Spare Change

Eltargrim · 12-21-2009, 04:52 PM

So I'm from Canada. We have the highest rate of debit card use in the world, so it's not surprising that I pay with plastic for pretty much everything. But when I do pay with cash, I hold onto the spare change until I get home, and toss it in a container. I just emptied the largest of such.

I had $69.11 sitting in a jar in my room. I love windfalls. Beer time :p

Share your wacky cashy-money antics! I'm sure everyone's got a few.

Or debate the use of debit vs cash!

PS: debit's better

Green Spanner · 12-21-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eltargrim

debit's better

Seconded.

I usually use my debit card whenever I can, so that I can track my finances online easier like a nerd.

Tev · 12-21-2009, 05:00 PM

I always did wonder what our move to a plastic payment society is doing to the street performers and homeless that beg for change. Sometimes a guy is just really rocking out on a trash can lid and I want to toss him a dollar or something but he doesn't take Visa.

Loyal · 12-21-2009, 05:03 PM

I have a ~~piggy~~Batmanbank that I use to hold onto my miscellaneous coins.

Until I emptied it (nearly 30 dollars in cash when I finally ran out of room in it) a few weeks ago, it probably counted as a deadly weapon.

Amake · 12-21-2009, 05:07 PM

I once saw a beggar whip out a card reading machine hooked to a car battery and freak the fuck out of a suit who thought it'd be funny to ask if he could take Visa. It was awesome.

But no, cold hard cash is the best. I don't trust an LCD display to tell me what my earthly resources add up to.

Oron · 12-21-2009, 05:12 PM

My mother got us saving spare change by dumping whatever we have left in a jar, which she intends to save and use to get the floor in our kitchen redone. We've saved about $250 in coins after a year.

bluestarultor · 12-21-2009, 05:41 PM

While I like the convenience of debit, it was hard for me to keep track of and I ended up getting rid of it because nobody kept track of it for me on the bank's end.

Then again, I had REALLY shitty service with US Bank overall, to the point we left them entirely, save for my student loans, which I really should transfer over to the credit union. I keep meaning to and not getting around to it.

So, yeah, if there was actually a good way of keeping track of how much I had in a checking account without any real hassle, I'd totally go back to debit, but as of now, all but $5 of my money is in a money market account. I just withdraw $50 on weeks I need the cash and it lasts me pretty well.

BlackMageGirl! · 12-21-2009, 06:09 PM

To be honest, I have never owned a credit card. It's just way waaaaay too easy to slip in those few numbers and buy awesome things from the wonderful world of online shopping.

Though if I ever want to save money I don't use a savings account. I withdraw it and put it in an envelope. For some reason that keeps me from spending it though I have yet to fathom why.

01Archangel · 12-21-2009, 08:19 PM

Credit vs Debit is a bit confusing for some.

The card you're using for either one is a check card (usually Visa or Mastercard) attached to your checking account. The difference is that for credit, you swipe and sign. For debit, you swipe and enter your PIN (sometimes with an option for cash back).

With a credit card, you can only swipe your card as credit (unless you're at the ATM) and it increases the balance of the loan that the card is tied to. If you are using it to make a purchase, most companies give you 25 days interest free to pay it off. If you are using it for a cash advance, interest usually accrues immediately and usually at a higher rate.

That being said, I prefer debit because it takes the money immediately from my account and because credit swipes make more money for the bank.

Lol, I stopped saving change after my ex jacked one of those giant water bottles full of it from my place.

pochercoaster · 12-21-2009, 08:39 PM

You know, I don't think those check card things actually exist around here. As far as I've seen, debit cards are only for debit and credit cards are only for credit, and we don't have any cards that are combined. I noticed this when my (American) boyfriend was visiting me and using his crazy check card to pay for everything. Cashiers were frequently confused when they saw Visa written on his card yet were told to swipe it as debit.

Actually, now that I think about, I've never seen a check card when cashing out people where I work, either. If visa or mastercard is written on the card it's credit; debit cards have the bank's logo on them.

Yup, crazy Americans.

I, too, prefer to use debit, as I don't like walking around with cash and haven't gotten around to applying for a credit card yet. However, I make tips where I work and usually save the change and roll it. I rolled all my tips the other day and it came to $30

12-21-2009, 04:52 PM	#1
Eltargrim Fifty-Talents Haversham Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: FABULOUS Posts: 1,904	Spare Change So I'm from Canada. We have the highest rate of debit card use in the world, so it's not surprising that I pay with plastic for pretty much everything. But when I do pay with cash, I hold onto the spare change until I get home, and toss it in a container. I just emptied the largest of such. I had $69.11 sitting in a jar in my room. I love windfalls. Beer time :p Share your wacky cashy-money antics! I'm sure everyone's got a few. Or debate the use of debit vs cash! PS: debit's better __________________ <Insert witticism here; get credit; ???; profit!>

12-21-2009, 05:07 PM	#5
Amake Keeper of the new Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: A place without judgment Posts: 4,506	I once saw a beggar whip out a card reading machine hooked to a car battery and freak the fuck out of a suit who thought it'd be funny to ask if he could take Visa. It was awesome. But no, cold hard cash is the best. I don't trust an LCD display to tell me what my earthly resources add up to. __________________ Hope insistent, trust implicit, love inherent, life immersed

12-21-2009, 05:12 PM	#6
Oron Curious Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 208	My mother got us saving spare change by dumping whatever we have left in a jar, which she intends to save and use to get the floor in our kitchen redone. We've saved about $250 in coins after a year. __________________ Sneaking around the forums to read your posts.

12-21-2009, 08:19 PM	#9
01Archangel Noob Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Just a note Credit vs Debit is a bit confusing for some. The card you're using for either one is a check card (usually Visa or Mastercard) attached to your checking account. The difference is that for credit, you swipe and sign. For debit, you swipe and enter your PIN (sometimes with an option for cash back). With a credit card, you can only swipe your card as credit (unless you're at the ATM) and it increases the balance of the loan that the card is tied to. If you are using it to make a purchase, most companies give you 25 days interest free to pay it off. If you are using it for a cash advance, interest usually accrues immediately and usually at a higher rate. That being said, I prefer debit because it takes the money immediately from my account and because credit swipes make more money for the bank. Lol, I stopped saving change after my ex jacked one of those giant water bottles full of it from my place.

12-21-2009, 06:09 PM	#8
BlackMageGirl! Oh hi! :D Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Currently in reality! Posts: 2,688	To be honest, I have never owned a credit card. It's just way waaaaay too easy to slip in those few numbers and buy awesome things from the wonderful world of online shopping. Though if I ever want to save money I don't use a savings account. I withdraw it and put it in an envelope. For some reason that keeps me from spending it though I have yet to fathom why.

12-21-2009, 08:39 PM	#10
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	You know, I don't think those check card things actually exist around here. As far as I've seen, debit cards are only for debit and credit cards are only for credit, and we don't have any cards that are combined. I noticed this when my (American) boyfriend was visiting me and using his crazy check card to pay for everything. Cashiers were frequently confused when they saw Visa written on his card yet were told to swipe it as debit. Actually, now that I think about, I've never seen a check card when cashing out people where I work, either. If visa or mastercard is written on the card it's credit; debit cards have the bank's logo on them. Yup, crazy Americans. I, too, prefer to use debit, as I don't like walking around with cash and haven't gotten around to applying for a credit card yet. However, I make tips where I work and usually save the change and roll it. I rolled all my tips the other day and it came to $30