who noticies the marking can update the bill's location). For CAD, it's "https://whereswilly.com/" and for USD it's "https://wheresgeorge.com/". I'm quite the prolific whereswilly user

[ZLoth]

The conclusion I'm getting from most of us is that we don't carry $100-$150 "drop fee" in cash if our vehicle is towed. Thank goodness we all park legally and don't get ourselves in a situation which requires a tow.

-It seems like the majority of time I actually need to use cash is at roadmeet meals where the restaurant can't split the check.

There are no restaurants in the world that can't split a check. Maybe unwilling to, but 'can't' isn't a thing.

In my experience, splitting a check is MUCH easier for the restaurant when you let the waiter know before you place the order. The pain comes when they bring out the check and then you ask to split it.