banks and checks

Paying for purchases in Regency England was very different than today. In those days, people did not carry around paper money or check books or credit cards. They paid for purchases with coins. A few places would accept bank cheques but that seemed fairly rare--mostly if the establishment already had an understanding with either the bank or the customer.

It was most common for a person to set up a credit account with establishment, which would then send a bill to the customer, or their man of business who would arrange for payment.

Paper money did not become common until long after Regency England. Cheque--or checks--became commonly accepted form of payment much later as well.

So if your Regency hero and heroine want to do some shopping, they'd either be carrying around a heavy money bag that jingles, or stick with favored shops with whom they had an account.

Sorta makes you think, doesn't it?