Is England (like Sweden) Now a Cashless Society?

Stockholm, Pastel Pine

England is now going the way of Sweden, and fast becoming a mostly cashless society. Since the pandemic (when we could not use cash due to transfer of germs), many people have embraced paying by contactless card or by phone.

Others don’t like using cash because the new bank notes are a mix of plastic and animal fats (vegan fast food joints don’t accept cash).

But debt charities say that paying by cash usually means spending around a third less, due to ‘knowing where your money’. So the answer is ‘think in cash terms’ and live simply!

Also, older people who don’t have smartphones, often don’t like paying with card, and there are sometimes security concerns. Even Big Issue sellers now have card payment machines!

And many of us have no idea how to use a QR code, and now wish to!

Card-Only Across Public Transport

Nearly all public transport now only accepts contactless cards. So if you forget your pin number and don’t have cash, you’ll have to get off the bus and go find a cash machine. But many ATMs have now disappeared, as not enough people use them to make them pay.

Over 85% of transactions now by card or phone

Lessons from Sweden: The Swish Effect

Sweden is the world’s (almost) cashless country, thanks to the mobile app Swish. This lets users send and receive money using a phone number.