Cash : Relic or lifeline ?

 Cash : Relic or lifeline ?

 

After yesterday’s blackout across Spain and Portugal, it has really put a new perspective on our reliance on our cards and digital payment methods.

Whilst the pandemic encouraged us to move away from cash payments and  increase our spend on physical cards and digital payments, yesterday’s outage showed us that there is still a place for cash.

So, with that in mind, we e have some  practical tips to help prepare for digital payment outages to ensure you are  not caught off guard the next time systems go down:

🏦 1. Keep a Small Cash Reserve

• Enough to cover 2–3 days of essentials like food, transport, and minor emergencies
• Store some securely at home and keep a small amount in your wallet for day-to-day use

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🔋 2. Keep Devices Charged & Carry a Power Bank

• Keep your phone fully charged when possible and invest in a portable charger

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📱 3. Enable Offline Features on Your Payment Apps

• Some apps allow offline payment limits (like Apple Pay or Google Wallet), which can still process small transactions when you’re offline
• Check with your bank or wallet provider to see what’s available

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🧾 4. Make a physical note of key information

• Write down or print key account numbers and support phone lines (for your bank or credit card issuer)
• In a blackout or mobile outage, you may not be able to access contact info digitally

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⏳  5. Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Prepare

• The worst time to realise you need cash is after the ATMs go dark or merchants can’t process cards
• Treat it like insurance: you hope not to need it, but it’s crucial when you do