Friday, December 12, 2008

let's abolish cash

Is it such a radical idea?

I mean, who carries cash and change around these days anyway?

I was at the library, trying to pay my late charges (I'm keeping the exact amount owed to myself - it's pretty embarassing!). But the mean librarian, with her ugly glasses, insisted that only cash was accepted. No credit cards, no debit cards. Only anything with a face on it.

But I just find it really inconvenient to be carrying around an extra pound of change and loose bills, especially when I've already got the weight of three encyclopedia-sized reference books in my schoolbag.

And besides - I saw an episode of 60 minutes once where they said that 5 dollar bills are full of cocaine - and germs!

13 comments:

Jacob Da Jew said...

"where they said that 5 dollar bills are full of cocaine - and germs!"

I'm fine with first, not with the second :P

Frum Librarian said...

She was probably a library clerk, not a librarian such as myself, which means her glasses are allowed to be ugly, unlike my own. I hear ya with the cash thing, though

G6 said...

Cute post...
and don't be embarrassed about your library fines - Hey, I figure I'm supporting the library and it is still cheaper for me in the long run than buying all those books :)

citizen of brooklyn north said...

notice also how the librarians' voices escalate in accordance to how high the fines are? A $2 fine, they mumble, $10 fine, talk in that too loud for the library voice, and over $20? Practically on the PA system.

G6 said...

I'm not sure why I'm sharing this, but I once had a library fine on a book that was HIGHER than the actual value of the book - so for those of you who were wondering - yes, it is possible....

Anonymous said...

Where I live, when you pay for a lost book, you are not charged for the late fines that had accumulated for it.

So in your case, G6, it would have been to your advantage to have kept the book, and pay the lost book fee.

Anonymous said...

I'm assuming you don't live in Brooklyn, because you can pay your fines only by the kiosk and use cash or credit (exact change only, no bills higher than 20).

Annoying thing about Brooklyn they don't let you check out material if your fines are over $15...

I'm proud of my Library fines, it means I'm relatively literate, or atleast I try to be.

G6 said...

In Manhattan, they cut you off when your fines reach $10 (not speaking from personal experience of course ;) )

Originally From Brooklyn said...

cash is king. with a credit card you end up spending more than you originally had in mind. cash puts things into a real perspective. Also the credit card companies charge money to the stores to run a transaction, who wants to help out those stipid companies by giving them free money when cash is just as good?

Anonymous said...

Who doesnt carry cash? I hate it when places are card-only. I don't want to have to charge everything and get a bill at the end of the month.

frumskeptic said...

I hate carrying around cash!

I charge everything, and I get points, which is great.

:-)

About libraries- I accumulated so much in late fees, I'm afraid to go back to a library now!! Doesn't matter though, the type of books I read they don't usually have in the library.

Maidel said...

online banking anyone?

Jewish Side of Babysitter said...

Good Point, cash does become inconvenient.

I have such high library fines that I never paid, so haven't gone to the library since before HS!

Credit cards are great because of the reward points. Plus it's easier to keep track of expenses that way.

When I was 14 I got a debit card from a place in Des Menois, and everytime I wanted to make a deposit it was through the mail, very annoying. Online banking is so convenient, to pay bills and everything, most banks have that option by now. The e-mail reminders are great too