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Comment by heresy | Hacker News Reader

Revamping the ATM seems a bit backwards.

I don't carry cash, haven't for 6 or 7 years now.

Electronic transaction fees with debit cards are non-existent.

My paycheck goes straight into my bank account.

Transferring money to other NZ bank accounts electronically costs nothing, and shows up within 1 day (or instantly if the same bank).

In fact, the only time I get charged is if I actually use an ATM, or go into the bank to speak to someone.

But there is no merchant in NZ who does not accept electronic transactions, so no need to use an ATM, or carry cash.

Only necessary if you want to transact without knowledge of the revenue department :)

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I've actually moved away from using electronic transations exclusively to using them only for receiving my pay, paying bills, and online shopping. Every pay, I withdraw the cash I've allocated for various things (food, fun, photography, gas, etc.) and put it in labeled envelopes. It keeps me much more honest. When the envelope is empty, I just don't do that thing anymore.

Using a debit card with the PocketMoney iPhone app keeps me honest.

I know as soon as I've bought something if I've blown the budget.

And for some reason, debit card feels more like "real money" than the credit card with its elastic limit.

Canada is much the same way.

That said - that's not true of the entire world - many societies still accept cash as a regular form of payment, and electronic methods cost extra.

(And darn it, we SHOULD be worried about the non-anonymity of electronic banking. There is nothing wrong with cash.)

I still get a kick out of the shock from surprising places when I go shopping with cash... people get freaked out because you have some whoppingly HUGE amount of money like $200 in your wallet, and ask "Aren't you afraid you'll get robbed?" and whatnot.

I find it's better to pull a small amount of cash ($200) for a week or two to cover lunches, little things, and is always handy when I'm out with a group.

People who never carry cash are a social nuisance: they often slow down the queue at convenience stores and are always awkward splitting the check.

I learned to carry cash after not being able to use my credit card at 2AM in winter (-22F with a -65F windchill) in North Dakota at the gas station. I tend to pay cash for gas these days to avoid those moments.

Heh. You should visit the USA. On my last trip to the usps I found that theirs parking lot had park meters ... then drove around some 4 blocks because I didn't had quarters. Gave up and went to work and from there found another usps.

Moral? You can't even exit your car here without some 10 pounds of coins.

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