Contactless cards are making me skint

It’s week six and our bank accounts are hurting


In July, the UK Cards Association published that there are a total of 92.1 million contactless cards currently issued in the UK, and unsurprisingly that number is going up and up.

To many of us this is a blessing. A fast, practical and sleek alternative to fumbling around your wallet for cash. Time waits for no man and this is especially true on a night out. But with contactless, students are able to spend time on the things that really matter e.g the dance floor. 

Thankfully we are no longer faced with the challenge of remembering our pin, or the awkward conversation with the guy in your seminar who you’ve never spoken to.

‘So mate…have you done the reading?’

But inevitably for all this there is a price. With great power comes great responsibility, but when it’s six for £6 at quids in, you’d be rude not to. This is the problem. Money no longer seems real.

While the act of forking out a five pound note gives you time to think, do I really want this VK? Just one tap and it’s there. Before you know it your new best mates asked for one and suddenly it’s not one drink you’re ordering, its six.

He knows

The result of this? People like Leeds first year Rory Bird have spent all of their loans already. The Chemical Engineering student has already spent £1637 and is already in his overdraft, and blames his contactless card. He told me “I wouldn’t have spent that amount with a normal card. Absolutely not. If I actually had to type my pin in I would have saved so much money. I’m not buying anything until after Christmas.”

So stay safe students – control the contactless. But if not, one word: overdraft.