I’m not sure where the age line is except to say I am well over the line where cash means something to me. I’m not just saying that money means something to me but actual paper currency has a distinct value to me.
I say this because I have lately been struck by certain demographic group’s inability to handle cash.
Here are a few examples:
We are at a school play and I make a cash purchase. I hand you $10 for $7.38 of items. (Why you didn’t consider sales tax when you set prices I’ll never know.) You stop and use a calculator to determine the change rather than count up to $10: 2 pennies to $7.40, a dime to $7.50, 2 quarters to $8 and 2 dollar bills to round it up to $10. And, I got my change first (see my next rant). Seriously, a calculator to make change for a ten – you’re kidding me, right?
I pull up in my rolling dining room to a fast food coffee place. My order comes to $2.53 and I hand you $5. You hand me my coffee and snack then two dollar bills with $.47 in change on top. Whose idea was it that putting change on top of currency? GIVE ME MY CHANGE FIRST!!!!! They all do it because that is how the cash register presents the information to the cashier. It’s only partially their fault because they have never been taught how to handle money. On the rare occasion I am handed my change first at my favorite coffee place it is usually by a person who is at least 35 years old.
I receive cash deposits from co-workers every day. I can open and count an envelope without looking at the depositor and know if the person is over 35. Currency is in order, all facing the top and occasionally the heads even in the same direction. Under 35? There is no apparent order to the stack. Some bills are folded and they are often out of order. $50’s and $5’s mess them up because they count by $100 rather in order from the highest to the lowest. For example, an envelope with $658 may cash grouped in $100’s with no regard to order with bills folded and in every direction. They must not have any idea how a cash drawer works…no clue!
For years we have talked about how credit cards, debit accounts and online banking are making cash obsolete. Our children use cash so much less than we do. Swipe cards are their cash. Think about it…they use cards for meals in the dining facility, swipe their card to get gas, tap it to buy snacks, use it to get copies in the library and even scan it to buy subway fare.
I’m not sure I will ever see a completely cashless society but I have no doubt it is coming. How sad that even piggy banks will be virtual some day.
Life is good!
Jude
Twitter: MidMajorMom
Twitter: JudeCaserta
AthleticBudgetCoach.com
