h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

dont have a bank account, don't have credit cards, dont get into debt.

I should that I would be amazed if anyone can follow the above regime in this modern world we live in

How would you get paid without a bank account? There can't be that many employers that will hand over cash these days! Or are we opting out of working too

As I understand it no employer can force you to accept payment of wages in any form other than cash - if its paid into your bank acc then it is because you agreed to it.

The only time I worked for somewhere that paid cash was an extremely badly paid saturday job 10 years ago. Everyone else has asked for my account details for their payroll. I can't see it going down too well if you say 'Yes I know your other 9999 employees are paid directly into their accounts but you will have to make a special exception just for me'

but as I understand the law you can

Not the best first impression though eh? Uh oh, this one is going to be trouble...

true

I actually have the reverse problem - I'm self employed & my customers pay for my services in Cash or by cheque so every week I have to go make a large deposit at the bank (only to draw most of it out again over course of the next week ).

Oh, you'd be surprised how many companies still pay in cash- my SO drives a truck, and his firm pay all their employees in cash, around forty of them. Handy in that we have cash straight away on a Friday afternoon- bad in that in means a trip to the bank every Monday, as pay time is after the banks close.

I worked with somebody once who refused to have a current account, so they (eventually) paid it into a savings account that she had. So it can be done.

I wouldn't be without my current account - all the utility bills go out of it - saving me money, I pay my phone and internet bills through it - saving me time and postage - and all my benefits get paid directly into it. Saving me getting cash, which I would fritter away.

I do keep having to tell them to cancel the overdraft they keep offering me though.

My bank offered me a free overdraft, with certain limits.
I didn't refuse it, but I've never used it.
It's nice to know it's there, just in the event of...

This year, they upgraded me to a "Platinum Account" - everything free, even stopped cheques. Also, I can have a free Will.

Which is handy, as, after I've got my decree absolute and changed my name by deed pole, I'll have to make out a new Will.