If you’re like me, you use your debit/credit/check card just about all the time.  Partly because it’s handy, partly because I tend to spend cash quickly if I have it on me.  But there are times when it pays to use cash. 

When You're Shopping at a Small Business.  If you're at Wal-Mart, go ahead and pay however you want to.  But banks actually charge the STORE when you use a card . . . sometimes as much as 3% of your total purchase.  So it's better to pay with cash at a mom-and-pop store, because they get don't get charged for it. (My mom owns a store and she says this happens to her all the time!)

When You're Leaving a Tip.  It depends on the restaurant, but sometimes the credit card tips don't get paid out to the servers until the end of the week.  And when you're working for tips, having cash-in-hand at the end of the night can make a difference.  Plus, and this probably isn't that common, according to CreditCards.com, some restaurants actually make the SERVERS pay the bank charges.

Anytime You Plan to Haggle.  Like at a flea market, because it's easier to bargain with someone when you're holding a bunch of bills in their face.  Plus, the vendors get charged if they run a card, just a like a small business does.  And since they know they'll be charged, that could also affect how low they go.

Learn when else it pays to use cash here.