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From: Tom Elam <thomas.e.elam@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy
Subject: Re: YA bored Tommy Troll Thread (was ...)
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2025 11:17:38 -0400
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On 4/2/2025 3:33 PM, -hh wrote:
> On 4/1/25 18:15, Tom Elam wrote:
>> [...]
>>
>> Hugh, there are bills like income taxes, property taxes and our 
>> electric bill that we pay with direct debit rather than a credit card. 
>> Why? The credit card service fees exceed the 2% cash back on my card. 
>> I always watch for those fees, but have not ever see a 10%. 
> 
> I don't believe that I've seen 10% before either, but now I have.
> 
>> However, a travel agency we use charges 5%. I send a check. 
> 
> Merely an illustration of attention to detail for each vendor.  As I've 
> mentioned before, a goodly number of my local small merchants do have 
> "cash discounts" (eg, CC surcharges) and they're greater than 2%.
> 
> Of course for travel, there's also a risk trade-off here, as using a 
> credit card offers some additional protections vs cash.
> 
> 
>> During 2024 ...
> 
> That's really your business.
> 
> 
> -hh
> 
> 


I never said that a credit card is ALWAYS the way to go. There are many 
exceptions, and I cited some. However, for day-to-day payments my 2% 
card is the way to go, as is my 5%-back Target DEBIT card. Exceptions 
include paying taxes. I use direct debit for IRS and Indiana Dept. of 
Revenue for estimated taxes. Same for property taxes. No fee for these 
using direct debit, 3% or more for a credit card. Same for my utility bills.

As for our small local businesses I do not think I have ever seen a sign 
for cash discount. Certainly not at chain stores.

All that said, last year we earned about $1,500 on our 2% credit (and 5% 
at Target) rebate cards. I drove my Accord 15,600 miles on $1,070 of 
fuel (I have a Google Drive spreadsheet.) Our total gasoline cost was 
$1,660 (Quicken). So the rebates almost paid for our auto fuel.

The $1,500 in rebates is about $30,000 in spending. Total spend was 
$185,000 give or take. There were big chunks that were a credit card was 
not the best way to pay, or the vendor required a check. Almost nothing 
was cash. Well, the neighborhood cat sitter was about $1,000 because 
were were gone so much, was all cash.

Cash for international travel is not advisable in most countries. It 
does come in handy for tips, taxi fares, etc. For most expenses I use 
credit cards not for the rebate but for fraud protection. If I need cash 
there is usually a bank ATM available.