Cash hasn’t been king for a long time. Since the rise of contactless cards, online shopping and digital payments, we’ve been hurtling towards a world where spare change doesn’t exist.
In the past decade, cash transactions have dropped from 63% of all payments to 34%. If this decline continued on its current projection, it would mean Britain becomes cashless by 2026.* And the coronavirus pandemic has only speeded up this move, with people shunning coins and notes to both avoid spreading the virus and abide by social-distancing rules.
Cash and ATM use in the UK has almost halved since the beginning of the pandemic,** with free ATMs disappearing from our high streets at an alarming rate.
There is no question that contactless, card and online payments have their benefits – you can even pay using your phone these days. But is society leaving some people behind? The elderly, for whom cash has always been a way of life, the millions without a bank account,children saving their pocket money, or domestic-violence victims trying to save themselves? Woman’s Own investigates.
According to UK Finance, 2.2 million people still exclusively use cash, of which 1.3 million have no bank account.
Savings were key to my freedom
Sam* lives with her two children.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 28, 2020-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 28, 2020-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?