The card surcharges are so annoying. I'm moving to cash until they ban them.
this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
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Ummmm.... They just did? https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/ending-card-surcharges-help-cost-living
It'll make everything more expensive but hey, no surcharge 😕
It'll take a while to kick in
Instead of one surcharge at the end, it will be a dozen smaller ones on each product. Yay .......
It won't take effect until later this year. I'm talking about the time between now and when it takes effect.
I've used cash a fair bit in the past year, for a few reasons. I know some food places prefer it (I ask even if I don't see a surcharge, since I have it on me anyway), one otherwise-normal shop I know simply doesn't accept card payments at all (has an ATM in the store), I know a tradie or two who offer cash-in-hand jobs in the future to bypass their regular employer's large cut, and sometimes I simply don't like banks knowing my spending habits and potentially running analytics on them.
I am surprised to see a non-trivial chunk of 18-29, compared to later age demographics, using all cash.
I am surprised to see a non-trivial chunk of 18-29, compared to later age demographics
I suspect that "compared to later age demographics" is key to understanding it. My guess is that younger people are just more likely to be unbanked, and thus cash is their only option.
Young people can’t really be “unbanked” unless they’re unemployed.
I'm a Brit rather than a Aussie but im in that age range and use virtually entirely cash, easier for budgeting, better for privacy concerns & IMO its a element of use it or lose it. I have no doubt that various groups in various governments would like nothing better than to get rid of cash for surveillance reasons.
I have no doubt that various groups in various governments would like nothing better than to get rid of cash for surveillance reasons.
Yes, not to mention corporate groups too (banks, online purchasing, loyalty cards, ... ).
nah, there was a trend of doing Cash Budget folders, blew up on IG and Tiktok. That would explain that one.
Cash drives the tax evasion economy.
nah I'd say that's creative accounting and billionaires
Cash makes you more aware of what you're spending, is good for budgeting, and better for privacy. I'll never stop using it
and is also resilient
I can save 1-10% on some things by using cash. Do that over a year and it all adds up. Isn't that the sort of financial advice some motivational speaker would give you?
What are you saving even 1% on by paying cash? Dodgy tradies?
Haircuts and every food place that has a surcharge for card
I’ve never seen a 10% card surcharge?
That one wasn't card. I got a haircut and it came to $55.95 but I only had $55 cash so the guy said to just give him $50. That works out to more than a 10% saving for going cash
It used to be that credit card companies would give 'rewards' to users for the privilege of being about to track their spending. Now it seems to be the opposite. I reckon that means banks have too much power.
I use cash quite a bit, and it isn't all about the transaction fees.
That's always the cycle when it comes to giving up data for 'perks'. First there'll be benefits for complying, then those will go away, then it'll turn into penalties for people who don't comply. With the rise in technology in cars we're already seeing some insurance companies offer lower rates for people in exchange for sharing their location/driving info. I think eventually it'll shift to the point where 'default' insurance is made so expensive you'll have no choice but to share everything you do with your insurance company
You guys are both off in your thinking. Credit card companies didn’t give rewards to get your spending data, they did it to get you spending. If people don’t spend on their credit cards, people don’t get charged large amounts in interest.
With car insurance it’s not about location data, it’s about risk. They’re giving cheaper insurance to smarter EVs that are safer and less likely to be in accidents, because it’s just free money for them.
You guys are both off in your thinking. Credit card companies didn’t give rewards to get your spending data, they did it to get you spending. If people don’t spend on their credit cards, people don’t get charged large amounts in interest.
They do it for debit cards too though. There'll be other reasons as you said but getting your spending daa is 100% one of them