If you’re holding money right now, I bet its face or appearance is not identical with what I have now, especially if you are from a different country. Because the form and size of money or currency varies in every country, but just the same they can be used to pay merchant services.
While credit cards are of the same shape and size as specified by the ISO 7810 standard, and of course are also very useful in purchasing.
You could choose to carry a thousand bucks or just one plastic card called credit card in your wallet. As long as you know the responsibility of paying what you have purchase whether thru your credit card issuers or by cash. Most businesses are accepting credit cards anyway. Merchant services

