First, I know its NPR, but really, there's a lot of "Get off my lawn you pesky kids!" going on in that comment section. Second, cash is becoming increasingly n

First, I know its NPR, but really, there's a lot of "Get off my lawn you pesky kids!" going on in that comment section. Second, cash is becoming increasingly nonviable, at least in the US. Prices are so high on most consumer goods and services that the amount of cash that you would have to carry around is ridiculous. $50 for a tank of gas, $150 for a week's groceries, $40 for a pair of movie tickets and a popcorn. Worse, banks often don't even have enough cash on hand to cover more than one or two non-trivial withdrawals per day. My father recently paid off his mortgage. To do so, he had to pay cash at one bank with monies withdrawn from an account at a second bank. The total amount was about $5000 dollars. The second bank had to give him every $100 and $50 bill they had in stock, plus a large number of $20s, to cover the withdrawal. One withdrawal wiped out nearly the entire stock of cash at that branch for the day. Third, it is ridiculous how long it takes "direct deposits" to clear. About half the time, my employer will do payroll on a Tuesday, sending out the electronic deposits. If I am lucky, the monies will become available by end-of-day friday. If there is any kind of holiday, or the bank is just slow, it will roll over the weekend and into Monday or the next Tuesday.