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My family has traveled to many cities and states with the same inescapable story: Businesses are closing everywhere, from retailers to shopping malls to professional offices.

The causes are many-fold. But, I am seeing an increase in cashless transactions that troubles me for a variety of reasons. Why should we use cash instead of cards whenever possible? Because cash is vital.

Pretend that I visit a restaurant and pay with a $50 bill. The restaurant owner then uses the $50 bill to pay for fresh ingredients from a local farmer, who uses it to pay the butcher, who uses it for the plumber, who uses it to pay for day care, and so on. After an unlimited number of payments, it will still retain a $50 value. The banks have not siphoned money from any cash transaction. The economy in the community gains $50 in value for every single exchange.

If these transactions happen with a card, they pay a 3% transaction fee that goes directly to the bank, from the restaurant, farmer, butcher, plumber, day care, etc. After roughly 30 transactions, the initial $50 spent in the community will be worth $5 locally, and $45 will be bank fees. To put this into perspective, consider what each retailer pays in monthly fees. If they have $50,000 in sales and 90% are paid by card, they pay $1,350 in fees that month, $16,200 annually. That hard-earned money could be helping small business owners provide for their families, create jobs and boost local economies instead of lining the pockets of big bank executives. Using cash is a huge way we can help ourselves and our communities thrive.

Cash envelope systems are also a fantastic tool for keeping track of your spending and staying on budget.

Card payments, rewards programs and online shopping create data trails that are sold to advertisers, removing another layer in our declining personal privacy rights.

I know families are struggling to stretch every dollar. We make tough choices every day. I grew up poor. I know how to use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. I’ve known the agony of having more month than money. I’m not judging anyone for taking care of their family as best as they can.

Money is power. Where we spend and how we pay are votes for the kind of world we want. With every transaction, we decide which businesses thrive and which ones fail. Do you want to support billionaires, corporations and big banks that hoard money and leave us fighting for crumbs? Would you rather support neighbors and local entrepreneurs? Do you want to give to charities? Do you want to subsidize businesses that don’t pay a living wage and petition the government to restrict our quality of life?

Do you want to support discounted and poorly made knock-off items made by children in sweatshops for slave wages? All choices have consequences. Choose according to your conscience and the consequences you can accept.

Bethany Greiner
Albert Lea