Is England (like Sweden) Now a Cashless Society?
Stockholm, Pastel Pine
The way we pay now looks completely different from how our parents or grandparents handled money. It’s not just about using cards at supermarkets anymore. Payments have gone fast, contactless, and, for many, completely digital.
A decade ago, paying by card meant inserting it and typing in your pin. Today, most people simply tap their card on the reader and go. Contactless cards are so quick and easy that they’ve become the default way to pay for anything under £100 in pubs, shops, and even street stalls. No more fussing with change or handling cash.
Key reasons for the surge in contactless payments:
- Speed at the checkout (goodbye, long queues)
- No need to type a pin for many purchases
- Fewer hygiene worries (just tap, no shared buttons)
- Almost every card issued in recent years has the contactless feature
This tech isn’t just confined to big cities. Even small towns and village shops now keep a card reader handy. Shoppers expect to pay by card everywhere. Some places won’t even accept cash at all.
QR Codes: Popping Up Everywhere
QR codes may have taken off during the pandemic, but they’re here to stay. Cafes, takeaways, and small businesses display codes for instant payment using mobile apps. All you do is scan the code, enter a tip (if you want), and hit pay.
You’ll see QR codes for:
- Splitting a bill with friends
- Quick payments at food markets
- Table service in busy venues
Card-Only Across Public Transport
Public transport in England has gone almost cash-free. No more fumbling for coins when hopping on a bus in London or the tube. Passengers simply tap a contactless card or phone to pay for the journey.
From the London underground and buses to National Rail, coins are increasingly no longer accepted. The idea is to speed up boarding and cut down on handling fares.
Fewer ATMs, Shrinking Cash Use
The number of ATMs in England is dropping year by year. Many bank branches now close earlier or have been replaced by online-only services. Fewer ATMs make it harder to withdraw cash, especially in rural areas. Shops that used to offer cash-back may not bother, as fewer customers want coins or notes.
A few stats to show this shrinkage:
- 2019: Around 58% of payments made by card
- 2023: Over 85% of transactions now by card or phone
It’s simple: when getting cash gets harder, people find it easier to stick with cards.
Lessons from Sweden: The Swish Effect
Sweden offers a sneak peek into a nearly cashless world. There, the mobile app Swish took off, allowing friends, shops, and even local sports clubs to send and receive money using just a phone number. Physical cash is now rare in big cities—Swedes actually ask before bringing cash anywhere.
The lesson for England? Once people trust quick, easy, app-based payments, it’s hard to go back to coins. England’s mix of contactless cards, mobile apps, and declining ATM use looks familiar to anyone watching Sweden adopt Swish.
People across England are not just watching this shift—they are living it every day, changing their habits often without even noticing. As the tech keeps getting simpler, the move away from cash only speeds up.
Bank Notes Contain Animal Fat
UK bank notes are now made with a blend of plastic and animal fats, so many people (vegans and some religious beliefs) don’t use cash, preferring to only pay by card. Vegan fast food joints don’t take cash, for the same reason.
The Bank of England also says the tallow is used to prevent static, when used in counting machines. The company that makes the bank notes, now supplies the same animal-fat products to 20 countries abroad.
The Cash Debate: Who Still Uses It?
While England rushes ahead with tap-and-go cards and mobile apps, cash is not just fading quietly into history. Plenty of people still use coins and notes every day. They have their reasons, and some depend on cash far more than others.
For many, sticking with cash is less about nostalgia and more about daily life. Some find it helps them make sense of spending, while others cannot access digital payments easily. Charities, community groups, and even small businesses often still rely on cash to keep going.
Social and Ethical Questions Around Dropping Cash
When you hear about a cashless future, it often sounds easy and shiny. Yet, taking away cash creates problems for many. The loss of cash is not just about habits; it is about access, trust, and fairness.
Who risks being left behind when cash disappears? Here are a few groups most affected:
- Older people: A large number of pensioners still prefer cash, either from habit or lack of access to tech. Simple things like weekly shopping or paying for a coffee feel safer with notes in hand.
- Those without smartphones or internet: Not everyone has a phone that can run banking apps, or reliable Wi-Fi at home. These folks face real barriers if cash is not an option.
- People without bank accounts: From those on low incomes to recent migrants, some do not have access to mainstream banking. Cash is their lifeline for paying rent, buying food, or taking public transport.
- Small business owners: Many cash-based businesses like market stalls, window cleaners, and hairdressers still choose cash. It is quick, there are no card processing fees, and it allows for private, simple transactions.
The disappearing ATMs are a headache, especially in rural areas. Villages and small towns may go without a cash machine for miles. This means taking a bus just to get cash out, or relying on local shops for cashback (if that is even an option). For someone who needs cash for every purchase, this is a real struggle.
Budgeting is another part of the story. For many, paying in cash makes it easier to manage money. You cannot overspend if you only carry what you need. Unlike tapping a card, seeing your cash run low in your wallet is a clear sign to stop.
Then there are people who do not trust digital payments. Concerns range from fraud, tracking, or simply losing control over spending when it all goes online. For someone trying to limit debt, cash can be a barrier that stops those endless small taps from piling up unnoticed.
Cash also holds a special place in communities:
- Street sellers and buskers often only take coins.
- Local charities and community groups still get most donations in coins or notes.
- Kids learning about money often get their pocket money in cash, not as a balance in a banking app.
What Could a Cashless Future Look Like?
In a mostly cash-free England, shoppers would pay for almost everything with cards, phones, or smartwatches. Supermarket queues would move even faster, as customers tap to pay in seconds. Forget the last-minute fuss at the till about finding the right change—every transaction would be precise, leaving no penny behind.
Small shops and high street brands would rely on digital sales records to track every item. Receipts sent by email or stored in your phone would be the norm. Impulse buys could rise, as spending feels less “real” when money isn’t visible. For people watching their budgets, this ease might make it tricky to keep spending in check.
Getting Around: Travel and Transport
Public transport is already close to cash-free in many cities. In a future without cash, all buses, tubes, and trains across England could use contactless cards or travel apps. Travellers would tap as they board and just walk off at their stop, skipping the need to buy tickets with coins.
But those without cards or smartphones could struggle. For someone who loses their phone, a broken bank card might mean they simply can’t travel.
Donating and Tipping
Dropping coins into a charity tin or tossing some change to a street performer might become something from the past. Instead, people could see QR code stickers on donation boxes, or see people wearing contactless payment badges that accept small sums.
How Businesses Feel About Going Cashless
Most large businesses welcome cash-free payments. It’s easier to balance the books, no time wasted counting tills, and less risk from theft. Card payments speed up lines, letting staff serve more people each hour. As a bonus, digital sales are easier to track for stock and tax.
But some local traders still miss cash. Card systems bring fees, and when the internet drops, sales can stop. For someone selling flowers at the market, cards feel less personal than simply taking a few coins.
