Your Finances

[Craig]

I was half watching Dispatches on Channel 4 earlier tonight and it was talking about people saving money by spending physical cash rather than using cards. I suppose it would make you be a bit more careful about what you were paying for as you'd see how much you were spending.

I use cards for the majority of my purchases, I rarely carry much money with me but generally have a pretty good idea of what my bank balance is. I think it might have been a good idea when I was a student, but these days I'm a bit more clued up about budgeting and stuff. Plus I certainly wouldn't fancy making fairly big payments like my mortgage using cash

What about you?

[AndyS]

Subject to what I'm doing, the max. I'll carry around in my wallet is probably £20 and some change! However, the majority of my purchases are done using my card - that way I keep track of balance a bit better!

[Techniquest]

Aye I use my card more than cash, but I also log all of my spending in my diary alongside my commuting log. Doesn't always help me spend a lot of money quick mind, but so many things I pay for is online so cash isn't an option.

[Conner]

I use a card for most my purchases but internet banking is very useful for keeping track of my balance.

[37088]

We too use out card for everything and pay it off monthly. The two main reasons being that any purchase with a credit card is protected and if you are subjuetc to a fraudulant attempt you get the money back, also the rewards (as its a Tesco Clubcard credit crad) enables us to get the vouchers (which are considerable considering there are 6 of us) which in itself helps fund days out / reastuarant vouchers etc.

[DBSchenker92031]

Generally my debit card, unless it's something small when I'm out (eg. food). I get monthly paper statements to keep a check on what's what. Any large bashes - and anything bought online - can only be done by card!

[158841]

ditto here! Most weeks I'll take out a certain amount of money to spend on small bashes/food etc and then anything large like Petrol comes off the card

[158757]

I use my debit card where possible, and use online banking plus my own excel spreadsheet to check what I'm spending and make sure it matches up. I don't specifically budget for anything but I will keep a close eye on my balance and if it starts going down too rapidly I'll try to keep down on unnecessary purchases. I try to split my monthly wage into 3, one third goes board to parents, one third on spending (including mobile contract, bus pass, etc), and one third to go into savings. It usually works out, but some months are exceptions, like this month where I've practically renewed my entire bedroom.

[DBSchenker92031]

ditto here! Most weeks I'll take out a certain amount of money to spend on small bashes/food etc and then anything large like Petrol comes off the card

Yeah but your combined McDonald's, WHSmiths and similar spending is probably more thasn a tank of fuel

[Darth Florist]

I don't have a credit card - never had. For run-of-the-mill purchases (milk, bread, weekend groceries, crisps at lunch-time, etc) I use cash. I use my debit card for medium - priced purchases (usually >£50). On the odd occasion, I'll use a cheque, cos I don't trust electronic banking THAT much. I rarely buy stuff over the net (CDs from the USA, the odd holiday), and on only 1 occasion did I use Home Banking to buy my Mellotron from a bloke in Holland. That was a bit scary, as it was about £3250 in Euros. The deal went through successfully, but I still wouldn't fully trust buying stuff on-line.

[Craig]

I very rarely use cheques (although saying that I've written two in the last month ) and prefer to use online banking. These days a lot of places use faster payments so you can see where your money has gone straight away. Hopefully more companies will adopt this as standard, maybe even eventually for card payments too.

[LaSeandre]

Cash for small stuff, debit card for larger stuff in person, and paypal/electronic transfer for online purchases.

Saying that, I don't have any money to spend.

[RB37057]

I normally withdraw cash for a day's outing, but I'll use my card if I make large purchases. If I run out of cash, I find a cash machine and take more out - simples!

[Turdo170]

Mainly use my debit card to pay for things, most I usually have in my wallet is £10-20,maybe a bit of change for the bus.

[d10ng]

Hi
I use me card more than anything and for me I spend less if I use just my card. If I bought something for £12 on my card I'd just spend that £12, but if I went and got out £20 cash spent the £12 I still have £8 burning a hole and would go much quicker than if it was still in my bank account.