I have been a bit busy lately, and for that I apologize; I’ve been spending more time on school and at work, and I’m joining a few other campus activities as well.

Working at a retail store has held me responsible for relatively large amounts of cash at any given time when I drive to and from the bank to drop off our daily deposits, for example. Carrying the cash and having to count it every day really started me thinking about how often I personally use cash, and what I feel about using it. I’ve come to the (simple) conclusion that I hate cash. There are a number of reasons I hate it, and I don’t think that it’s unjustified.

First of all, security is important to me. I like knowing that if I were to lose my wallet, a few phone calls will cancel my cards and, even if there are large charges on there I would only be responsible for a small portion of them (assuming I reported them within two days). If I were going to buy a TV at a store, for example, even if I could pay with cash I would not want to be carrying around several hundred dollars. Credit card fraud can also be traced, whereas cash typically cannot.

I like having a thin wallet. Having a few credit cards in my wallet makes it far less bulky than carrying around cash. I have some pretty severe back problems thanks to scoliosis, and sitting on a thick wallet all day can be both uncomfortable and actually harmful to my health to a certain (very slight, but still noticeable) extent. Thin wallets don’t stretch seams on my jeans and they’re easier to carry elsewhere; if I’m somewhere and I don’t feel comfortable carrying my wallet in my back pocket (because of pick-pocketing) it’s easier to put a thin wallet into a front pocket or an inside coat pocket. Thin wallets also fold up easier and look nicer and although I don’t really care what my wallet looks like, having it not fall apart is always a plus.

Cash is inconvenient at times. To deny the convenience of cash in some situations is absurd - but certainly there are times where cash is less convenient than using a credit or debit card. I personally am a fan of credit cards above debit cards, and debit cards above cash. Being able to use credit cards at gas stations helps save me time on road trips when I don’t have to go in, and I can go back in my car while my gas is pumping and not have to venture out in the cold to go pay. At some places, purchases under $20 don’t require a signature; this saves time. I don’t have a heavy pocket full of change after a day of shopping, and I don’t have to count out my money before I pay; I do calculate roughly how much I’ll have left on my card to use (but I pay it off in full all the time and so I generally start with a 0 balance) but generally speaking I don’t make purchases that large to seriously come within my cards limits. Cards are also nice to use, as I already said, for purchasing highly priced items like televisions and such. Carrying around large amounts of cash can make you a target for somebody looking to steal some wallets.

Cash doesn’t help build credit. Building credit is an important part of being able to have, essentially, more purchasing power (being able to obtain a loan, for example) and using cash doesn’t let you build credit. I only use credit cards (and then pay them off in full each month) to help build a strong credit history.

I spend cash far too quickly. If I have a credit card with a limit of $1000, chances are I’ll be able to use that $1000 for something worthwhile (such as food, and other necessities) and be able to use it for a longer period of time than if I were to have cash. Cash, to me, is very tempting and if I have it, I will spend it. It’s one of my financial weaknesses, and it’s kind of opposite of what the norm (overspending with credit cards) is.

With all this cash bashing, it’s important to note tht I know not everybody will share the same views as me. Some people love cash and will swear by it - others will only use debit cards - and still others agree with me. I think that the argument of cash vs credit is one that cannot be resolved for a group of people with just one answer. Each person is different. The person who uses credit cards far too much may hold on to cash significantly better, and so cash may be a great idea for him. Some people don’t want - or can’t get - credit cards but also don’t like cash all that much, so they stick to debit cards.

No matter what your personal choice is, the important thing to do is to track, or at least be aware of, your spending habits. I know that I spend far more money when I have cash than when I use a credit card, and so by not using cash - EVER (unless it’s a gift) - I save money for other investments. Figure out (by trial and error, if necessary) what works for you as far as saving money goes, and stick with it. As for me, don’t bother trying to rob me; I’ll have no Benjamin’s for you to snag.