Who still uses cash?

"How long has it been since you used cash?" This is actually a question that tortures the soul.

"I have even forgotten what cash looks like", "Who still uses cash now? Even the beggars on the roadside can scan the QR code", "I withdrew 3 coins two years ago. One thousand yuan, and now I still have more than two thousand at home, never used”...

In the past, wallets were a must-have item for people to go out for activities, but now, mobile phones have almost completely replaced them. Cash has gradually faded out of people's lives.

A set of data can intuitively support this conclusion: throughout 2020, the number of ATM machines shrank by more than 80,000, and the number of ATM machines per 10,000 people nationwide also dropped from 7.87 in 2019 to 7.24. A year-on-year decrease of 7.95%.

This shows that “withdrawing cash” is no longer a necessary behavior for consumers, and this change in behavior has become particularly obvious since 2016.

In the Spring Festival of 2015, WeChat began to join hands with the Spring Festival Gala to launch a nationwide red envelope grabbing activity. During the Spring Festival of 2016, Alipay launched the "Five Blessings" activity for the first time. Under the behavior of the entire population "crazy grabbing" cash red envelopes, Mobile payment has quietly replaced cash payment.

The "China Payment and Clearing Industry Operation Report (2017)" shows that the transaction amount of cash withdrawal business in 2016 was 65.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 10.46%.

However, the mobile payment businesses of Alipay and WeChat have achieved rapid growth. By 2016, the total mobile payment transactions of payment institutions had reached 51.01 trillion yuan, accounting for 77.9% of cash withdrawal business, while this proportion was still 30% in the previous year.

After the epidemic in 2020, the "cashless" consumption method has become even more popular. Today, mobile payments have almost completely changed consumers’ payment habits and merchant settlement methods. More and more people can’t remember the last time they touched cash.

Data shows: As of December 2020, the number of mobile payment users in China reached 853 million, accounting for 86.5% of mobile Internet users.

But, is cash really not “scented”?

In fact, cash is still a necessity in the lives of some people, such as the elderly who have difficulty adapting to electronic payments. In the lives of many young people, cash has not yet "died". There are still some situations where cash must be used, such as giving gifts.

In this issue, we talked with 6 young people. They still use cash in different scenarios and even feel the convenience brought by cash. Among them, some use cash to buy vegetables at the wet market for the purpose of "getting money", some find that it is faster to queue up for registration with cash, and some find that cash is more convenient when traveling abroad. Some young people follow the tradition and use red envelopes to give gifts during the holidays.

The experiences of these young people reflect to a certain extent that cash has not completely left people’s lives. In different scenarios, cash still has an irreplaceable status.

In the hospital, paying with cash for registration saves a lot of time

Operated by Cocoa 26-year-old community

Today’s young people rarely bring cash with them when they go out. On your person, just bring your phone. But my experience this time has made me carry 100 yuan in cash with me every time I go out for emergencies.

Last weekend, I went to the hospital to see a doctor. When I rushed to the hospital, it was almost 11 o'clock, and the 10 registration windows were full of people. I was a little anxious, afraid that I wouldn't be able to register in the morning. At this moment, I suddenly found that there was a queue with only a few people in it.

I was still thinking why I shouldn’t queue in this queue, so I went to queue in that queue. It was my turn very quickly. When registering, the doctor asked me what department I was admitted to and directly told me, "The registration fee is 10 yuan, in cash."

I was stunned at the time. This was the cash window and I looked at the doctor awkwardly and said I didn’t have any. The doctor told me that this window only accepted cash, and there was no other way. I had to go to the WeChat and Alipay window to queue up again. As a result, the WeChat and Alipay windows were all full of people, and for a while, it was not my turn at all.

Because I was afraid of passing the morning number, I decided to try to find a way. With the mentality of trying, I thought that everyone who came to the cash window to register must have brought cash, so I went up and asked, "Hello, can you give me some cash? I will scan the code and transfer it to you."

I asked several people in succession, but no one was willing to scan the code for me. In fact, I understand because the people at the cash window are all older. Although they carry cash with them, they are probably afraid of meeting scammers and have a look of doubt on their faces.

After waiting for a while, a young man finally came to register at the cash window, and I once again plucked up the courage to ask. This time I successfully exchanged 100 yuan in cash, and then paid him using WeChat payment. I got the account soon, saving time.

While I was waiting in line, this young man laughed at me and said, "Why don't you bring cash to the hospital? You don't come to the hospital often."

"I said helplessly, "Because it is very convenient to pay by mobile phone now! "The young man laughed at that time and said, "Sometimes, cash is more convenient, but when necessary, you still need to have some cash with you for emergencies. ”

As this young man said, it makes sense to carry a few Mao Zedong amulets in your pocket. Although electronic payment has greatly facilitated our lives, if there are only electronic Paying will bring another trouble to life

To save some money for buying groceries

I always have change in my wallet

Xiaowen | 24-year-old operator

“Green vegetables, two yuan and three yuan. "I'll pay in cash, don't ask for thirty cents." "This is the scene where I bargain with vendors every weekend when I buy food.

This is not the first time I have used cash to buy food at the morning market.

But before that, because of scanning It is very convenient to pay with QR code, and I hate always leaving a few coins in my bag after giving change, or even losing them. Every time I go shopping for groceries, I only bring my mobile phone and scan the QR code to pay directly.

But later, I discovered that elderly aunts and uncles always carry their wallets and pay with cash no matter how much food they buy. At that time, I thought they were too outdated, until one day I discovered that the aunts and uncles When paying with cash, I would always bargain with the stall owner, for example, just wipe out the zero. In many cases, the stall owner would also just wipe out the zero for convenience. I also learned the lesson after discovering the truth. p>

In order to buy groceries with cash, I even went to an ATM to withdraw cash. After buying something at a nearby supermarket, I gave 100 yuan in cash as change, and then used the change to buy groceries at the vegetable market. I was also embarrassed to bargain with the vegetable vendors, so I always waited until there were fewer people and told the boss that I would pay in cash.

Later, I always followed my uncle and aunt to buy vegetables together and learn. Watch how they use cash to bargain, and even imitate their tone of voice, "It's just 30 cents, don't take it." "Now I can say these words very smoothly, and I no longer feel embarrassed when bargaining.

Of course, I will also meet bosses who don't want to erase zeros, but I can eventually get a few cents in exchange. Spend it. A few days ago I met a vegetable seller and he told me: “Not many people pay with cash these days. ”

In fact, when I pay for groceries with cash, it’s not just to save a few dollars, but to save a few dollars and go through a lot of trouble to change it. Although it’s troublesome, it adds a little more fun to my life.

Next time I go shopping for groceries, I will still bring some change with me, maybe I can save some money for a Coke.

When it comes to tipping, it’s better to use cash< /p>

Chen Panpan | 29-year-old Japanese translator

In the summer of 2018, I graduated from Nagoya University with a master’s degree and returned to China. At that time, I was not as busy as I am now. In addition, I am a Buddhist, so I am not in a hurry to find a job. I was working and had a few days of leisure at home. One day, my mother saw in the circle of friends that an aunt had gone to Thailand. She was so envious that she started to encourage me. In the end, I couldn’t stand it anymore, and I really wanted to go on a trip to relax. I decided to go there once.

Before I left, I checked the guide. Everyone said that you can use WeChat and Alipay in Bangkok. But because I basically used cash in Japan before, I ended up going to the bank to exchange some. About seven or eight thousand baht, just in case of emergencies.

When I arrived in Bangkok, although I had done my homework, I was still shocked when I saw the advertisements for Alipay and WeChat on the streets. You can scan the QR code.

I have a habit of visiting the local vegetable market when I go to a new place. It turns out that when buying mangoes, cash still works. It didn't show up, and he was so anxious that he asked many people for help to solve it. After that, I paid in cash to try to avoid causing trouble to others. I later learned that roadside stalls and food markets in Bangkok had just connected to WeChat and Alipay. It didn’t take long.

Another place where you must use cash when going to Thailand is to tip. Although Thailand is a Southeast Asian country, it is particularly influenced by Western tipping culture, and tipping is required in many places.

The massage industry in Thailand is more developed than in China, and street shops can be found everywhere. The day before we left, we found a massage parlor with high ratings on the review platform, and the one who recommended it to me was a man in his 50s. Auntie, who is very honest, chatted with us and told us what fun and delicious food there is in Thailand. I was ticklish and screamed, but she was very patient and kept smiling and said, "It's so comfortable, so comfortable." "When I checked out, I gave my aunt a tip equivalent to RMB 50. It was not a small amount, but I think it was worth it!

Generally speaking, there were not many opportunities to tip during this trip. After all, I was traveling with my mother. , I didn’t go to a few places with good service. If I go with my sisters, I will definitely watch the transvestite show and go to the bar to have a drink. I will definitely use the cash left in these places.

There was a lot of Thai baht, because there was a handling fee for exchanging it at the bank, so I kept it at the bottom of the box. I thought I would go there with my sisters again after the epidemic, and I would use it then.

Be cautious when entering companies that pay wages in cash

Yangyang | 22-year-old copywriter

When I just graduated and entered the society a year ago, I didn’t understand The importance of five insurances and one housing fund, and I didn’t know much about whether a company was formal or not, so I muddleheadedly entered a small company that had just been established to do copywriting.

There are not many people in this company. There are only 10 people including the boss. Every month, the boss seals the cash and sends it to us one by one. At that time, because I had too little social experience, I didn’t understand what this behavior meant. Instead, I felt that it had a sense of ritual. After all, in the era of rampant mobile payments, many people have rarely had the opportunity to touch a large stack of banknotes on a regular basis. Got cash.

Although it is fun to count the money after getting a cash salary, the trouble is that after counting, you still have to find time to go to the bank to deposit it. After all, as mentioned above, mobile payment is rampant, and many merchants only accept payment by scanning QR codes. Sometimes when I go shopping for groceries with a hundred-dollar bill, the stall owner can't find enough change to get it back.

When I left my job and was about to go to the next company, I discovered that my former employer used cash to pay my salary to evade taxes. There is no need to use the company account to pay wages, there is no need to explain the source of the money, and naturally there is no need to pay social security and provident funds on behalf of employees.

I also encountered great trouble when I joined the next company. Since my salary was paid in cash in the past year, there was no way to form a bank salary flow and no way to prove it to the next company. What was my past salary? There was no way to prove whether I actually had a labor relationship with my previous company.

After many twists and turns, I finally joined a regular company. I paid my five insurances and one housing fund on a regular basis every month, and my salary was also paid to my bank card on a regular basis every month. Although I lose the joy of cash every month, I am still very glad that I escaped from that small company that was full of pitfalls.

It is said that there are still many small businesses that use cash wages to evade taxes. I can only say that everyone must keep their eyes open when looking for a job, so as not to be deceived like me.

During the Chinese New Year

My family’s cash is transferred between deposits and withdrawals

String | 35-year-old product manager

The latest The cash I came into contact with should have been on my child's 3rd birthday. At that time, the red envelopes given by grandparents and grandfathers were all made in cash and could be given directly to the children.

In addition to children's birthdays, it is also the Chinese New Year. Thinking about it now, it seems that every Chinese New Year is the time when I see the most cash in the year.

Our family’s annual New Year custom is to give each parent a red envelope. The amount of the red envelope is usually 2,000 yuan per person. Then give 500 yuan each to grandma, grandma and children. But usually we don’t have money in our salary card, so we put it in Alipay or financial products. So I just wait for the New Year’s month’s salary and then pick it up after it’s been paid.

My previous workplace paid wages on the 9th, and they were basically paid before the Chinese New Year. But as the Chinese New Year approached last year, I changed jobs. By the Chinese New Year month, I could only get half a month’s salary, and of course there was no year-end bonus. Then I had to spend those thousands of dollars.

I remember very clearly that I first transferred the money from Alipay to my salary card, and then took the salary card to the bank's ATM to withdraw money. At that time, it seemed that I could only withdraw 2,000 yuan at a time. Anyway, I went back and forth to withdraw it 3 or 4 times.

During the Chinese New Year, put the money into red envelopes and give them to the elderly.

Of course, the elderly will also prepare red envelopes for us and our children. In this way, the money we give out has to be given back again after going around in a circle. Because I usually can't spend cash at all, so after collecting the money, I have to go to the bank again to deposit the money back into the bank card.

Maybe in these situations, cash red envelopes are more ritualistic. Especially the elderly, they think it is a very auspicious blessing to give red envelopes to children during the New Year, birthdays and other festivals.

In fact, many times I feel that there is no need to go through this ritual, but even though I feel it is not necessary, I still do it as a routine every year.

Sending cash red envelopes

is the only way for me to follow others

Pao Pao | 28-year-old employee of a large factory

Ma Weiwei in "Qi Pa Pao" Said in "Said", "Money is the robbery of single people in this world." I completely agree with this point of view. When I was an angry young man in college, I thought that the bad habit of following the elements should be abolished. How can feelings be measured by money? Wouldn’t it be more thoughtful to make homemade gifts?

So in the two years after graduation, some classmates and colleagues said on WeChat, "I'm getting married. Come when you have time." My first reaction was definitely a blessing, and then I asked myself, "What do I hope when I get married?" Will he be there? "If it's negative, I won't go, let alone transfer money via WeChat.

Later, I set a principle myself, that is: those who need to transfer money through WeChat must not follow the money. They must be present and give cash red envelopes.

Think about it, everyone is so busy now, traveling all over the world, what kind of relationship would it be like to be able to put down work and catch a plane to attend a wedding. So I took action and it was just a big bulging red envelope. It was fun to give and even more fun to open.

Last year, my best friend of more than ten years got married, so I gave her a big cash red envelope, which surprised her.

In fact, at the beginning, I also planned to give her a gift. I even started researching what to give her a month in advance. How about a cross stitch? Who likes young people nowadays? Silk quilt? It is impossible for people not to buy quilts. How about a necklace? The ones that are too expensive can’t be bought, the ones that are cheap are not suitable... I just realized that it is really difficult to choose gifts! Why not wrap up a 1,000 yuan red envelope and buy whatever you like.

Later, my best friend told me that she had wanted to tell me not to prepare gifts for a long time. She lacked everything, but she didn’t want to disappoint me, so she didn’t say anything. So when I handed her the red envelope, her expression was really surprised, and she jokingly said that this was the most substantial gift she had ever received.

In fact, many times, gifts are just a form of real cash. Wouldn’t it be more enjoyable to look at it?

*The title picture and text accompanying pictures come from Visual China.

In the article, Yangyang, Keke, Xiaowen, Chen Panpan, Xingxing and Paopao are all pseudonyms

This article originates from Ranciyuan