The Beauty of Cash (#1 of Series)
This series of articles will sway any community to return to cash shopping vs credit/debit cards - once you know, going back to cash makes sense.
Saturday, October 14th, 2023
Dear Freedom Friends,
We all know there is a problem. Something about the idea of “going cashless” is wrong. Especially if we’re over the age of forty - we feel it in our gut, but it’s not easy for most of us to explain why? That’s how I felt a number of months ago. Then, I got curious enough to do more than think about it - I started to talk to local business owners and I began to learn.
This is #1 in an ongoing series that I’ll be sharing here on my Substack. It can also be found online on The Vashon Loop’s website. Because these articles are already published elsewhere, and because my newest in the series came out this week, I’ll be publishing these fairly quickly here on Substack.
Please read them all. While they are focused on my own island community, our world is made up of small communities where the people know and care about one another. You can make a HUGE difference, by shifting local attitudes away from endless “Bank Taxes” and back to cash. As a direct result of these articles, local business owners have noticed a significant change in spending habits. Customers are both using cash and bringing the issue up in conversation, all while feeling empowered and strengthened by their new knowledge and choices.
I’m keeping it positive, and I invite you to join me in taking steps to raise awareness in your local community, as well. Talk to local business owners. Share these articles with them. Seek out truly community newsletters, newspapers, radio shows and community groups. Ask them their thoughts. You’ll find that many (many!) business owners are distressed and overwhelmed by the financial impact of rapidly increasing “Bank Taxes.” A solution they want. And, allies - you have. So, go for it!
The Beauty of Cash (#1 of Series)
by March Twisdale, May 8th, 2023
Awhile back, I began to question my credit/debit card habit. It felt like a convenience – with a hidden cost – and I wasn’t the only one to notice. “Keep Cash Alive” and “Cash is King” have entered the public sphere, along with several reasons for returning to good old-fashioned paper money. For me, two primary reasons motivated me to intentionally change my habits.
Cash feels real. We are a tactile species, and there is a concreteness to physical money that isn’t matched by glancing at numbers on a screen. Knowing how much money is in my wallet when I walk into the grocery store keeps me on budget. It reduces impulse purchases. I find myself adding up what I’ve spent as I walk through the store, leading to better price awareness and overall care in my spending.
Hidden costs exist. Every time we buy or sell something – with a debit or credit card – there is a fee. I call these “bank taxes,” and I’ve spent the past few months exploring how they hurt both business owners and consumers. The only way to eliminate them? Use cash.
I’m 50 years old. For me, there is a nostalgia to cash. It’s how I grew up, and it’s how my parents lived. I know it can be done, and it’s been surprisingly enjoyable to transition “back” to cash. As I head out the door, I find myself checking my wallet. When I arrive in town, I stop at my preferred ATM in preparation for my day of shopping. I feel more mindful, grounded, and in control of my spending. That feels good.
The Vashon Loop Editorial Team will continue to explore this important issue all summer long. We are deeply grateful that the Vashon Island business community welcomes cash everywhere on the Island. Now, it’s time for a summertime revival of spending cash on our Island! We’ll see you at the ATM.