If cash is king, why are debit card users acting like royalty?

There's an old saying that royalty does not carry money... whether it's fact or myth, doesn't matter. What interests me is the trend of debit card users not to carry cash. They blithely sail out of their homes in the morning with only a debit card tucked in a pocket... "Cash? I don't need cash, I have my debit card."

I just don't get it. Forget that banks are starting to charge monthly fees for debit card use, why rely solely on debit cards for daily expenditures? What happens if the electronic system goes down or there's a problem with your account and your card is denied? It's happened... imagine standing at the grocery store checkout with egg on your face because your card was denied and you don't have cash in your wallet.

I believe in cold hard cash for day to day living. Cash for gas, groceries, laundry, trips to the flea market, a hair cut or a cookie. All paid for with cash. I give myself a bi-weekly allowance... when that's gone, no more spending until the next bi-weekly draw. No sneaky trips to the ATM for more cash or credit card use because my wallet is empty.

Does plastic -- credit or debit -- lead to overspending? What do YOU think???

Penny Pincher