How I Gave Up Cash and Cards and Didn't Die

Some statistics

Russia is in first place in terms of the number of payments through Android Pay and in third place - through Apple Pay. It is second only to the USA and Great Britain. Over the year, the number of transactions through mobile payment services in the country increased by 800%.

The general director of Visa in Russia, Ekaterina Petelina, explained this by a more developed infrastructure than in America. Contactless terminals can be found literally on every corner, in the States they are reluctant to switch to them.

Despite the fact that Apple Pay has existed in America for several years, Russia was better prepared to launch the service.

Farewell to cash

How I Gave Up Cash and Cards and Didn't Die

I was waiting for the launch of Apple Pay in Russia, so I linked all available cards as soon as the service became available. However, it was not possible to fully enjoy it - the necessary terminals were not everywhere.

The first few months I didn’t part with my wallet, but I paid with my smartphone whenever possible. It was cool, exciting and a little magical. Sometimes I caught myself thinking that I was specifically going to dine at those establishments that accept Apple Pay.

In the eyes of the sellers, I looked like a swindler, a crook and a sorcerer.

They would send me to the fire of the Inquisition or, in extreme cases, they would call the guards, but they only thanked me for the purchase. The enlightenment of cashiers was slow, and it was possible to understand where the necessary terminal was only empirically.

And then everything changed dramatically. Somehow all at once suitable terminals appeared everywhere, and this is not only about Moscow. In their native Voronezh, they began to accept payments using Apple Pay in most establishments: from large stores and restaurants to a small bakery around the corner. All popular applications have received support for Apple Pay. You can conveniently buy a movie ticket, train ticket, order a taxi or pizza home. You do not need to enter card information every time.

In Moscow, you can use your iPhone to pay for a ride on the metro or tram - just put your smartphone to a special area.

Or you can put money on the Troika card and ride any public transport, including renting a bike.

In the regions, specifically in Voronezh, the situation is similar. It doesn't matter if I'm going to have a haircut at a barbershop or to buy bread at the Svetlana store (all Svetlana will forgive me), a smartphone is enough to pay. Here you can also use Apple Pay to call a taxi in Uber or book a movie ticket using the application.

However, there is one but significant difference - transport. You will have to pay for travel on the bus and trolleybus in cash, no cards or smartphones. If you do not have your own car and do not travel by taxi, you will have to carry change in your wallet.

Also, cash may be needed at grocery markets, where card payments are rarely accepted.

As a result, in Voronezh, you can also easily do without cash, but on condition that you drive your car and shop in supermarkets.

Smart ATMs versus cards

Smart ATMs have hit plastic cards. They differ from the usual ones in support of contactless payments.

To use this, it is not at all necessary to have a card with you. Just place your smartphone with Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay support to the special area and enter the pin code on the screen. Then you can replenish your account or withdraw cash (if you need to), transfer funds or pay for services.

At the same time, a real card can gather dust at home, it is enough to have only a smartphone with you. I have already seen such smart ATMs at Alfa-Bank, Sberbank and Tinkoff Bank.

That is, there is no longer a need to carry both plastic and cash with you. You will not lose your card now, you will not forget it in a cafe, it will not get stuck in an ATM, it will not be stolen from you. Using a smartphone without your fingerprint or face will not work.

Is there life without cash?

Yes, you can safely refuse today from cash and plastic cards and pay only with a smartphone. In just a year, the infrastructure has developed so that I can leave my wallet at home and not be afraid to be left without money. Although a lot depends on your lifestyle and the region where you are.

As you can imagine, this is an experience on the part of iPhone users. It would be interesting to know who uses what services: Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay.

Write in the comments how things are going with this in your region. Is it already possible to refuse cash, or are we still ahead of the curve?