THE REBEL IN MY PURSE

Like many others during the Lockdown bobbins, I started to wave my contactless card around more. Hailed as ‘safe’ and ‘convenient’.

However, when my first bill arrived, I began to have doubts. There in black and white the last few weeks were chronicled in astonishing detail. You could tell where I’d been, how many pubs I’d visited, where I’d shopped and judging by the amount of fuel bought which mode of transport I’d chosen. I began to consider the amount of information I was giving away quite freely.

There could well be quite sinister and nefarious use of this data , if you are not aware of the social credit system in China you bloody well should be. Let’s say this kind of info has huge potential in the wrong hands. CBDC’s (look them up) are being considered in the UK.

Mostly, I was now indignant, I know that anonymised versions of this data are sold frequently. Sod that, its my data and if anyone is going to benefit financially, it should be me!

I also started to miss cash, the raw, visceral feeling when you part with actual hard earned money. We have always paid ourselves a cash wage each week and still do, it helped in the early stages of running our own business, we did not take out more than the business could afford. Every so often we would negotiate a wage rise, usually over a beer.

So I began to use cash again, and now it felt rebellious, the look of surprise when a cashier proffers a machine towards you and you present them with a tenner. Ooh, suddenly I am part of a resistance! I have actually walked away from ‘card only’ businesses.

The wider implications also became apparent, my contactless and scantily considered payment for meals etc meant I had not left a tip in months. I generally leave a cash gratuity for good food and service. Charity boxes at tills were no longer topped up with that bit of small change, another habit abandoned. Suddenly I was confronted with the wider social costs of this cashless society.

How about car boots, small businesses, the Big Issue Seller, buskers, scouts subs, buying raffle tickets…..? What about the older folks that have an understandable mistrust of the technology? Businesses lose a fraction from every trade in card fees, not helpful when High streets are already struggling. Many rural areas still have poor internet reception and we have seen them struggle to take payment.

Cash is a vital lubricant, a physical exchange of labour. If you are on a limited budget, it can make impulse purchases less likely.

One of our favourite pubs is still delightfully ‘cash only’.

Go on you rebel, try it again, hand over some loose change and see what happens, you may be surprised.