Ran Dimension (ID: chaintruth) original Ran Caijing product

Author | Deng Shuanglin Du Xiaoling Guo Yimeng Cao Yang Sun Mina

Edit | Rao Xiafei

“How long have you not used cash?” This is actually a question of soul torture.

“I even forgot what cash is like”, “Whoever uses cash now, even roadside beggars can scan the code”, “I withdrew 3,000 yuan two years ago, and now I still pay it back There are more than two thousand at home, and I have never used it.”…

In the past, wallets were a must-have for people to go out, but nowadays, mobile phones have almost completely replaced the status of wallets, and cash is gradually fading out of people’s lives.

A set of data can directly support this conclusion: in 2020, the number of ATM machines will shrink by more than 80,000 units, and the number of ATM machines per 10,000 people nationwide will also drop from 7.87 units in 2019 to 7.24 units, a year-on-year decrease of 7.95%.

This shows that “withdrawing cash” is no longer a necessary behavior for consumers, and the change in this behavior has become particularly obvious since 2016.

In the Spring Festival of 2015, WeChat began to join hands with the Spring Festival Gala to launch the red envelope grabbing activity for all people. In the Spring Festival of 2016, Alipay launched the “Five Fortune Collection” campaign for the first time. Under the behavior of the people “crazy grabbing” cash red envelopes, mobile payment quietly replaced cash payment. Status.

The “China Payment and Clearing Industry Operation Report (2017)” shows that the transaction value of cash withdrawal business in 2016 was 65.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 10.46%.

However, the mobile payment services of Alipay and WeChat have achieved rapid growth. By 2016, the total mobile payment transactions of payment institutions had reached 51.01 trillion yuan, accounting for 77.9% of the cash withdrawal business, compared with 30% in the previous year.

After the 2020 epidemic, the “cashless” consumption method is even more respected. Nowadays, mobile payment has almost completely changed the payment habits of consumers and the settlement methods of merchants. More and more people do not remember when they last touched cash.

Statistics show that as of December 2020, the number of mobile payment users in China has reached 853 million, accounting for 86.5% of mobile Internet users.

But, is cash really not “sweet” anymore?

In fact, cash is still a rigid need in the lives of some people, such as the elderly who have difficulty adapting to electronic payments. In the lives of many young people, cash has not yet “dead”. There are still some scenes where cash must be used, such as gift giving.

In this issue, we chatted with 6 young people. They still use cash in different situations and even feel the convenience brought by cash. Some of them use cash to buy food at the vegetable market for the sake of “whole wool”, some find that cash is faster to queue up for registration, and some find that cash is more convenient when traveling abroad. Some young people follow the tradition and directly use red envelopes for gifts during the holidays.

The experience of these young people reflects to a certain extent that cash has not completely left people’s lives. In different scenarios, cash still has an irreplaceable position.

In the hospital, cash payment for registration saves a lot of time

Cocoa｜26-year-old community operation

Today’s young people, few people go out with cash with them, as long as they bring a mobile phone. But my experience this time makes me take 100 yuan in cash every time I go out.

Last weekend, I went to the hospital to see a doctor. When I arrived at the hospital, it was almost 11 o’clock, and the 10 registration windows were full of people. I was a little anxious, afraid that I would not be able to register for the morning. At this moment, I suddenly discovered that there were very few people in a line, only a few people.

I was still thinking about not lining up in this team, so I went to that team to line up. When it was my turn, it was very fast. During the registration, the doctor told me directly after inquiring about the department I registered, “The registration fee is 10 yuan, in cash.”

I was stunned. It turned out that this was the cash window. I looked at the doctor awkwardly and said that I didn’t bring it. The doctor told me that this window only accepts cash and there is no way. I had to go to the WeChat Alipay window to queue again. As a result, the WeChat Alipay window was full of people, and it would not be my turn at all for a while.

Because I was afraid of the number after the morning, I decided to try something out. With the mentality of trying, I thought that the people who came to the cash window to register must have brought cash, so I asked, “Hello, can I change the cash? I will scan the code and send it to you.”

I asked several people in a row, but they were not willing to scan the code for me. In fact, I also understand that because the people at the cash window are all too old, although they will carry cash with them, they are probably afraid of meeting a liar, and their faces are questionable.

After waiting a while, a young man finally came to register at the cash window, and I once again plucked up the courage to ask. This time I successfully changed to 100 yuan in cash, and then used WeChat payment and receipt to pay him. I quickly registered the account, saving time.

While waiting in line, the young man laughed at me and said, “Why don’t you come to the hospital without cash? You don’t come to the hospital often.” I said helplessly, “Because mobile payment is very convenient now!” A young man laughed at the time and said, “Sometimes, cash is more convenient. When necessary, you still need to prepare some cash for emergencies.”

As the young man said, it makes sense to put a few pieces of Grandpa Mao’s body in his pocket. Although electronic payment greatly facilitates our lives, if only electronic payment is used, it will bring another trouble to life.

In order to save some money for grocery shopping, I always have change in my wallet

Xiaowen | 24 years old operating

“Green vegetables, two yuan and three.” “I pay in cash, don’t ask for three cents.” This is the scene where I buy vegetables and bargain prices from vendors every weekend.

This is not the first time I go to the morning market to buy food in cash.

But before that, because it’s very convenient to scan the QR code to pay, and I hate to find change, there are always so many coins left in the bag, and even lost. Every time I go shopping, I only bring my mobile phone and scan it directly. Code payment.

But later, I discovered that elderly grandpas and aunts always carry their wallets. No matter how much they buy, they are paid in cash. At the time, I still felt that they were too outdated. Until one day I found out that grandpas and aunts were using cash. When paying, they will always bargain with the stall owner, for example, wiping out zeros directly. In many cases, the stall owner will simply erase the odds for convenience. After discovering the truth, I also learned it.

In order to use cash to buy vegetables, I even went to the ATM to get cash. After I bought something in the nearby supermarket, I changed the 100 yuan in cash, and then used the change to buy vegetables at the vegetable market. At first, I would be embarrassed to bargain with vegetable vendors, and always wait until there are fewer people to tell the boss that I pay in cash.

Later, I always followed my grandfather and aunt to buy groceries together, learning to see how they used cash to bargain, and even learned their tone of voice, “Just the three cents, don’t ask for it.” I, these words are very smooth, and I never feel embarrassed when bargaining.

Of course, you will also meet bosses who don’t want to erase anything, but the few cents you find can eventually be spent. A few days ago, I met a vegetable seller who said to me: “There are not many people paying in cash now.”

In fact, paying for the food in cash is not to squeeze some wool, but to save a few bucks, to exchange for change. Although it is troublesome, it adds so much fun to my life.

Next time I go shopping for groceries, I will still bring my prepared change, maybe I can save money for a Coke.

It’s better to use cash for tipping.

Chen Pan | 29 years old Japanese translator

In the summer of 2018, I returned to China after graduating from Nagoya University with a master’s degree. It was not as much as I am now. In addition, I am more Buddha and I was not in a hurry to find a job. I spent a few days at home. One day, my mother saw an aunt in her circle of friends who went to Thailand. She was too envious and started to persuade me. In the end, I couldn’t stand my mother, and I really wanted to travel and relax, so I decided to go play once.

Before I left, I checked the strategy. Everyone said that WeChat and Alipay can be used in Bangkok, but because cash was basically used in Japan before, I finally went to the bank to exchange some, about 7,000 or 8,000 baht, just in case.

When I arrived in Bangkok, although I did my homework, I was shocked to see the Alipay and WeChat advertisements on the street. Hotels and large supermarkets can scan the code.

I have a habit of going to a new place and visiting the local vegetable market first. It turns out that cash at the stall is still useful. When buying mangoes, the boss’s phone did not show up after scanning the code, and he was so anxious that he had to ask many people for help. After that, I paid in cash to minimize the trouble to others. Later, I learned that the roadside stalls and vegetable markets in Bangkok had just been connected to WeChat and Alipay.

Another place where you must use cash when you go to Thailand is to tip. Although Thailand is a Southeast Asian country, it is particularly influenced by Western tipping culture. In many places, tips are required.

The massage industry in Thailand is more developed than in the country, and street shops are everywhere. The day before we left, we found a high-rated massage shop on the review platform and gave me a 50-year-old aunt who was very simple. Chat with us and tell us what is interesting and delicious in Thailand. I was ticklish and screaming. She was very patient. She kept smiling and said, “It’s so comfortable, it’s so comfortable.” At the checkout, I gave my aunt a tip of 50 yuan, which is not a small amount, but I think it’s worth it!

Generally speaking, there are not many tips for this trip. After all, with my mother, I didn’t go to a few places with strong service. If you are with the little sisters, you will definitely watch a ladyboy show and go to a bar for two drinks. Cash in these places must be used.

After returning home, there was a lot of Thai baht left, because the bank exchange fee was deducted, so the bottom of the box was pressed. I think that after the epidemic is over, I want to go with my sisters again, and then use it again.

Companies that use cash to pay wages must be cautious in entering

Yang Yang | 22 years old copywriter

When I first graduated and entered society a year ago, I didn’t understand the importance of five social insurance and one housing fund, and I didn’t know how to distinguish whether the company was formal or not. So confused, I joined a newly established small company to do copywriting.

There are not many people in this company. There are only 10 people including the boss. The monthly salary is paid to us after the boss seals the cash. At that time, I had too little social experience and didn’t understand what this behavior meant. Instead, I felt quite ceremonial. After all, in the era of rampant mobile payments, many people have few opportunities to touch a large stack of them on a regular basis. Cash out.

Although it is very happy to count the money after receiving the cash salary, the trouble is that after the count is finished, I still find time to go to the bank to deposit it. After all, as mentioned above, mobile payments are rampant, and many merchants only accept payment by scanning QR codes. Sometimes they carry a hundred-yuan bill to buy vegetables, and the stall owners don’t have enough change to get it back.

When I left my job and prepared to go to the next company, I discovered that the former employer’s cash salary was actually for tax evasion. If you don’t use company accounts to pay salaries, you don’t need to explain the origin of the money, and naturally you don’t have to pay social security and provident funds for your employees.

I also encountered great trouble when I joined the next company. Since my salary was paid in cash in the past year, there was no way to form a bank salary flow, and there was no way to prove my past salary to the next company. There is even no way to prove whether I really formed a labor relationship with the previous company.

After many twists and turns, I finally joined a formal company. Five social insurance and one housing fund are paid on a monthly basis, and my salary will be paid to my bank card on a regular basis every month. Although the happiness of losing a few cash every month, I am still very fortunate to have escaped from that small company that is full of pits.

It is said that many small businesses still use cash wages to evade taxes. I can only say that everyone must keep their eyes open when looking for a job and don’t be fooled like me.

Every Chinese New Year, my family’s cash flows between deposits and withdrawals

Strings | 35 years old product manager

The last time I came into contact with cash should be when my child’s 3rd birthday. At that time, the red envelopes that grandparents and grandparents gave were all cash, which could be directly given to the children.

Except for the child’s birthday, it is the New Year. Thinking about it now, it seems that the time of Chinese New Year every year is the time when I see the most cash in a year.

Our family’s annual New Year’s practice is to give each parent a red envelope, and the amount of red envelopes is generally 2,000 yuan per person. Then give 500 yuan each to grandma, grandma and children. But we usually don’t have any money in our salary card, so it’s all in Alipay or wealth management products. So just wait for the salary for the month of the New Year and get it after it is paid.

The salary payment date of my previous work unit was on the 9th, and it was basically paid before the Chinese New Year. But last year was approaching the New Year, and I changed my job, and I could only get half a month’s salary in that month of the New Year, and of course there was no year-end bonus. Then I had to go and take away those thousands of dollars.

I remember very clearly that I first transferred the money in Alipay to the salary card, and then took the salary card to the bank ATM to withdraw the money. At that time, it seemed that I could only get 2,000 yuan at a time. Anyway, I got it back and forth 3 times or 4 times.

After the New Year, put the money in red envelopes to the old people.

Of course, the old people will also prepare red envelopes for us and our children. In this way, we give the money we have gone, and we will give it back after a round. Because I can’t spend cash at all, I have to go to the bank again after receiving the money and deposit the money back into the bank card.

Maybe on these occasions, cash red envelopes are more ceremonial. Especially the old people, they will feel that the New Year, birthday, these festivals to give children red envelopes is a very auspicious blessing.

In fact, many times I don’t think it is necessary to take this ritual sense, but even though I don’t think it is necessary, I walk every year in accordance with the usual practice.

Sending cash red envelopes is the only way for me to follow the people

Bubble | 28-year-old employee of Dachang

Ma Weiwei said in “The Story of Strange Flowers”, “Men’s money is the world’s robbery of single dogs.” I agree with this view too much. At that time in college, the angry young people felt that the bad habit of followers shouldn’t be abolished? How can affection be measured by money? Isn’t it more mindful to make your own gifts?

So in the first two years after graduation, some classmates and colleagues said on WeChat, “I am getting married, come here sometime.” My first reaction must be a blessing, and then I asked myself “Do you want him to be there when I get married?” If yes If it is negative, I will not go, let alone WeChat transfer.

Later, I set up a principle myself, that is: The kind of money that needs WeChat transfers must not follow, and people must be present and give cash red envelopes.

Think about it, everyone is so busy now, all in the world, and you can lay down your work and catch a plane to attend a wedding, what kind of feelings it must be. So I shot it, it was a big red envelope, which was delivered well and opened even better.

Last year, when a girlfriend of more than ten years got married, I wrapped a big cash red envelope to surprise my girlfriend.

In fact, when I first started, I also planned to give a gift. I even started to study what to give her a month in advance, and sew a cross stitch. Who likes young people now? Silk quilt? It is impossible not to buy a quilt. How about giving a necklace? It’s too expensive to buy, and cheap is not suitable… Then I discovered that it is really too difficult to pick a gift! Why don’t you pack a 1,000 yuan red envelope? Buy it yourself.

Later, my girlfriend told me that she wanted to tell me not to prepare gifts. She didn’t lack anything, but she didn’t want to distract me, so she didn’t say anything. So when I handed the red envelope to her, her expression was really surprised, and jokingly said that this was the most tangible gift she had received.

In fact, many times, gifts are just a form of cash. Isn’t it better to look at it?

*The image of the title and the accompanying image of the text are from Visual China.In the text, Yangyang, Coco, Xiaowen, Chen Pan, Strings, and Bubbles are all pseudonyms

*Disclaimer: In any case, the information or opinions expressed in this article do not constitute investment advice to anyone.