For purchases of less than $10, American consumers still prefer folding money. The tipping point for plastic is around the $25 mark, according to new research from CreditCards.com.

The company found that 45 percent of U.S. consumers pay for small purchases with cash even if they have a rewards credit card in their wallet. Cash is followed by debit cards (30 percent) and credit cards (23 percent) for low-cost items.

Additional findings from the study:

• At 41 percent, younger millennials (age 18–27) were were the most likely of any age group use credit for purchases under $10. Only 24 percent of millennials age 28–37 prefer credit; 36 percent typically use cash for small purchases.

• One-quarter of consumers say they use cash or debit cards for small purchases due to concerns about credit card debt.
• For buying inexpensive purchases, 53 percent of Republicans prefer cash, compared with 39 percent of Democrats.
• 40 percent of consumers bypass credit for small purchases because they find it easier (and faster, when EMV is a factor) to pay by another method.

"Many people are still going to use cash because it's so much simpler," Pam Horack, a North Carolina-based certified financial planner told CreditCards.com. "You whip out a five, get your change and you're good to go."

CreditCards.com commissioned SSRS Omnibus to conduct telephone interviews with 1,002 adults living in the continental U.S. Polling was carried out between Aug. 28 and Sept. 2. Statistical results are weighted to correct for demographic discrepancies; the margin of error is plus or minus 3.72 percent.