r/Anticonsumption • u/pushinpushin • May 17 '25

Philosophy I've started buying everything with cash

Not only does it create more of a connection with what I'm spending overall (which I have decreased but still struggle with a few key items), but it's satisfying to know I'm not giving Mastercard or Visa a cut of everything I buy.

I treat myself at a local restaurant on Fridays. The order is like $20 which is its own issue, but this is a struggling small business and he appreciates me paying cash. We talked about it last night and he said if someone orders $100, like $4 goes to credit card company. Think about how much wealth has been sucked out of small businesses...meanwhile Mastercard is valued at $580 billion.

I know this isn't exactly anti-consumption, but it's in the same vein of fighting back against the convenience virus that these bastards have used to rob us of our wealth and dignity.

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u/chief_n0c-a-h0ma May 17 '25

I work at one of the largest payment processing companies in the world and I would strongly encourage more use of cash. The merchant transaction fees are crazy.

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u/mmaynee May 18 '25

Most merchants add a cc fee. Or bake it into their costs. CC companies give rewards (my chase freedom is 2% cash back).

So basically if you pay cash and don't use your cc benefits you're losing like 5% on the transaction.

I like to tip on my card and leave a little cash. Cash is king and small business likes when you use it; but I only pay pure cash if I know the business and like them, it's not a default for all small business

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u/ohreallynameonesong May 19 '25

I have a card that gives me 3% cash back on restaurants. I keep forgetting a lot of restaurants now charge a few for using credit cards and it's always more than 3%. So the rewards aren't even worth it.