How much cash do you carry ?

[ownyourfuture]

I am in an office Super-Lotto pool (auxiliary retirement plan) that is $2 a week, so every 2-3 months, I give the organizer a $20 bill, and forget it. She has to keep reminding other participants to dredge their $2 out of the old wallet every week, and some are behind.

I went through the same thing when I ran the lotto @ work (anyone who wanted to play threw in $5.00) & I only did it when the lottery got above 150 million. Always amazed at how many people said they'd have to run to the cash machine during their dinner break, or pay me the next day/next week, etc

As for me, up until early 2014, I normally carried between $300.00 & $400.00 in cash. Back then I used cash for all my daily transactions. Now, I'm one of those credit card people I have one for gasoline 3.00%, one for groceries, 3.00%, one for dining 4.00%, & a Visa Rewards for everything else, 2.00%

I now carry approximately $100 in cash, more if I'm traveling over a couple hundred miles away from home.

 

[Ronstar]

Somewhere between 0 and 200. When I get down close to 0, I go to the atm and take out 200. It will usually take a month or more to spend the 200 and get back down to 0. Then the cycle repeats.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

Yes for nail salon and hair salon (nonchain). Cash yields better pricing if the register never goes ding-ding.

 

[Bamaman]

I used to travel all over the country weekly. I left without one red cent and I returned without any cash. In my retirement, I remain the same way. If I absolutely have to have any cash, it's only as far away as the nearest ATM machine.

Whenever I get cash on me, our daughter has a way of borrowing it and never paying us back. I long ago told her I will never have any cash, and quit asking.

What's ridiculous is that the $20 bill changed, and it was about 5 years before I realized it was different.

 

[Splash]

We use credit cards for almost everything.

We carry $100 - 200 for the unexpected and for drinks at the bar/restaurant we like that physically holds your credit card behind the bar if you run a tab. I'm not comfortable with that practice so we pay cash there.

 

[HI Bill]

$120, but that's a holdover from the time when I used to go out to lunch four days a week, and pay cash, and that was basically refilled every week. Now, the $ just sit there most of the time...only when I go out to eat with friends and we split the bill, do I spend a significant portion of it. I do spend a few $ at the local farmer's market every week! Could probably take it down to $80 or less, without having to replenish more than once a month!

 

[GenXguy]

$5 to $20 on me, although I may have up to $50 in the car as well.

 

[CardsFan]

$5 to $20 on me, although I may have up to $50 in the car as well.

I am going to put a twenty in the car right now. Probably 2-3 times a year I jump in the car to get something, and realize when i get there that i forgot my wallet.

ETA: Ooops, didn't have a twenty. Put in a 10 and two fives. Time to hit the ATM.

 

[gauss]

Between $50-$150

I stopped charging entertainment expenses and now pay cash for them.

 

[Dalmore]

I typically care $100-300 in my wallet. I tend to use CC for most transactions, but I like to have cash when I need it.

 

[jkern]

i try to carry about $75.

2 20s, 2 10s, 2 5s and 5 1s

 

[Mulligan]

I keep a little cash in the car, about 100 in my wallet, and some cash at home. It bails me out every now and then as sometimes in a rush or absentmindedness, I will get to store thinking my wallet was in my pocket, but it was actually just my cell phone. I do play the CC cash back game as much as possible though.

 

[MikeWillRetire]

I use my credit card for all purchases except vice. For that I use cash, and keep $100 in my wallet.

 

[freedomatlast]

Somewhere between $100 to $250 cash, but it lasts a long time since I use a cash back credit card for every purchase that I can.

 

[iloveyoga]

Anywhere between $20 to $50, I like to have smaller bills for tips.

 

[GrayHare]

$100 to $200. Given the card HOTD (hack of the day) I'd rather use cash.

 

[Scrapr]

Anything more than $20 in my wallet & I'm feeling "in the money". Came from when I was poor (ish) and $20 was my meal money for the week. I took out $100 at the ATM a month ago & I was nervous with that much cash on me. I never carry coins. If I get some they go in the tip jar/give a penny jar.

 

[Dtail]

Take out $100 cash increments, but try to use CC whenever possible.

 

[Jerry1]

My wallet holds my gambling funds so typically I’ll have about $500 tucked in one of the slots and then I’ll have up to another hundred in the money clip portion of my wallet.

I’m not sure if casinos take credit cards, but one place I have never and will never pull out plastic (debit or credit) is at a casino. My limit is two hundred unless I’m out of town with buddies, then I might go over but when the cash is gone, I’m done. Period.

 

[RE2Boys]

On me, usually $20-$40 cash.

If needed for specific situation or out of town, will carry about $60-80.

Will have about $200 in sock drawer (if in home town) or in car (if traveling) in cash.

Rely on credit cards for vast majority of purchases over $10.

Last year we did a three week road trip out west. Left with $300 cash, returned with about $250, and no ATM visits.

 

[scrabbler1]

I get around $120-$160 cash per month but carry in my wallet around $40-$60 (1 or 2 $10s and $20s, along with all the $1s and $5s I have at the moment), replenishing as needed my wallet with the remaining cash kept in my apartment. I use my CC for most purchases over $30, but cash for stuff under $30.


I agree that using cash at a restaurant takes less time than using a CC for the reasons stated here by others. And by making sure I have enough small bills such as $1s and $5s, I won't need any change, also speeding up the end of the meal.


I use cash to buy gas because my local gas station charges far more when using plastic than any cash-back would compensate me. So, when I make the rare gas purchase, I have to make sure I have an extra $40 with me in case I am making other smaller purchases while out doing errands.

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

I usually have around $50 in my wallet. If I am ever anywhere that I feel uncomfortable I put my wallet in my front pocket.

 

[tb001]

I take cash out in $200-300 increments if I'm running low, almost always when I'm at the airport. So at any given time 0-400 in my wallet. I really need to start carrying a 20 in the car for the times I forget my wallet.

I pretty much only use cash for the occasional craigslist purchase, a miscellaneous one off purchase, or tips while traveling. I almost never have singles. My cash on hand will usually last me several months.

 

[Lakewood90712]

Roughly $ 140.

About $ 40 in spending cash and a crisp $100 bill for betting purposes on debates. When I ask the other party if they want to bet $ 100 against my argument , never had a taker. Always works, even when I might be wrong

 

[rk911]

generally no more than $100-$150. we use CCs for virtually everything except tips. and i like to tip generously.