7 Reasons Why an E-wallet is Better Than Cash

20 years ago, if someone told us that we would one day be able to use our phones to pay for things, chances are we will most likely say; no way lah! Today, however, that is now a reality thanks to the invention of e-wallets. Generally speaking, not only is cashless payment super convenient as we no longer have to lug around a bulky wallet every time we leave the house, but some e-wallets even come with perks such as bonus cashback. With that being said, if you’ve yet to try going cashless for a day, then here are 7 reasons why you should probably switch to e-wallets to make payments.

 

1. Shopping at your local pasar malam

Not many of you may know this, but many vendors at pasar malams (night markets) now offer the option of cashless payment for items purchased at their stalls. So, instead of having to carry loose change around which is super leceh, we can now use our phones to make a purchase! Gone are the days of having to carry spare change to purchase that trendy iPhone case or your typical Malaysian street food — simply scan the QR code to pay!

Where will you be able to do this, you ask? Well, here are a few pasar malams to take note of:

• Taman Connaught, Cheras
• Setia Alam, Shah Alam
• SS2, PJ
• Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur
• Uptown Puchong
• Taman OUG, Kuala Lumpur
• Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
• and many more which can be found here.

Aside from this, using an e-wallet at night markets is not only more convenient, but safer as well. This is because you no longer have to carry cash with you or make a trip to an ATM at night if you need to make a withdrawal, thereby potentially putting yourself in danger of being robbed.

 

2. Sending vouchers or e-gifts to friends

Let’s be honest my fellow Malaysians, not many of us can claim that our gift giving skills are on point, especially for us guys. I can definitely relate to this. As such, shopping for makeups for our partners or girlfriends can truly be a nightmare! Dei, can someone please explain to us what’s the difference between a highlighter, bronzer, and contour? Also, why are there so many different types of brushes?!!! ?.

Well, if your gift giving skills are as bad as mine, then one convenient feature of an e-wallet is that it allows you to send vouchers or e-gifts to a friend. So, if you know someone that shops on Zalora or loves Tealive, just get them a voucher as an e-gift la bro! What’s more, certain e-wallets these days offer vouchers for brands, food stores and even online retailers we know and love too, including: 

• Zalora
• Lazada
• Killer Gourmet Burgers (KGB) Burger
• MyBurgerlab
• Tealive
• MBO cinemas
• and many more!

 

3. Splitting the bill with your friends when the cheque arrives

Apologies to all the waiters/waitresses whom we’ve wasted their time.

You know that awkward moment when the waiter has to wait for you and your friends to pay the bill because you’ve decided to go dutch? Yeah, we’ve all been there, especially during our college days. Well, if you can relate to how mafan this is, then another great feature of e-wallets is that it allows you to split bills just by using the app.

You can even choose to split the bill evenly or separately! If you’re interested, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can do so. 

 

4. Paying your electricity and water bills

Why spend hours waiting in line to pay for your utilities when you can do it instantly with the touch of a few buttons with an e-wallet? Not only are paying your bills with an e-wallet super convenient, but it’s also more rewarding compared to making payments at public offices or through online banking. For instance, Boost is offering up to 100% cashback on utility bill payments from now till 3 February 2019. Amazing right?! Find out more here.

 

5. Topping up your mobile prepaid credit

We’re sure many of you can relate to how frustrating running out of prepaid credit is when you have an important call to make or having your data run out on you when you want to book a ride home. Sei loh if you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere at night and need to get back home. 

If you’re a prepaid user and can relate to all of this, then here’s why you might want to consider using an e-wallet; reloading your prepaid credit can be done in just a matter of seconds and from anywhere — saving you time as you no longer have to go out and look for convenience stores to purchase your top-ups. Nice! 

 

6. E-wallets can enhance your shopping experience 

If you can relate to how frustrating it is to see someone holding up the queue at checkout while grocery shopping, just know you’re not alone. The good news is certain big retailers these days allow people to pay with their e-wallets which can save time from having to rifle through your wallet for cash or dig your pocket for small change.

Even online retailers and e-commerce sites are getting in on the act. Some of the big ones already accept payment via e-wallet. This is great for anyone who’s tired of having to keep pulling out their credit card to enter details at checkout webpages. Plus, those of us who are a little paranoid about security and credit/debit card fraud can just use an e-wallet instead — it’s a lot safer.

 

7. Get rewarded every time you make a payment!

Perhaps one of the best things about e-wallets is that some even reward you simply by just using them. And being Malaysian, we surely can’t say no to freebies, right? For instance, Boost offers ‘shake rewards’ for each transaction that you make! Essentially, this unique feature gives you bonus cashback simply by just shaking your phone! 

All things considered, using an e-wallet to make payments is a whole lot more convenient than using cash when you think about it. And with reports suggesting that Malaysia is soon to become a cashless society, it’s only a matter of time until making payments in cold hard cash become a thing of the past.

So, if you’re considering switching over to an e-wallet, then we highly recommend giving Boost — Malaysia’s leading e-wallet — a try as it offers more perks than most e-wallets in the market like its unique ‘shake rewards’. More information on Boost can be found here.