Cash Is Still King (sometimes)

[Coolgoober]

We had a thunderstorm in my small little country pumpkin town and the power went out. So I'm just hanging out and after a while I think to myself a beer would be good. So I go to our little country store not even thinking about their power being out. So as I'm walking closer I realize it's dark in the store, powers out. But I've seen this movie before since I've lived here 35 years. It's CASH ONLY BABY! There's a guy in the door mildly arguing with the workers. He can't seam to understand why they can't take his debt or credit card.
Anyway, I squeeze by, pardoning myself. I saw a couple people(barely) roaming in the store. Found my fave beer. Knew just where it was, paid CASH and was on my way. Had to squeeze by same guy on the way out.

[BOSSHOG]

1. I'm with ya My Friend

I use plastic at the ATM to get CASH and use plastic to pay for gas cause I like to fill up. I remember the good old days when you could get gas then pay. And no one has to stand behind me at the grocery store while I try to figure out the stores plastic taking machine.

A tad bit of advice. Never carry plastic unless you intend to use it on that day. Old guy rant off.

[ILikePie92]

2. Dude

I was SO looking forward to some kind of article or video link to Johnny CASH.

Disappointed

[JoseBalow]

4. Turn that frown upside down

(3:05)

[ILikePie92]

9. Yes!

Thank you!!!

[Retrograde]

3. It is possible to process credit cards without electricity

Some years back, my entire town was without electricity for a full day (due to PG&E putting all the power to the city on the same structure, which was toppled by a plane: they swore that having 3 feeds in the same place was adequate redundancy). One nearby store dug up its old sales slips and card machines, which make a manual imprint of the numbers on the card. Slow, although quicker than writing the numbers on a sales sheet by hand - which also works. I don't know if the Youngs today know about this trick.

[LogDog75]

5. I remember manually taking credit cards

I worked at K-Mart in the early 70s when credit card sales were done on carbon slip and you had to put the credit card in a slot, the carbon slip on top of the credit card, and the push the imprinter to the right to get the credit card information printed on the slip. I wonder how many people working cash registers today know how to do this.

One of the reasons I keep enough cash in a home safe is in case there is a blackout, the internet is down, or the credit card company's program is down.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Newer cards are not embossed, they're smooth...

I know, I know, the slips can be filled out manually.

[pecosbob]

7. I grew up near the ocean...it taught me to keep a boat handy.

[Emile]

8. I been using cash more often. My last two

debit cards were hacked and only a day apart. Pain in the ass running back and forth to the bank, etc.

[Happy Hoosier]

11. I don;t really use my debit cards. I use credit cards.

Credit cards generally have much better fraud protection. While on a trip recently, one of my cards got skimmed somewhere (have no idea where). I have alrts set up to tell me when the card gets charged. Saw the charge right away. Called the company. They reject the charge and cancel the card, new card on the way. Easy peasy.

[Emile]

12. I get alerts immediately on my debit card,

no different than on my credit card.

What is painful is calling AT&T and Directv to give them a new card number everytime I get hacked. I have it set up where my monthly bills get paid automatically. If they're not paid, I get late charges.

This is the reason I'm using cash more often.

[Happy Hoosier]

13. Do you pay AT&T and DirecTV with cash?

Are you sending them a check every month?

FWIW, I use a different card for online bill paying and my carry around card.

Also, not sure of you bank's policy, but at least my bank's debit fraud protection is decent, but I don't get immediately reimbursed when I make a fraud claim. My CC will almost instantly remove the charge from my account while the incidicent is resolved.

I mean, do what works for you, but it's been worry-free for me. The only time my card gets hacked is when it's my daily-spend card (has happened twice).

[Emile]

15. I get immediate reimbursement on my debit card.

I have the card on file with AT&T and Directv and get a monthly discount. If I paid by check, I wouldn't get this discount. Even a check is hackable with a routing number printed right on it.

For small purchases, I find cash is the safest way to buy things.

[Happy Hoosier]

16. Do what works for you.

Last edited Tue Jul 29, 2025, 10:49 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't find using a card to be particularly risky. I DO like that by using a credit card, instead of my debit card, that MY money is never at risk. It's the card issuer's money at risk.

I have a few "daily spend" cards I rotate throughout the year to leverage their points bonuses. But I mainly like have a layer of protection between the transaction and my actual bank account. I am never at risk that someone will instantly drain my account and savings.

[Mysterian]

14. Me too. I get 2.5% back and use my credit card for everything.

Auto-pay every month and never any interest charges. Experts advise to use credit card rather than debit card for the enhanced security.

[Happy Hoosier]

10. I keep some cash on hand in the house for such emergencies

Otherwise, I don't carry cash usually.

[hunter]

17. Most places here just close when the power goes out...

... the exception being those with backup generators or the smaller shops and restaurants that use cell phone network based credit and debit card processing systems, so long as the batteries last.

Many clerks have no idea how to handle cash without explicit directions from the cash register.

I was once in a small shop when the power went out and the young clerk was completely confused, fumbling around as if trying to find the right buttons that would bring the register back to life.

The manager looked over, rolled her eyes, and muttered something like, "for God's sakes," walked over and asked me if I had cash. I did, so she pulled a dusty old receipt book out from under the counter, wrote up the sale by hand doing the math in her head, and sent me on my way. The flustered kid looked like they'd just witnessed some mysterious ancient ritual, which was true.

This is not an old codger rant. I'm pretty sure most businesses don't want their clerks handling cash the old fashioned way.

[bif]

18. What's a "country pumpkin"?

Just curious.

[Coolgoober]

19. Country Bumpkin

It was supposed to say Country Bumpkin. I just remember it from an old country song by Cal Smith. What it means? I don't know, small town and small town people, which is what I've been my whole life

[bif]

20. That's what I figured.

I borrowed it (and took some liberties with it) and posted it on my page of maloprops. Hope you don't mind.

https://whatijustheard.blogspot.com