Americans Prefer Cash

While many businesses are going cashless these days, not everyone loves the idea of being forced to pay for things with a card or phone.

A new survey finds a lot of folks prefer cash.

In fact, 51% of folks say using cash helps them budget their money.
Gen Z are the most likely to prefer cash, with 52% saying it’s their preferred payment option.
77% of folks insist there is nothing worse than finding out they need cash and not having it.
But many people make sure that never happens.
Most people say they keep an average of $52 on them at all times.
75% also keep an emergency stash of about $89.
20% say that emergency stash is more than $200.
As for where they keep that emergency stash:
29% will keep it in a purse or wallet.
18% will keep it in a home safe.
But many others will keep their emergency stash in a more unusual spot including
- Mattress
- Secret books on the bookshelf
- Trailer hitch
- Old prescription bottles
Of course, not everyone prefers to use cash all the time, but it seems there are some specific things folks would rather pay in cash.

Those include: