Delhi Content Creator Sadaf Switches to Cash, Says 80% Cash Rule Curbs Impulse Spending

Delhi-based content creator Sadaf stopped using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for most everyday purchases for more than two months, opting to pay primarily with cash. In a video posted on Instagram (@rockstarz.gf) that went viral, she explained that handling physical money made each transaction tangible, helping her notice how much she was spending and reducing impulse purchases. She reported that using cash simplified budgeting because she could see the remaining cash in her wallet without constantly checking banking apps.

Sadaf acknowledged practical limits to a fully cash‑only approach, noting that many vendors lack change and that digital payments are sometimes necessary. She now follows an “80 % cash, 20 % UPI” rule, keeping most of her money in cash while retaining UPI for situations where cash is inconvenient. The experiment highlighted how digital payments can obscure small, frequent expenditures, while cash can increase financial awareness.