Cash facilitates budgetary control

Imagine a week without cards or apps—only cash. Would you spend less, think harder, or just get frustrated? A Guardian journalist did just that, revealing valuable insights about how cash shapes our spending, emotions, and financial health.

Ever walked from an ATM without your cash? Read how a human touch can transform the experience.

As France braces for a nationwide day of action dubbed “Bloquons tout” (“Block everything”), a striking feature of the protests is the call for citizens to withdraw cash from banks and use it instead of cards. This tactic, reminiscent of past grassroots movements like the Yellow Vests, aims to disrupt the financial system and send a message to both the government and major banks.

In a new book 'The Power of Cash,'Jay Zagorky highlights the benefits of cash, from privacy to national security. To ensure future demand, we must expose children to cash early. Advocacy groups should focus on educating youth through classroom activities and contests.

Beyond technicalities, cash serves as a unifying force in society that should not be underestimated.

A new OECD paper highlights the importance of balancing digital innovation with the enduring need for cash. By adopting comprehensive policies and initiatives, governments can ensure that all segments of society have access to reliable and secure payment methods, fostering financial inclusion and stability in the digital age.

In a recent speech, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock highlighted the significant shift in consumer payment preferences, emphasizing the challenges to the cash infrastructure. The RBA is committed to ensure cash remains a viable means of payment for as long as Australians want or need to use cash.

A penny for your thoughts? The humble penny is more than just a coin—it's a symbol of American history and thrift. As debates about its future continue, let's explore why every penny counts.

The European Central Bank (ECB) published in December its latest study on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE). In terms of the number of payments, cash is the most widely used method with 52% of transactions, down from 59% in 2022.

Gisèle Pélicot, is a French woman who endured years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband. While her ordeal primarily involved severe physical and psychological abuse, her story underscores the broader context of dependency and control that often includes financial abuse

New research highlights that cash not only influences how much we spend but also fosters a profound sense of psychological ownership that digital payments do not replicate.

New research confirms that consumers spend more when using digital payments rather than cash. Consumers need to be aware of this and manage their spending habits accordingly. Regulators may need to address the risk of overspending.