A Cashless Canteen

In the picture, the girl is paying for her meal by tapping a card or a smartwatch on a reader at the canteen stall. There is no cash being exchanged, and a small screen beside the reader shows the amount deducted. The stallholder is passing her the food while the payment is being processed. What I also noticed is that the queue behind her is moving quickly, which is one clear advantage of paying this way.

I paid for something on my own for the first time when I bought a birthday present for my sister at the bookshop. I had saved twelve dollars and I remember counting the coins twice before handing them over because I was worried about giving the wrong amount. The cashier was patient and helped me count the change. It felt quite grown up, and afterwards I understood why my mother always checks the receipt.

I feel cashless payment is better for the school canteen. It is faster, which matters a lot when recess is only thirty minutes and the queues are long, and students cannot lose their coins or drop them. It also allows parents to see what their child is spending, which helps with budgeting. However, I understand that some students find it too easy to spend when they cannot see the money, so I think learning to track your balance is just as important as having the card.