A major risk of cash-only customers is theft. A dishonest employee might slip money out of a cash drawer, purposely charge a customer the wrong price and keep the difference, or give price "breaks" to customers he knows.
However, cash transactions also come with some disadvantages. For one, carrying large sums of cash can be risky, making both the buyer and seller vulnerable to theft or robbery. Cash transactions also do not offer the same level of protection as other forms of payment, such as credit cards or online payment systems.
Cash is less secure than a credit card. Unlike credit cards, if you lose physical money or have it stolen, there's no way to recover your losses. Less Convenient. You can't always use cash as a payment method.
Cash offers no protection from loss, theft or fraud that you are afforded with credit and debit cards. You may also miss out on potential warranties and purchase protection if you use cash to make an expensive purchase, McBride says.
Big-Ticket Items. Purchasing an expensive electronic item –i.e. a television, smartphone, tablet or computer — with cash can feel liberating, but Ramhold said it can also put you at a disadvantage. “Basically any electronic purchase should be done with a credit card,” she said.
Cash makes it easier to budget and stick to it
When you pay with the cash you've budgeted for purchases, it's easier to track exactly how you're spending your money. It's also an eye-opener and keeps you in reality as to how much cash is going out vs. coming in from week to week or month to month.
For those in tip-heavy businesses like bartending or serving, it makes sense to have a higher number of transactions taking place all in cash. But when it comes to buying a car, using cash can raise red flags; paper money is harder to trace, easier to counterfeit, and easier to steal than a credit or debit card.
Convenience. Credit cards are often more convenient and secure than carrying cash. As long as you can pay your bill in full each month, using a credit card is typically more advantageous than using cash for in-person purchases. You need to use a credit card for online transactions as you can't pay in cash.
Carry $100 to $300
“We would recommend between $100 to $300 of cash in your wallet, but also having a reserve of $1,000 or so in a safe at home,” Anderson says. Depending on your spending habits, a couple hundred dollars may be more than enough for your daily expenses or not enough.
Cash is available when you need it and, unlike stocks, there's little risk to principal, especially since most savings and checking accounts, CDs and money market deposit accounts (MMDAs) are FDIC-insured for up to $250,000 per depositor.
The Bank for International Settlements' Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems identifies five major categories of risk associated with payment transactions: fraud, operational, legal, settlement, and systemic.
While it is legal to keep as much as money as you want at home, the standard limit for cash that is covered under a standard home insurance policy is $200, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings.
We generally suggest that clients consider keeping on hand enough to cover one to five years of their annual burn rate. Everyone is different. But, typically, we see clients set aside three years' worth of operating funds. And we help them figure out how much, exactly, that really is.
To keep herself on the right path, Stettler used a simple method called the envelope system. She divided her spending into different categories, like groceries, entertainment, and bills. Then, she put a specific amount of cash for each category into separate envelopes. Stettler found this system extremely helpful.
Cash allows you to keep closer control of your spending, for example by preventing you from overspending. It's fast. Banknotes and coins settle a payment instantly. It's secure.
Fewer Security Risks
Although debit and credit cards often have personal identification numbers (PIN) and chips for extra security, there is less risk of identity theft or your information getting stolen online when using cash. Cash is only protected by your ability to defend it should someone try to take it from you.
A cash deposit of more than $10,000 into your bank account requires special handling. The IRS requires banks and businesses to file Form 8300, the Currency Transaction Report, if they receive cash payments over $10,000. Depositing more than $10,000 will not result in immediate questioning from authorities, however.
Ways of financing major purchases
There are several ways of paying for something expensive, including cash (from checking or savings), credit cards, personal loans and lines of credit.
Banks report individuals who deposit $10,000 or more in cash. The IRS typically shares suspicious deposit or withdrawal activity with local and state authorities, Castaneda says. The federal law extends to businesses that receive funds to purchase more expensive items, such as cars, homes or other big amenities.
Keep Cash to a Minimum
From a security point of view, cash is the most insecure asset you can have. Keeping the amount of cash you have in the house to a minimum in the case of fire or theft is a good rule of thumb, said Ryan McCarty, CFP, lead advisor at Castle Rock Investment Company.
Cash: Green convenience
You never know when a card processing system will be unavailable, or when you're traveling through a remote place without an ATM, or another emergency situation suddenly makes other methods of payment unusable.
By age 50, most financial advisers recommend having five to six times your annual salary saved. While wages fluctuate quarter to quarter, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the average annual salary is about $61,900.
If you're looking for a ballpark figure, Taylor Kovar, certified financial planner and CEO of Kovar Wealth Management says, “By age 30, a good rule of thumb is to aim to have saved the equivalent of your annual salary. Let's say you're earning $50,000 a year. By 30, it would be beneficial to have $50,000 saved.