“That’ll be $32.45 please.”
My wife grabbed her wallet and took out the cash we had for the trip. Thumbing through some of the bills, she counted them to herself and then searched for some coins.
The line was getting longer now and the gentleman behind us tried to entertain himself by looking away at the magazines close by.
I could tell he was getting perturbed.
“What are the loonies and the twonies again?” my wife asked with a smile. “Sorry, we’re from the U.S.”
“Let me have a look at what you have.”
It was grocery-store rush-hour and we were right in the thick of it – holding up the line in one of the most picturesque places in North America.
And, we were still getting accustomed to the new currency we had our hands on.
“See, the toonies are two-colored and the loonies are one-colored. They kinda look like your dollar coins.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
My wife handed over the cash and paid the patient clerk.
Crisis averted.
The stigma associated in paying with cash
While this episode on a recent trip to Canada proved that we still have a bit to learn about foreign currency – we got a taste of what it feels like to pay in cash again.
I rarely pay in cash anymore. And, if I have it on me, I’ve almost forgot what to do with it.
“You’re paying in cash!?”
“Why would you waste so much time?”
“Why would waste the other peoples time in line behind you?”
“Will the clerk even have bills in the register to provide change?? Are they gonna have to call up a supervisor. Oh geez.”
And, if the person whips out their checkbook: call security.
It’s amazing how things have changed since everyone has adopted plastic as the currency of choice. Paying in cash almost feels shameful.
Like it’s all been planned
I don’t know about you, but it feels like everyone is making it easier and faster to pay for goods today. Just swipe your card. Show your thumbprint. And even grab and go!
I believe that while these paying methods are making it more quicker to get through the checkout line, they are also teaching us to value money less.
When you don’t have to even think about the transaction process or feel the “pain” in handing over a loonie or toonie, the more removed we become with the money we have. And – as a result – the easier to detach from that money.
This is my guess anyways.
I’m trying harder to think more about my transactions and to process the hours I exchanged for that money. I’m also (much to the dismay of the folks in line), trying to pay in cash.
How about you? Do you sense the rolling eyes and “shame” attached to paying in cash? Or do you relish it?
After you’re done counting your cash, you may want to lower your cell phone bill. See how Aaron pays $11.40/mo for his.
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