What do you carry - cash, checks, CCs?

[MN-Investor]

The washing dishes thread got me thinking. When you go out, what do you carry as far as cash, credit cards, and / or a checkbook?

For me -

Cash - I usually get $200 at a time, then replenish it when it gets down below $40, probably every six weeks.

CC - One credit card, one debit card.

Checkbook - Only if I plan on stopping at Costco or Sam's Club. Those are the only two stores I write checks at.

[Deleted]

I rarely have cash... i usually use plastic. I sometimes have a checkbook with me... don't use it much anymore...

[dividend]

I carry 2 primary credit cards in my small wallet (plus my joint CC with DBF). But I'm also normally carrying my larger, auxiliary wallet in my purse, with 3 more credit cards, my debit card for ATMs, and one set of checks like would go in a checkbook. Plus an adorable coin purse that has maybe $4 in it. And various gift cards and coupons.

[cronewitch]

I keep some checkbooks in my purse but seldom write a check maybe once a year or less. I carry several credit cards and usually a lot of cash. I get rental income in cash so carry it around until it is too much then deposit it. I have around a thousand in cash now so if I happen to be at a bank I might deposit it.

Once in a great while I might want a check like the day I bought a car without planning before I left home. I had my HELOC checkbook with me so I didn't have to go home to get it.

[Gardening Grandma]

I carry our rewards CC, a debit card and around $35 in cash. I also I keep two checks in my wallet. (My favorite thrift store doesn't take any kind of plastic). I also keep a $20 bill stashed in each vehicle.

[Deleted]

Like MN Investor, I get $200 at a time from the ATM and it last me over a month. Credit cards: right now I have a Hilton Amex and AA and Marriott Visa cards. My ATM card is also a debit card but I rarely use it for that- it just comes in handy for situations where swiping your card is the best payment option and they don't take ccs. I keep 2-3 checks in my wallet. One goes into the church collection every week, the others for things like paying the woman who cuts my hair.

[greenstone]

All of the above. For cash, I take out $40 every two weeks for small purchases and an occasional lunch out. I have a debit card but only use it to withdrawal the $40. I have several CCs but only use one for the cash rewards, the others I've had for 20+ years with high credit limits so I keep them open for my credit score. I had given up carrying my checkbook with me, but I bought a new wallet with a built-in checkbook cover so I put it there for convenience. I could leave most at home but I am more afraid of not having one when I need it than I am afraid of possible loss or theft.

[DVM gone riding]

most of the time I am carrying all three. I don't write many checks but when I need to I prefer to simply have it there.

[TD2K]

I usually pull out a couple of hundred dollars and that lasts me quite a while.

I never carry my check book, pretty much everything goes on my CC.

[azphx1972]

About $40 in cash, debit card, and a few credit cards. I used to carry more in cash, but after some thieves broke into my locker at the gym and stole all the cash from my wallet, I limit it to only what I spend in a week or two.

[Cookies Galore]

All of the above. Right now, my purse and wallet hold my checkbook, debit card, credit card, and $1.06. I use my debit card the most (I'm simple, I like having my purchases taken out of my account right away), credit card for large purchases, checkbook is just there looking pretty (though I do tend to write my rent check when I'm at work), and I get cash whenever I need it. If we're going out with friends, I prefer to have cash for my drinks/food and my favorite lunch vendor is a truck. Trucks don't take cards.

[spartan7886]

I usually have about $40 in cash (which can last me months), 2 credit cards, debit cards, and my business credit card. It just so happens that I currently have a checkbook in my purse, but only because I never took it out after the last time I needed it. Everything goes on the AmEx if the vendor will take it.

[sapphire12]

$40 cash. Two credit cards, 1 debit card. Maybe 5 days a year do I carry my check book.

[schildi]

Very little cash. I have 3 CC's and a couple debit cards in my wallet.
I use CC's whenever accepted.

[rovo]

Do not carry credit cards or checks. Carry cash only. (Also a .357 most of the time.)

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

If I accompany my wonderful DH ~ HE carries cash, credit cards, and has a debit card.
If I am by myself, I do likewise.
Our checkbook lives at home.

[midjd]

I carry 1 CC and 2 debit cards, usually the checkbook is bouncing around somewhere in the bottom of my purse. 99% of purchases go on the CC, I occasionally have to write a random check (Girl Scout cookies, driveway repaving, used furniture store that doesn't take CCs). Generally, the only time I have cash is when I put my coworkers or boss' lunches on my CC and they pay me back. It gets frittered away so I avoid carrying it.

DH carries 1 CC and usually $30-50 in cash. He is better at hanging onto cash than I am

[TheOtherMe]

My checkbook also lives at home.

I generally use my debit cards. Anything that goes on a CC, is paid off each month. I carry very little cash.

[Deleted]

Sounds odd, but I carry two small wallets in my purse. In one I keep my license, cc and $20. The other has the stuff I rarely use but need with me...like my proof of insurance, ATM card, Blue Cross and library cards. and that one's tucked away in a zippered compartment at the bottom. Don't carry a checkbook, or much else. I hate rummaging around looking for stuff in a purse.

[SVT]

Just a credit card and a debit card.

[Apple]

A Ruger....

Oh, and a debit card, just a little cash and sometimes my "main" cc. I also only write checks at Costco (90+ miles away) so don't normally have that on me.

[Deleted]

Credit Cards. I almost never have cash on me.

[money100]

I carry a rewards CC, my debit card and a small amount of cash (every Friday, I withdraw $50 - $20 for DH's mad money for the week and $30 for my lunches at work). However, I ONLY use my rewards CC. Like a poster on the washing dishes thread said, it's a heck of a lot easier to deal with that being stolen than my actual bank account being drained.

Very good thread idea, btw.

[money100]

@ patstab "like to pay cash or direct withdrawal, then I know exactly where I am."

I know what you mean! I keep all my cc receipts in my wallet and I add them up and pay them every single Friday, otherwise I'd be screwed!

@ midwesternjd -- I also have an issue with cash slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. That's why I keep the exact amount for my lunches. And because it's a bit more than my DH gets, it keeps me honest since I don't want to take advantage.

[Deleted]

I carry
- cash
- debit card
- 2 credit cards (authorized user on my wife's and my own).

[Baby Fawkes]

I have a slim card holder that takes the place of a normal wallet so that limits tha cards I can carry. Typically have:

- $100 cash (approx)
- 2 credit cards (Amex and visa incase they don't accept Amex)
- ATM card
- Local bar punch card ( probably most important in my holder, but that's my vice

The cheque book lives at home and I think I write about 3 per year so there's really no need to carry it.

[bobosensei]

I keep a small amount of dollars - usually about 20.00 or less on me. This is for tip money or if I bought something that was like 75 cents at the store. I keep more euro on me - normally I withdraw 60-100 euro at a time and then replenish as I run out. I need more euro because more stores here only accept euro or a european chipped debit card which I don't have.

I also carry 2 debit cards, Visas, and one credit card, AmEx. I never take my checkbook with me.

[Nazgul Girl]

I carry my checkbook, although it is seldom used, $30 - 60 cash, debit card, and 4-5 credit cards. I like to have several credit cards with small balances payable at the end of the month, or with one debt on them, than a mishmash rolled together on one.

[daisylu]

All of the above.

The checkbook is mostly for backup - it has taken me 1.5 years to go through 1 book of checks.

Cash is never more than $40, but like someone else, I keep small stash in each vehicle.

CC is preferred method of payment.

[Deleted]

I carry very little cash - I typically pull out $30 at a time (that's right - I even know where all the ATMs that dispense $10 bills are). I find that I spend my cash at about the same rate regardless of how much I have, so it is best for me to just not have it. If I am travelling or know I'll have a specific expense, I might pull out a bit more.

I keep my debit and one CC card in my wallet. And I usually have my checkbook with me - mostly because that is where I keep my coupons and stamps. I hardly ever write checks anymore.