The card surcharges are so annoying. I'm moving to cash until they ban them.
this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
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Ummmm.... They just did? https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/ending-card-surcharges-help-cost-living
It'll make everything more expensive but hey, no surcharge π
Instead of one surcharge at the end, it will be a dozen smaller ones on each product. Yay .......
It'll take a while to kick in
It won't take effect until later this year. I'm talking about the time between now and when it takes effect.
I've used cash a fair bit in the past year, for a few reasons. I know some food places prefer it (I ask even if I don't see a surcharge, since I have it on me anyway), one otherwise-normal shop I know simply doesn't accept card payments at all (has an ATM in the store), I know a tradie or two who offer cash-in-hand jobs in the future to bypass their regular employer's large cut, and sometimes I simply don't like banks knowing my spending habits and potentially running analytics on them.
I am surprised to see a non-trivial chunk of 18-29, compared to later age demographics, using all cash.
I am surprised to see a non-trivial chunk of 18-29, compared to later age demographics
I suspect that "compared to later age demographics" is key to understanding it. My guess is that younger people are just more likely to be unbanked, and thus cash is their only option.
Young people canβt really be βunbankedβ unless theyβre unemployed.
I'm a Brit rather than a Aussie but im in that age range and use virtually entirely cash, easier for budgeting, better for privacy concerns & IMO its a element of use it or lose it. I have no doubt that various groups in various governments would like nothing better than to get rid of cash for surveillance reasons.
I have no doubt that various groups in various governments would like nothing better than to get rid of cash for surveillance reasons.
Yes, not to mention corporate groups too (banks, online purchasing, loyalty cards, ... ).
nah, there was a trend of doing Cash Budget folders, blew up on IG and Tiktok. That would explain that one.
I can save 1-10% on some things by using cash. Do that over a year and it all adds up. Isn't that the sort of financial advice some motivational speaker would give you?
What are you saving even 1% on by paying cash? Dodgy tradies?
Haircuts and every food place that has a surcharge for card
Iβve never seen a 10% card surcharge?
That one wasn't card. I got a haircut and it came to $55.95 but I only had $55 cash so the guy said to just give him $50. That works out to more than a 10% saving for going cash
It used to be that credit card companies would give 'rewards' to users for the privilege of being about to track their spending. Now it seems to be the opposite. I reckon that means banks have too much power.
I use cash quite a bit, and it isn't all about the transaction fees.
Cash drives the tax evasion economy.
nah I'd say that's creative accounting and billionaires