4 reasons to always carry 100 JODs in your wallet
Some people say we live in a post-cash world. If you look around, you’ll find they’re not wrong. Today, we use debit cards for everyday purchases, credit cards to turn big purchases into manageable monthly instalments, and CliQ to pay people back for coffee or dinner.
Although cash was king in the old days, you would look a tad suspicious if you were walking around carrying a duffle bag filled with cash nowadays.
That said, there are good reasons why you should still carry some cash. How much? We recommend 100 JODs, give or take.
Not too sure about this piece of advice? Let’s convince you with the following reasons:
To avoid overspending
It’s much easier to overspend with a debit or credit card than with cold hard cash. Why? Because when you pay with cash, you have to count and hand over your hard-earned money to a salesperson and then watch it disappear before your eyes. Sounds painful, doesn’t it?
With a card, spending feels distant because all you would have to do is tap your card on a machine or click “pay now” on a device. Yes, you can track all your spending on our mobile banking app, but you can also get a bit carried away.
Moreover, when carrying cash, you’re more likely to think twice before spending that money if a purchase isn’t really worth it.
Side note: Before you take out 100 JODs from an ATM, you should know it’s best to carry large bills rather than smaller ones. According to several experts, we associate large bills with special money. Because of this, we’re not likely to want to spend this money. So, opt for 20 and 50 JOD bills instead of 5 and 10 JOD bills.
In case you can’t pay by card
We hate to break it to you, but there are places where cash is the only acceptable payment method. Think of those hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants in non-commercial areas in Amman for example. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a card machine in sight!
And that’s not all. Many doctors only accept cash at their practices. Similarly, so do most — if not all — tradespeople like electricians, plumbers, and carpenters.
That’s why you should always make sure to have some cash on hand because not having enough or any at all will lead you to look for the nearest ATM and become frustrated.
In case of an emergency
Do you know what else can cause frustration? Holding up the line because your card isn’t working. We hope this never happens. But sometimes, your card just won’t cooperate.
Maybe your card has expired without you noticing, or the store machine is to blame. The reality is any of these situations can happen. So, it’s not a bad idea to slide some 20 JOD bills into your wallet.
To tip people
As hospitable people, we should be generous tippers by nature. Although some servers don’t expect you to tip them, you should because many rely on tips in addition to their wages.
And while in some restaurants you can leave a tip using your card, it’s better to hand your server cash. This way, they won’t have to wait for their tip to get processed, and you can ensure they get the full amount.
Hopefully, the reasons we’ve listed have convinced you to run to an ATM and withdraw some cash! We’re not saying to throw away your card and only use cash. We’re saying that there needs to be a balance for unexpected situations because, as the saying goes, “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Before you run off to an ATM, check out our article 6 tips to use your credit card wisely to learn how to manage your credit card payments and a few more financial tips.
