This week Linda has given us, mon for our Stream of Consciousness posts, which can be used as part of a word or as a word itself, whichever we choose. I have decided to write about money.

I don’t know about you but I always like to have a little bit of cash on me, even if it is just a few pounds. I can’t bear the thought of being somewhere and not having any money on me even to buy a coffee or something, despite most shops accepting cards! Even when I am at work, I always make sure that I have money on me for ‘essentials’ whatever they may end up to be.

Last week, Mr Grump, Miss Hap and I popped into town because I wanted to get some wool, it was not going to be a long trip as I knew roughly where I wanted to get it from. Anyway, I didn’t have any cash on me and told Grump I needed to go to an ATM to get some. He laughs at my ‘obsession’ about having cash as I often ask him to pick me some up when he is out and about, so I immediately backtracked and said I would pay for it by card instead.

I still can’t get my head around contactless payments and wave my card 2 or 3 times over the machine, then give it a tap just to make sure it has been read! I mentioned that it used to drive me mad waiting ages for people to pay by card (mainly credit cards) when the items were only a couple of pounds and that I would NEVER use my card for anything less than a fiver. That is why I like to have the cash on me. Apparently, though with contactless payments you can pay piddly little;e amounts by card as it doesn’t matter.

I had a job finding the wool I wanted and ended up going to several shops before I found it, and I duly paid by card. Grump had an errand to run so I decided to make use of the small tea room nearby as I was in need of refreshments; he would meet us there in a few minutes.

Well, of course, being the middle of the afternoon, I fancied a scone, but not being greedy bought one to share with my husband. My daughter won’t entertain them but is not adverse to a hot sausage roll so she had that. Strangely for her though, she didn’t want a drink to go with it, but I bought coffees for me and Grump, and again paid by card.

Just as we were about to leave the shop to sit outside (It was quite warm that day), Miss Hap decided that actually she did want a drink and fancied a chocolate milkshake. Needless to say, she chose a large one. I trotted back to the till to pay and gave them my card. To my utter mortification, they wouldn’t take it as the price was £2.50 and they won’t take cards for goods under a fiver! Bugger!

I had no cash on me, but that morning had given Miss Hap the last £10 I had in cash for her pocket-money. She had to hand that over to pay for her milkshake! That’ll teach her to go for a large one. To say she had on heer ‘smacked arse’ face when we got out of there was an understatement. Mr Grump came back to half a jam and creamless dry scone (I was a bit disappointed when they brought it out) and two crabby family members!

Do you like to flash the cash or carry a card?