Cash: Only cash is real in Europe. The situation in the morning

Good morning, dear readers,

Anyone who has ever been on holiday in Denmark knows that only tourists – if at all – pay with cash. But the ongoing crises are causing a rethink at the Danish National Bank, which now advises people to have cash for emergencies. What is the situation in Germany?

Denmark is considered one of the pioneers of digitalization in Europe. Schools have long relied on technical aids for learning, administrative procedures can be completed digitally, and in 2026 the state postal company will stop delivering letters – the number of deliveries has fallen by over 90 percent since 2000.

But now there is a small retreat: the Danish National Bank is encouraging citizens to have cash at home again in the future. You should put aside 250 crowns per person, the equivalent of around 30 euros, in smaller notes and coins. Not necessarily much if you know the prices in Denmark. The Danish payment system is safe, assured National Bank Director Ulrik Nødgaard, but “the long-term power outages in Spain and Portugal show that citizens and businesses need to know alternative payment options.”

Sweden also announced that it would make so-called offline card payments possible in stores from mid-2026. Payments with physical cards and PIN codes should be possible without the cash register system being connected to the Internet. Citizens should also have a week’s worth of cash at home.

The developments in the two countries are in line with the results recently published by the European Central Bank. It states that “the utility of cash increases significantly when stability is threatened” – regardless of the type of threat and the progress of digitalization. Above all, the “psychological and practical benefits” of cash are crucial. It increases comfort and offers security in the event of system failures.

Many other EU countries also recommend always having money at home for emergencies – including Germany. The The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief advises citizens to do so, but does not specify the amount. Supplies should be enough to last you at least three days.

In general, cash payments remain popular in Germany, but are declining sharply. 2023 were loud 51 percent of all transactions were still paid in cash, compared to 83 percent in 2008. In the same period, the share of cash sales has more than halved from 58 percent to 26 percent. Especially for amounts above 20 euros, people pay more by card.

How about you, dear readers: Do you prefer to use cash, card or mobile payment methods? And why? Here in Los Angeles, from where I just met you this morningstar As I write, you pay for almost all transactions with your card – even if many shops continue to accept cash payments. I also tend to pay by card here, and so far I have hardly spent any of the money I withdrew upon arrival. It’s an unusual feeling, because in Germany I prefer to pay in cash – to have better control over my expenses.

It’s supposed to be a big ceremony: When the peace treaty between Israel and Hamas is signed in Egypt this Monday, Donald Trump is likely to present himself as the world’s greatest diplomat. In fact, he achieved something with the deal – this is also recognized in Europe.

But after the war is before reconstruction. Creating a future again in the completely destroyed Gaza Strip is likely to be a huge task. The federal government wants to participate in this: millions are available for local health care, and Berlin wants to organize a reconstruction conference. An SPD federal minister is at the center. The starPolitical leaders Veit Medick and Jan Rosenkranz talk about the Merz government’s plans and about the woman with probably the most interesting background in the entire cabinet.

Automatic braking, spacers and even automatic overtaking: car manufacturers are equipping their cars with ever new technologies that are intended to make driving safer and more comfortable. One of these innovations is distance measurement with lidar.

But the highly potent rays have an unpleasant side effect, as Volvo has already admitted. Because the technology can destroy the cameras in a smartphone. Volvo is now drawing attention to the problem on a help page. But how come the camera sensors can break? You can read that here:

How much salary you get depends on the job – but also on the region in which you live. Current data shows where and in which industries the best wages are paid:

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I wish you a good start to the day!