When I pay by card I have to ask myself: is there enough money in my spending account? Is this transaction going to fail? (I keep that balance low on purpose).
Cash lets me sidestep the accounting: if I have it here at all it's pre-approved for spending. Lower cognitive burden there at the POS = easier to part with.
Maybe that would be different if I did anything important in cash.
When I pay by card I have to ask myself: is there enough money in my spending account? Is this transaction going to fail? (I keep that balance low on purpose).
Cash lets me sidestep the accounting: if I have it here at all it's pre-approved for spending. Lower cognitive burden there at the POS = easier to part with.
Maybe that would be different if I did anything important in cash.