well, me being in Ukraine also means readiness to move out of my house whenever the need (or opportunity to escape abroad! I hate this war and kidnap-conscription) may arise. it's as much convenience as it is preparedness
That's why I don't mind carrying around plastic cards, they just go in my wallet with my ID and a small amount of cash anyway.
Even if I was willing to use GPay, I don't like the possibility of my phone dying locking me out of my apartment and preventing me from paying for things.
Moving to GrapheneOS and not having virtual cards for contactless payment has been struggle, not going go lie.
In the UK we have Curve and, I believe, plenty of European banks have apps that work natively too.
> Preparedness is having several thousand euros in cash.
totally agree. not that I, much like any average Ukrainian, have more than €400 behind my name, but I agree, and by that definition only the wealthiest ~10% are truly prepared