Money Tip - How much to take overseas?

[harold h]

If anyone wants a money tip, well here it is.

If you don't know how much money to take with you when heading overseas, then I suggest only about $300 worth. The rest you can take out using your ATM card as long as it shows a Cirrus or Maestro logo on it. Theses ATM cards can be used around the world to access your cash from your savings account back home.

The exchange rates when using your ATM card are much better than using the Thomas Cook and other Exchange Bureaus at banks and airports.

[Margy]

I can vouch for this too. I never use travellers checks anymore. Fully rely on my ATM card.

[cool ice]

Yep, ATM cards are the way to go. Just be sure that the ATM card has the cirrus or maestro marks on the back.

Good hard cash is also a must just in case. You never never know.....

[rwall7943]

Yes I do too. i was suprised at first how convent is wa to use the ATM in other countries, I did not know that was possible, but since that is all I use now, and it is so convient.

[reviewer]

While a little old-fashioned, I am still a fan of carrying some traveler's checks in my luggage for an emergency situation. I get too nervous about being far from home with no support system.

[exported_kiwi]

Yep, cirrus ATM's are the way to go. Word of advice to those men folk heading to China though.... if you get a Chinese girlfriend, they may want to manage the money as is traditional here. If you "hook up" with one, and she wants to manage the money, after a suitable get to know period (took me 2 years) then you'll be lucky to have any money to have in your account so you can use your ATM card!

I always have a stash in USD hidden away that she doesn't know about so I can get out if I have to, or for a family emergencies. What they don't know doesn't hurt em and you have a little peace of mind too.

Another coupla cents worth!

[gfell]

Haha.... same goes for here in Japan. The women manage the money. The guys give all control to the women. Thank goodness I'm not Japanese and don't go with this thinking.

I earn my money, so I CONTROL it. Case closed!

[exported_kiwi]

Hahahahaha Gfell. I earn my money, but am not allowed to control it because apparently I spend too much on living. When I ask for some of my own money to spend, I'm told I spent it all, but I'm kinda having a hard job figuring out what I spent it on, especially since I have no new clothes in my closet, but she has about a dozen new pairs of shoes etc each month. Hell, I can't even afford a beer any more! Anyways, it's a lot easier to tolerate this than to get an earful every few minutes so I just pretend I know nothing and domestic peace can be maintained. I don't, repeat DO NOT recommend this course for others though. Only reason I tolerate it is because she and I have been us for a coupla years, and it's a whole helluva lot easier than the headaches that would ensue should I decide to wrestle control of my own money back.

I do manage to somehow, keep a few little "extras" away from her prying eyes though, and the stash goes up steadily, so I'm not complaining!

Nuff said,

[gfell]

Wow! Sounds like your life would make a funny sitcom episode. What you described is exactly how it is in Japan too.

This tradtion stems back to the Samurai period when money was thought of as dirty. It was below a man's role in society to pay for things and handle cash. Hence, the woman would manage the bills and so forth.

[Tutor]

Well the saying is "One who pays has the say".

While travelling abroad I have been in situation when ATMs were hard to find at some remote locations. So probably Travellers check might just be handful as you can use them at many locations (including post offices).