According to a nationally representative survey among consumers in the United Kingdom conducted in November 2018, approximately one third of respondents use cash instead of other cashless payment methods like credit or debit cards because they 'like to have a choice when paying for things'. Lack of trust of the internet and banks was pointed out as a reason by 5 and 3 percent respectively.
Share of people who use cash in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by reason
Characteristic
Share of payments
Like to have a choice when paying for things
34%
Feel more in control of their money when they use cash
20%
Find it easier to manage their household budget using cash
16%
Want to protect their privacy (i.e. don’t leave an online record of my spending)
6%
Don’t trust the Internet with their money
5%
State they don’t trust banks to control the way they pay
3%
Like to keep their guilty pleasures hidden from their partner
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ECB. (March 1, 2019). Share of people who use cash in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by reason [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1058133/share-of-people-who-use-cash-by-reason-in-the-united-kingdom/
ECB. "Share of people who use cash in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by reason." Chart. March 1, 2019. Statista. Accessed May 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1058133/share-of-people-who-use-cash-by-reason-in-the-united-kingdom/
ECB. (2019). Share of people who use cash in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by reason. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1058133/share-of-people-who-use-cash-by-reason-in-the-united-kingdom/
ECB. "Share of People Who Use Cash in The United Kingdom (Uk) in 2018, by Reason." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Mar 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1058133/share-of-people-who-use-cash-by-reason-in-the-united-kingdom/
ECB, Share of people who use cash in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by reason Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1058133/share-of-people-who-use-cash-by-reason-in-the-united-kingdom/ (last visited May 10, 2025)
Share of people who use cash in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by reason [Graph], ECB, March 1, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1058133/share-of-people-who-use-cash-by-reason-in-the-united-kingdom/
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