A late payment this week took me back to cash-based freelancing.

Chasing payments online makes me long for the days of cash in hand.

4 comments

4 Comments

Remember getting stiffed on a big check years ago and it changed my whole system. Now I split the difference by taking a deposit in cash or a direct transfer before I even start the work, then the rest online when it's done. It cuts the risk way down and gives me some real money up front without going fully back to cash only.

emeryj663mo ago

But was dealing with cash all the time really that much better? You had to be in the right place at the right time, carry it around, and keep track of it all yourself. Getting paid online might have delays, but it's way more reliable and safe in the long run.

nguyen.angela3mo ago

Totally disagree with you @emeryj66. Cash is instant and final the second it's in your hand, no waiting for bank transfers or dealing with apps that crash on payday. I've seen way too many people get screwed by "processing delays" over long weekends or because of some random system outage, leaving them totally stranded.

craig.alex3mo ago

Actually there's a huge privacy angle nobody talks about with cash. Paying for something personal or sensitive leaves no digital trail for companies or banks to track and sell. @nguyen.angela is right about it being final, and that finality means your business stays your business. Digital payments create a permanent record of what you buy, when, and where. That loss of anonymity is a real cost people just accept now for the convenience.