It's also necessary for when some states have a super low minimum wage for restaurant/bar/food workers (because the idea is that you'll make the difference up i

It's also necessary for when some states have a super low minimum wage for restaurant/bar/food workers (because the idea is that you'll make the difference up in tips) - in my state (FL) I believe it's something like $2.75 or $3 per hour. Tips are taxed, and you'd better believe the owner of the establishment takes a cut of those tips, too, if they are reported. You tip cash, all that goes straight to the workers, most of whom are probably not rolling in the dough. It goes quite a long way for those types of folks. The lower the rung you're on economically, the more use you have for cash.