In large part, it depends on the sequence of the transaction and what kind of transaction it is. That will determine whether the transaction will be completed and how it will be paid for.

Let's look first at Sebastian's post. He has had the experience of pumping gas, offering legal tender, and being allowed to drive away with free gas because the cashier refused to take the tendered cash.

In this case, just as in the case of consuming a meal, the obligation to pay is created by consumption of the goods prior to paying for them. In this situation the merchant can either accept the tendered cash, or he can refuse the tendered cash for policy reasons of his own. But insofar as the law is concerned, you have tendered lawful payment, which means you have offered to pay the debt you have incurred with legal money. If the merchant refuses to accept this payment, then you are relieved of the debt. Your duty and obligation is to tender lawful payment, and if the merchant refuses it, your debt is discharged. US money is legal tender.

On the other hand, let's say you go to the grocery store, pick out some items, and go to the checkstand, where the cashier rings up the total. You present a $100 bill, but the cashier refuses to accept it. In this case you have not "consumed" the goods, and the transaction can simply be cancelled. The store takes back its goods and you leave without them.

The same concept would apply to the condo situation, you might think, but not really. This is because buying real estate involves a written contract, and the terms of that contract are enforceable once it's been signed.

Therefore, so long as there is no provision in the contract that specifies that payment shall be made ONLY by cashier's check or "certified funds", then tendering cash fulfills the requirements of the contract, because it is "legal tender."

As I said, you must read the contract carefully and REMOVE any provisions that prevent tendering cash, *if the other party will agree to that amendment*, in order to preserve your ability to pay cash. This is because a contract is a "meeting of the minds" and a binding legal agreement, so one side cannot unilaterally change a provision of the contract without the approval of the other party.

However, if you strike out a provision in a contract, initial it, and give it to the other party and give them adequate time to read and consider the change, and they DO NOT OBJECT to the strikeout, then their right to object can be lost under the concept of "estopple." By giving them notice of the changed provision, by, for example, striking out the "only by check" or by adding "cash" to the provision about forms of payment in the presence of a representative of the other party, you give them due notice and opportunity to say "hey, wait a second, I have to check this change with my boss" or otherwise object to the change. If they fail to perform their due diligence, then they may have waived their right to object.

It's all something of a game, but if you play by the rules, and there is NOT explicit language that PROHIBITS tendering cash, then tendering cash is ALWAYS a legal option, and in the case of a contract, tendering cash fulfills your side of the contract, which obligates them to fulfill their side, or be in breach of contract.

The point is that unless YOU have agreed to tender payment in some form OTHER THAN cash, in advance, you cannot be compelled to pay other than cash. But then again, the merchant (or the rail company) is also not obligated to provide you with service or goods unless you pay in their preferred form of payment.

However, if they accept cash as legal tender, but they seek to restrict the denomination of the bills they will accept, it is THEY who take the risk of having to take the loss if you have consumed the goods or services and you tender payment using lawful currency of any denomination.

"Just keep this in mind, life entitles us to nothing. We aren’t guaranteed the perfect job, a job in our field, fairness, equality, compassion, nothing. You are not even guaranteed your next breath. Life is going to be what you create and build from the moment you read this forward...I don’t want to hear that there are no jobs out there for you. I want you to work at any job, food service, retail, call center, or any of a number of jobs you never would have considered before."-By Steve Rhode

... Hmmm ... Steve Rhode sounds just like JJ Luna!

I'll bet they can get a job picking lettuce or fruit. Or digging ditches. Or being janitors.

It's unfortunate perhaps that they cannot get a job in their chosen career, but Americans are known for their ability to improvise, adapt and overcome...or at least they used to be.

Sitting around bemoaning one's inability to get a job commensurate with one's educational qualifications is a sign of a dependent-class mentality.

It also speaks to the wisdom of eschewing a college education in favor of using one's native intellect to innovate and create wealth.

Keep in mind that one of the richest men in the world dropped out of college to innovate in the computer business. His name is Bill Gates.

Please take a dollar bill from your pocket and note the words "This note is legal tender for all debts public and private." It means what it says.

Checks are a "promise to pay" and no one can be compelled to either give or take a check. Cash is ALWAYS an option.

Here's my suggestion: Write the contract, sign everything to make it a valid contract and have the seller do so as well. Make no mention of payment other than that it will be a cash purchase, not on a loan.

Appear at the closing with the full amount in cash. Present the cash to the buyer. If they refuse the cash, THEY HAVE VIOLATED THE CONTRACT because you have "tendered payment in full" and may owe you damages. In addition, you can probably COMPEL them to complete the transaction if they refuse, because you have a valid contract for sale which binds them to selling if and when you present payment in full. Cash is the quintessential payment in full, and you can simply direct them to the words on each and every bill if they balk. Tell them that you have tendered legal payment and so far as you and the law are concerned, the sale has been completed and you are going to take possession of the property. Insist that they count the cash and mark the paperwork "paid in full" and tell them that you will sue them for breach of contract if they fail to do so immediately.

My bet is that they will fluster a bit and give you the stink-eye, but will not try to walk away from the table because they know perfectly well they don't have a legal leg to stand on. YOUR lawyer should back you up on this.

"Legal tender for all debts public and private" means exactly that, and once tendered, it fulfills your obligations under the contract. Of course, make SURE you cross out any reference to "required forms of payment" that you might find in the contract.

By the way, those signs you see "no bills over $20 accepted" are not legally valid. It's impolite, but not illegal, to tender payment with a bill that a merchant does not wish to accept. Legally, you have tendered payment and they can either accept the payment tendered and give you the appropriate change, or they can refuse the payment, which leaves you free to say "So, you're refusing payment in legal tender. I'm going to assume that you are waiving the amount owed as a result. Are you sure you don't want me to pay?" You might have to wait while they come up with change, and you might not be welcome back, but so long as you tender payment you've performed your legal obligation. If the merchant refuses that payment, that's his lookout. Of course, you'll likely have to explain all this to the police as well, but stand on your rights and the words on the bill and you'll be okay.

"...the growing disconnect between labor market realities and the propaganda of higher-education apologists is causing more and more people to graduate and take menial jobs or no job at all. This is even true at the doctoral and professional level—there are 5,057 janitors in the U.S. with Ph.D.’s, other doctorates, or professional degrees."

I'm not writing this to curry favour from Mr. Luna, and I've certainly got my own problems, but I recommend reading and following at least some of the advice in the $17 e-book Skip College. You can sell something at a flea market and take that $20 and buy a prepaid credit card and order the Skip College book. Or send cash in the postal mail.

I'm here at the University of Georgia, and there are teachers, pharmacists, computer science majors and other graduates that cannot get any kind of job, much less an interview.

Submitted Link #1: http://chronicle.com/blogs/innovations/why-did-17-...

When asked if you will make your decision according to the law as given to you by the court, say "I will vote my conscience based on the evidence I believe to be true, and that includes voting to acquit if I see a miscarriage of justice occurring."

You'll have to waste a day sitting in the jury pool waiting to be called, but I guarantee you you'll never serve on a jury.

... Years ago, when I DID live in the same state as shown on my DL, I went to see the judge ahead of time, with a [true] argument similar to yours. I was quickly crossed off the list and didn't have to join the jury pool at all. (One of our grandsons, however, is on a jury right now in San Diego. Says he want to "see how the system works.")