B1 reading: Living without cash

Not long ago, almost everyone carried coins and notes. Today, in many countries, you can go for weeks without touching cash. You pay for your coffee with your phone, share a restaurant bill with a few taps, and even give money to street musicians with a card. Some shops and cafés no longer accept cash at all.

For many people this is simply more convenient. There is no need to find a cash machine, and you don't have to carry a heavy purse full of coins. Paying by card is also fast: a tap takes a second or two. Shop owners save time too, because they don't have to count money at the end of the day or take it to the bank.

Card payments also leave a record. Your banking app shows you exactly where your money has gone, which can help you plan your spending. On the other hand, some people find that they spend more when they don't see real money leaving their hands. "When I paid with notes, I could see my money getting less," says Olga, a teacher from Warsaw. "With a card, I don't feel it, so I buy things I don't really need." Last year she started taking out a fixed amount of cash every Monday and using only that for small things. She says it has helped her save.

There are other worries too. Not everyone has a bank account or a smartphone, and older people in particular may find digital payments difficult. If shops stop taking cash, these people could find it harder to buy everyday things. A system without cash also depends on technology. When the card system goes down, even for an hour, shops can't sell anything.

Because of these problems, some governments have made new rules. In a few countries, shops that sell food or medicine must still accept cash.

So will cash disappear completely? Probably not soon. Many people still like to have a few notes in their pocket "just in case". But for most of our daily payments, the future already looks cashless.