Comments on: How to avoid paying cash for the holidays http://asklizweston.com/2009/11/24/how-to-avoid-paying-cash-for-the-holidays/ Personal Finance Columnist Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:40:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: lizweston http://asklizweston.com/2009/11/24/how-to-avoid-paying-cash-for-the-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-797 lizweston Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:24:47 +0000 http://asklizweston.com/?p=1587#comment-797 Thanks for your comment. I think many people find it harder to spend cash than plastic, but I've also heard the opposite (typically from younger people) who say the green disappears from their wallets but they're more careful when they take out a card. I like your haggling tip. Thanks for your comment. I think many people find it harder to spend cash than plastic, but I’ve also heard the opposite (typically from younger people) who say the green disappears from their wallets but they’re more careful when they take out a card.

I like your haggling tip.

]]> By: Joe http://asklizweston.com/2009/11/24/how-to-avoid-paying-cash-for-the-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-791 Joe Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:58:12 +0000 http://asklizweston.com/?p=1587#comment-791 There are definate advantes to cash, though -- 1. I find it much easier to budget and find myself spending much less when I see the green stuff passing through my fingers. I am much less impulsive when spending green than going "Swipe!" with a card. If I have $50 on me, there is no possible way that I can accidently spend even $50.01 (and get socked with an overdraft/overlimit fee). 2. Not only are consumers being hit with ever-increasing fees, so are the merchants. Sole-proprietorships, in particular, will often give a discount if you are paying cash. The owner of a restaurant that I eat at two to three times a month, for example, gives a 10% discount when paying with cash. She said she would rather give me 10% off and have me as a happier customer than give their card processing company 50 cents for the transaction plus 6% of the total. 3. Also, particularly with a sole proprietorship in particular, if your total bill comes to, say $154.29 -- Lay a Ben Franklin and a U.S. Grant out there. Tell them that's all you are going to spend. 9 times out of 10 they will take it. 9 of the 10 times they don't, they will change their mind and catch you before you make it to the door. There are definate advantes to cash, though —

1. I find it much easier to budget and find myself spending much less when I see the green stuff passing through my fingers. I am much less impulsive when spending green than going “Swipe!” with a card. If I have $50 on me, there is no possible way that I can accidently spend even $50.01 (and get socked with an overdraft/overlimit fee).

2. Not only are consumers being hit with ever-increasing fees, so are the merchants. Sole-proprietorships, in particular, will often give a discount if you are paying cash. The owner of a restaurant that I eat at two to three times a month, for example, gives a 10% discount when paying with cash. She said she would rather give me 10% off and have me as a happier customer than give their card processing company 50 cents for the transaction plus 6% of the total.

3. Also, particularly with a sole proprietorship in particular, if your total bill comes to, say $154.29 — Lay a Ben Franklin and a U.S. Grant out there. Tell them that’s all you are going to spend. 9 times out of 10 they will take it. 9 of the 10 times they don’t, they will change their mind and catch you before you make it to the door.

]]> By: cykeprof http://asklizweston.com/2009/11/24/how-to-avoid-paying-cash-for-the-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-788 cykeprof Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:44:01 +0000 http://asklizweston.com/?p=1587#comment-788 When using cash, just a word of warning: when the cashier asks you if you want your receipt or if they should just put it in your sack, always take it instead of letting them put it in your sack. If you pay cash, and lose your sack, the finder can return what you bought and get cash for it if the receipt is in the sack. Not so with a credit card purchase, because they will want the credit card to credit the account with the amount that the item cost. When using cash, just a word of warning: when the cashier asks you if you want your receipt or if they should just put it in your sack, always take it instead of letting them put it in your sack. If you pay cash, and lose your sack, the finder can return what you bought and get cash for it if the receipt is in the sack. Not so with a credit card purchase, because they will want the credit card to credit the account with the amount that the item cost.

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