On: The importance of cash in a technological society

[nayuki]

I spend my coins in ordinary cash transactions. What's the problem? If the cashier can give me change, I can give them change.

[2023throwawayy → nayuki]

I don’t want to carry around a pouch of coins like a medieval traveler.

[peteradio → 2023throwawayy]

Just put in your fanny pack then.

[2023throwawayy → peteradio]

My fanny pack is already full of grunge cassette tapes.

[citrin_ru → nayuki]

In US/UK prices like $5.98 are annoyingly common. Paying in cash you are getting pennies of change and to pay with them one have to collect a lot of coins which inconvenient to carry and takes time to count. When prices are reasonably rounded using cash is more convenient.

[avidiax → citrin_ru]

So you take your tiny coins and use them to get bigger coins. You buy something and it's 4.53, and you give 5.03 to get 0.50 in change.

[TylerE → avidiax]

and you've just spent $5 worth of time and effort for 50 cents

[avidiax → TylerE]

This assumes you want the 5.03 item, and it's just a way to consolidate change instead of having a change jar.