READING TEXT
Do we really need cash anymore?
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Original fictional learning scenario. People, dialogue and personal experiences are created for language practice.
Our neighbourhood café stopped accepting cash to simplify payments. For the owner, the change meant less handling of coins and clearer records. For one regular customer, it meant losing the only payment method she felt confident using. At a community meeting, the debate quickly became a contest between modernity and nostalgia. That framing concealed more practical questions: who could access the required account, what happened during a technical failure and how much choice customers should retain.
The owner eventually introduced a mixed system and reviewed the costs after three months. It was less tidy than a single method, but more people could use the café. The episode did not establish what every business should do. It showed that a payment system is also a condition of participation. Efficiency measured only from behind the counter can overlook the effort transferred to the person trying to buy a coffee.
