Cost of Living

The shift away from cash and how it can feel unnerving

With cash fading out of many people's daily financial habits, what does the shift to purchasing everything via tap or swipe mean not just for cash-reliant charities, but how we deal with money in a broader sense?

The decline of hard currency in Canada and what it means in a nation of "tappers"

Poppy boxes in Calgary give donors the option to donate via text message if they aren't carrying cash — something many don't have handy anymore. (Anis Heydari/CBC)

The annual Poppy Campaign run by the Royal Canadian Legion has many Canadians looking for cash to donate at thousands of boxes across the country.

  • CBC Radio's new business and economics show, Cost of Living, airs on CBC Radio One every Saturday at 11:30 a.m. (12 p.m. NT) or online anytime at CBC Listen.

With cash fading out of many people's daily financial habits, what does the shift to purchasing everything via tap or swipe mean not just for cash-reliant charities, but how we deal with money in a broader sense?