The shift towards digital payments has made everyday transactions faster and more convenient, but it has also changed the way people think about spending. Actress and writer Gulfam Khan Hussain, known for shows like Naamkarann, Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga, Dhruv Tara – Samay Sadi Se Pare, Gehna – Zewar Ya Zanjeer, India Calling and Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyannsays she has personally been cautious about UPI and credit cards because the ease of digital payments can sometimes make it harder to keep track of how much one is actually spending.

“I have personally never been a big fan of UPI or credit cards because there is no real feeling of money leaving your hands. When you physically pay with currency, you can actually see how much you are spending. There is a psychological aspect to it because digital payments can make spending feel almost effortless, and that can encourage consumerism,” she says.

However, Gulfam adds that the convenience of digital payments has made it difficult to completely stay away from them. “Now that everything has become digital, I also make digital transactions. But I have consciously put a cap on my spending. I think that is something each person can do for themselves. Convenience is great, but you should still know where your money is going,” she says.

Speaking about the proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), she feels the amount may not seem significant to individual consumers. “When you actually calculate 0.4 per cent, it is not going to make a huge difference for an individual transaction. Unless you are dealing with very large amounts, you may not even notice it, especially if the charge is not directly coming out of your pocket,” she adds.

At the same time, Gulfam believes there is a larger conversation around the cost of maintaining digital infrastructure. “We sometimes forget that technology is not free. There is a huge amount of capital that goes into maintaining systems, improving security and creating better technology. If a small contribution can help strengthen digital payments, make them safer and encourage more innovation, then I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing,” she says.

She adds, “We cannot always expect the government to fund everything. There has to be some investment from the ecosystem itself if we want digitalisation to become stronger and more efficient.”

For Gulfam, the important thing is finding a balance between convenience, responsible spending and building a stronger digital infrastructure.