I was holding up the express line at the grocery store, pulling cash out of three different sections of my wallet and my pocket, digging for change and dropping pennies on the counter. It was bad enough that I had 15 items (the maximum is 14), now I was dragging the process out by not swiping a debit or credit card and being done in less than 30 seconds.

During one of our budget battles – I mean, discussions – Spouse and I decided that using cash to grocery shop might help us to be more aware of at least some of our spending habits. It sounded like a great idea, and it was. Having to think about what was in my wallet instead of blindly tossing items into the cart in anticipation of using a card was a definite game changer.

When I had assistance in the form of children, I assigned them a few items to pick up (besides the ice cream and cookies they were intent on slipping in). Next to my shopping list I wrote down the amount for each item so the girls would also see where the money went. They were surprised at how much dough I had to dole out in one shopping trip. It wasn’t meant to deprive them of what they wanted – we still got treats sometimes. It was just good practice for everyone in our family to be aware of how quickly money can disappear if you’re not paying attention.

The problem is that our world has become accustomed to convenience. Cash is not convenient. There is the hassle of handling bills and sometimes coins, and giving change. Not that it necessarily affects the cashiers, since the work is done for them in this electronic age. But there are occasions when knowing how to calculate helps – like when the power goes out and transactions still have to be made. What a nightmare for someone who counts on not having to count.

I admit that I don’t always relish being in a line behind someone using cash, especially if I see them emptying half their bag to get to their wallet or change purse. Oh wait – that’s me.

Another thing about using cash is that you can’t get cash back. No debit card means no option of taking even more money out of your account, which is another way those dollars disappear quickly. Or so I’ve heard. Haven’t we all occasionally fallen into that “just in case” mindset when given the option of having a few extra bucks on us? A couple of days later you may find yourself staring at the balance on your account and wondering what the heck you spent that extra $20 or $40 on.

My folks owned a small grocery store when I was around 10 years old. Having been taught at an early age by my dad how to count and calculate change, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the kids that dropped by after school for snacks. They would often put their candy and snacks on the counter, and then empty their pockets full of change and crinkled dollar bills and wait for him to collect the total. Instead he would prod them along until they figured out how much they owed, even making them calculate what their change would be. I wondered if any of those kids tried to renegotiate their allowance after my dad’s money lessons.

I think most of us try to keep an eye on our money so we can use it for things we want, like maybe a decent vacation or a new (used) car … until the old car decides to drop a part on the road and rob us of our hard earned cash. That’s why having cash in my hand, even briefly, makes me feel smart and in control. Unfortunately, emptying my purse onto the conveyor belt to find a quarter makes up for it.

— Janine Talbot can be reached at janinevtalbot@gmail.com.