Here's What Happened When I Tried To Save Using Only Cash (2024)

FAQs

Does only using cash save money? ›

Opting to primarily use cash for your purchases can lessen your reliance on credit cards and accruing more debt. Cash is a powerful tool for financial accountability because it creates a higher feeling of shopper's remorse, which encourages more discipline when it comes to spending.

All of the people we talked to found that going completely cash-only can curb impulsive spending by creating a psychological deterrent. “Using cash for all transactions brought a psychological aspect to spending that I hadn't considered before,” said Olivia Stettler, who went cash-only for a month.

While you may pay the same price for a product or service, whether you are paying cash or credit, with a cash only purchase, you won't have to pay the additional charges often associated with credit cards. They could be fees issued by the merchant or charges and interest levied by your bank or card provider.

Less Secure. Cash is less secure than a credit card. Unlike credit cards, if you lose physical money or have it stolen, there's no way to recover your losses.

An exclusively cash lifestyle may help you follow your budget, sidestep overspending, and avoid the high cost of overdraft, interest, and other fees that can be incurred when you pay by check, debit, and/or credit card. But going all-cash has its downsides, too.

Cash makes it easier to budget and stick to it

These are just a few of the reasons why it's better to pay with cash vs. a credit card. That's not to say there's not a time or place to use a credit card, but you want to be responsible when you do and have a plan to pay it off within a specified period of time.

But when it comes to buying a car, using cash can raise red flags; paper money is harder to trace, easier to counterfeit, and easier to steal than a credit or debit card. That being said, it's still legal tender.

There are many less-than-noble reasons why someone might prefer to be paid in cash (trying to hide income from taxation, trying to hide income to avoid earning too much for government benefits, not having the legal right to work in the country, etc.) but the #1 reason for wanting cash is its reliability and finality.

Budget Your Way to Success

The most important thing is to make decisions that align with your financial goals. If you're sticking to a tight budget, cash may be preferable. Meanwhile, credit cards provide many valuable benefits if you're more flexible and can pay off the balance each month.

Is it better to carry cash or card? ›

Security: Carrying a wad of cash is rarely a good idea, especially when you're away from home and distracted to the max. If your wallet is lost or stolen, any cash is probably gone forever. If you lose your credit card, you can cancel it online or through the app and get a replacement expedited to you.

It works anywhere Apple Pay is accepted — in stores, online, and in apps. You can also transfer your Apple Cash to your bank account. If you have an Apple Card and choose to automatically save your Daily Cash in a Savings account, you can use Apple Cash to move money in and out.

For financial security, keep some cash in the bank. Double emphasis on some, because there are good reasons not to keep too much money in cash, too. Inflation decreases the value of any money you hold in cash. Inflation, aka rising prices over time, reduces your purchasing power.

Is it illegal to keep large sum of cash at home and not deposit it in your bank account? Any unaccounted money either kept in cash or in account is illegal.

“Using cash can be a spending-control mechanism that can help prevent overspending,” says Rod Griffin, Experian's senior director of public education and advocacy. “If you carry only cash, you can only spend until there's none of it left in your wallet.”

"Generally, introducing the idea of budgeting is probably a positive thing, but if folks are leaning on cash as opposed to taking advantage of the highest returns we've seen in a long time in high-yield savings accounts, then they are leaving money on the table," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree.

For financial security, keep some cash in the bank. Double emphasis on some, because there are good reasons not to keep too much money in cash, too. Inflation decreases the value of any money you hold in cash. Inflation, aka rising prices over time, reduces your purchasing power.

While paying in cash will most likely help you save money and make fewer impulse purchases, paying in credit cards does offer an enviable convenience and allow you to afford larger items—given you monitor your spending carefully and make sure to pay off your balance each month.

Paying for everything with cash could help you spend less, because consumers are normally more willing to spend when using credit cards. You miss out on the chance to earn rewards, such as cash back or points.