I'll be the first to admit that I'm a dinosaur when it comes to all the technology that flies in front of our eyes every day.
Yes, I still write checks to pay some bills. No, I don't have a debit card or use an ATM. Yes, I avoid self-checkout lanes at stores like the plague. No, I don't have GPS in my aging car. If I go on a day trip to places like Los Angeles, I still print out directions. No, I don't have the latest and greatest cell phone.
That being said, I have a lot of friends and family who are up to speed on the latest technology. That could be paying for goods, doing banking, traveling, or making sure your home is safe.
So why am I such a creature of habit?
I was raised with the idea that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm totally fine with sticking to my ways, although I'm sure some things will have to be updated or even replaced over time.
adventure in the valley of the sun
One thing that has come to my attention recently is that I occasionally have problems with one or more of my credit cards at stores, restaurants, etc.
Looks like I missed the memo that you can now “tap” your credit card in stores, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Recently, I went to Arizona for the annual baseball spring training weekend.
While at Valley of the Sun, I not only went to the White Sox and Angels game, but also the Arizona State women's basketball game against Southern California.
Both sporting events were fun, but there was some frustration as my credit card wouldn't work several times when buying food or souvenirs. No, it wasn't about money. There was ample funding available.
The problem was that the chip on the card was not readable by the machine. As a result, I had to ask the cashier to help me several times. At one point, I even tried tapping, inserting the chip into the card reader, and sliding the card, all to no avail. Finally, the cashier punched my card number into the register and I was able to buy what I wanted.
Ordering fast food shouldn't be a frustrating ordeal
Another irritation of mine these days is having to use a kiosk to order food at certain fast food restaurants.
A great example of this was a trip to Idaho last year.
When I was having breakfast at McDonald's before sightseeing, I was in trouble because the machine for ordering and calling breakfast was out of order. There was no cashier in the section of the restaurant where the kiosk was. In fact, there was no cash register directly behind the usual counter. They were in the back where the food was being cooked.
So after having a problem at the kiosk, one of the cashiers came to help me.
Have you tried to use cash to pay for goods or services at countless businesses, sporting events, concerts, etc. over the past few years? If you have, you've been turned down for your credit or debit card. It's more likely that you were told to use it.
In recent years, I have become concerned about how to handle money during the coronavirus pandemic. However, while the coronavirus is by no means extinct, for many people, panic over it has subsided, and that's not surprising.
The cynic in me believes that many businesses used COVID-19 as a means to transition to credit/debit card purchases in the first place. Fortunately, there are still companies willing to take your cash. I always have some cash in my wallet and don't want to put it all on my credit card.
Are you someone who is completely dependent on credit cards and technology to carry out your daily activities, whether at home or while traveling?
If you do, it is certainly your right to do so.
I use cash whenever possible, pay most of my bills by check, and look for the cashier when I go to stores, fast food restaurants, etc.
