The tactile experience of feeling bank notes leave your hand is fading fast.

Contactless is the new normal. In March 2024 the UK surpassed 150 million contactless cards in issue, and contactless transactions reached £25.1 billion for the month, according to UK Finance. Meanwhile, the UK Government state cash use continues its steady decline, comprising just 12% of all payments in 2023. Then came buy-now-pay-later (BNPL), sidestepping both cash and cards. In the UK, 42% of adults have used BNPL at least once, and the market is projected to reach £2.5 billion by 2033, per figures provided by Finder.

For many, the line between affordability and accessibility has blurred completely. This isn’t just about technology, it’s about a shift in consumer psychology.

Each step in this evolution has made life easier, but is this trend also detaching us from cost and value?