“Average Brit goes 44 days without using cash”

Jun 27, 2020 | Money

An independent (financial adviser’s) view

I haven’t used cash at all for, I’ve counted, 15 weeks. I haven’t even taken my wallet out as I’ve used my ‘phone for everything; no need to touch dirty keypads for purchases over £30. Where I’m perhaps too paranoid about the virus, many, I know, fear the other type of virus that might clear their online accounts if they go contactless. Sorry, folks, you’ve got to go with the flow on this one. Cash will disappear within ten years. The banks cough up over frauds, unless you’re really dumb and give out your account details too easily to baddies. Most money (including your investments and pensions) already only exists as a computer entry. Yes, this could all be a capitalist construct designed to crush the underclasses. But I won’t be upset not to have to carry a pocketful of change again.

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Social Media advice won’t get you rich quick

There’s no end of FinTok (it’s a thing) and Insta pundits happy to tell you how they got rich quick and to point your money at a suitable scheme. 56% of those in a recent survey who followed such ‘advice’ lost money – and that’s just those who admit it. 

The log-jam in the housing market

I’ve heard several more anecdotal stories of the current frozen housing market. Those that don’t need to move will generally just shelve it if their property won’t sell for what they think it’s worth and the ladder stays just as unaffordable for those trying to climb on.