Cash is not dead — but it’s certainly on life support.
Several times this week when panhandlers on the street asked me for spare change, I actually stopped to explain to them “who carries coins around anymore?” Armed with several forms of plastic in my wallet, those panhandlers would have been hard pressed to even find a single dollar bill in my wallet.
Let’s face it folks, carrying around cash today is like carrying around a music CD — they were both very useful at one time, but who needs them now?
These days, I use my credit or debit card on everything from McDonald’s to a taxi ride to buying a pack of gum. I HATE coins and don’t want any change. I also HATE those huge ATM fees whenever you need to grab some cash from a bank other than your own. Plastic has solved all those woes.
But wait… something new is on the horizon.
Word on the street is that Apple’s new iPhone 5 (due later this year), will finally offer the coveted ability to use your cell phone in place of plastic. WOW! Yes, that device that once only made telephone calls, but now plays music and videos, puts you online, reads email, gives GPS directions and more, will soon be able to buy you a cup of coffee at Starbuck’s and then some. And Apple is not the only company planning the new technology for that one device that goes with you everywhere!
One wave of your phone across a special reader at most checkout counters will buy you whatever you need, by instantly subtracting the amount from your bank account. No need for coins. No need for cash. No need for plastic credit cards.
Sorry, cash. But how cool is that?
"Let's face it folks, carrying around cash today is like carrying around a music CD — they were both very useful at one time, but who needs them now?"HAH. Um…ME.But you *cashFREE* folks carry on. I ain't mad atcha 😉 !