A new study conducted by Visa found that old and young had much to agree on when it comes to how to pay for things - use plastic. Not surprisingly, that plays right into one of its recent ad campaigns.

Entitled “How America Spends,” the Visa study polled 500 Baby Boomers (ages 43 to 61) and 500 Echo Boomers (ages 18 to 28), two groups key to consumer spending trends.

Some 79 percent of Baby Boomers and 74 percent of Echo Boomers believe “our society will one day operate without cash and checks and will conduct all payment transactions electronically.”

But that’s about all they agreed on. Here’s what the study also found:

• Baby Boomers think Echo Boomers are self-absorbed losers. The study found just 25 percent of Baby Boomers would describe the Echo Boomers as an admirable generation. And 68 percent of Baby Boomers believe Echo Boomers and too self-centered.
• Given that, Echo Boomers may want to rethink their position. By contrast, some 68 percent of Echo Boomers said they admire Baby Boomers — or did before reading the survey results.
• They should settle this over a nice dinner — paid for with Visa, of course. Among Echo Boomers, 45 percent cited dining out at restaurants as their second largest expense, after housing. Among Baby Boomers, it was cited as the third largest expense, after housing. Oh, and medical/dental.