Is your wallet bulging to death? Has it been completely overfed on a diet of a.t.m., credit, charge, cheque, debit, loyalty, bonus, phone, superclub, and value cards? And what about all the other bits of plastic handed out to members of libraries, video shops, autoclubs and even Dublin Zoo?

Some cards are definitely better to carry around than others and the combination a.t.m./cheque and debit card is by far the best. The huge positive response to the Laser debit card scheme in which all the major banks and building societies are participating - suggests that this direct payment method is going some way to eliminating paper transactions.

There are now 400,000 Laser card holders in Ireland, and the five millionth transaction, representing a total spend of about £200 million was registered last week - just 18 months after the Laser service was launched. Lansdowne Market Research discovered that Laser is used most by weekly grocery shoppers.

Laser works by debiting a customer's bank account automatically via a swipe through a designated Laser machine attached to the retailer's till. At about 17p per transaction it is cheaper than writing cheques (which average 24p) and is also cheaper for the retailers, which must pay their banks for every cheque they lodge. Retailers can also offer up to £75 in cash from the Laser card, thus reducing the amount of cash in their tills and their security risk. Payments up to £1,000 are guaranteed without any additional authorisation.

Laser card transactions are expected to double to about 10 million by next year, when the next step in card technology will be finally introduced in pilot form - the Mondex electronic purse. Mondex which is being introduced by Ulster Bank and National Irish Bank, will allow customers to "fill up" their cards with cash from their bank accounts. They can then be used for purchases until the cash is used up. Mondex is expected to be taken up by smaller retailers and service providers like local shops, fast-food outlets, taxis and even general practitioners offices. These businesses would not have account debit terminals installed because the merchant transaction charge is too high for the average purchase. Laser cards are especially sensible for older consumers who may feel vulnerable carrying cash and are afraid to use a.t.m. machines, especially after dark.