Ask HN: Is it still possible to live without a bank account?
You can but it turns out to be expensive.<p>-You can cash your paycheck at a check cashing place for a fee. Or at some stores but they expect you to buy stuff there.<p>-No checks, buy a money order. For a fee...<p>-No credit card, buy one that takes a % fee<p>-You&#x27;ll need to keep your cash in a safe place. There is no such place. Some one will find it and likely take it.<p>-No bank, no credit<p>-No credit no reasonable loans. You might get one but it will be at a high percentage, in the 100%+.<p>-No credit, no mortgage, no property<p>-No long term savings , no retirement savings<p>It turns out that a cash only based life style is inconvenient and expensive.<p>I think the inability to save makes it hard to plan for the future. In a way it makes it hard to escape it so the longer you are in it the harder it is to escape it.<p>I&#x27;ve wondered if being unbanked shortens your life. Especially if you need to constantly protect your money from thieves and the dangers that come from that .