<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A group of everyday Australians is keeping cash in circulation one meal at a time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span> resident Debbie Bardwell started the Cash is King Northern Beaches meet-up group in April 2023 after she witnessed a shift away from the use of physical money at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I would tap my phone to buy a simple coffee," Bardwell said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-trump-netanyahu-how-long-will-the-war-last/3a066ef3-fe97-4b15-8222-982b2e91de3f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia responds after being snubbed in Trump's cry for help</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My local servo stopped giving me cash out."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bardwell said her husband even washed their cash and hung it on the clothes rack, due to fear of potential COVID-19 infection.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We even joked that we were 'laundering money'," she laughed.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/money-news-as-cash-use-declines-across-the-country-these-aussies-are-bucking-the-trend/4f903b8e-806e-4f4f-be5c-1ee148ad5478" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>OSCARS UPDATES: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/oscars-2026-live-updates-98th-academy-awards-winners-results-surprises-biggest-moments-news-headlines/8d4b2289-f7a5-4cbd-b07a-c30354e585eb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Kylie Jenner's cryptic post as awards get underway</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bardwell was determined to keep cash in circulation and "use it or lose it" became her mantra.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We would say that phrase when paying with cash - almost everyone agreed," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The group, which generally meets once a week and always pays with cash, initially started as a social outlet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has since grown into a large community with more than 600 people in its Facebook group.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bardwell said she hoped cash would always be an option and remain in circulation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She also hoped people would continue to respect physical currency and not rely solely on digital currency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't want to make it easy to get rid of cash," Bardwell said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/meta-suspending-australian-small-business-accounts-child-exploitation-exclusive/04e6e646-7316-452e-ae66-54a1dcbfb4fc" target="_blank"><strong><span>Jared lost priceless messages from late sister after Meta 'cancelled' him</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A recent Reserve Bank survey found consumer payments made in cash have fallen from about 70 per cent in 2007 to just 13 per cent in 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's declining use of cash was accelerated by the pandemic when shoppers and retail workers were reluctant to handle potentially infected notes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced last year that Australia will be introducing a cash mandate for grocery and fuel retailers in 2026.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This month the Reserve Bank of Australia </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reserve-bank-makes-call-on-the-future-of-cash-during-meeting/fe4b931b-d830-48ee-97aa-d37df86f6184" rel="" target="" title="backed calls to keep cash circulating in the economy"><span>backed calls to keep cash circulating in the economy</span></a><span>, describing bank notes and coins as "vital" for regional and remote communities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To continue the momentum, not-for-profit advocacy group National Seniors Australia (NSA) CEO Chris Grice has encouraged Australians to choose one day in March to use cash as much as possible as part of its cash month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"NSA is calling on supporters to pick one day in March to use cash as much as possible in what we are calling cash month," Grice said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"How do you participate in cash month? Simply choose your own cash only day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Use cash as much as possible when you shop, fuel the car or pay for service.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By taking part in NSA's cash month, you are showing how important cash still is for the choice and accessibility, and why it must continue as a viable payment option."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>