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Many of you will have realised at one point or another that you have not received a good deal when exchanging your hard earned Sterling for foreign currency.
In many cases, a zero percent commission might be accompanied by a transaction charge that you were unaware of. There may have been hidden fees that you only realised when you received your credit card or bank statements a few weeks later.
This experience is very common, I have been through it myself. It’s not a great feeling. If you are still buying foreign currency from your bank, the post office or worst of all, at the airport, you should stop now. The same applies for expensive travellers cheques.
Exchanging your currency at the airport will result in a less than favourable exchange rate and fees. It’s similar to buying fuel for your car at motorway services instead of at your local supermarket prior to starting your journey.
Value For Money Foreign Currency
So, how should you buy foreign currency? Lets start with a slight mind-shift, shall we? You don’t actually need lots of foreign currency before you travel.
Instead buy a minimal amount of foreign currency for taxis from the airport and light snacks. Buy this minimal amount from the best currency exchange you can find. This is a good place to search.
A month or so before you travel, apply for and receive a specialist credit card that allows you to spend in your required currency without fees.
This Revolut card is a great example. The card allows you to spend fee free with the real exchange rate in over 130 currencies.
It’s not the only option, The Halifax Clarity Card is similar. Please ensure you research them and apply for the one that best suits your needs.
These two steps should ensure that you get value for money when buying foreign currency and spending abroad. Feel free to let me know how you get on in the comments section below.
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My aim with each blog post is to help you move to a better financial future. I believe that financial education is largely absent from the national curriculum and I intend to share anything helpful that I have learned along the way. I am by no means a financial expert. None of the information on this website constitutes financial advice and is provided as general information only. This is my personal finance blog; my marketing blog is over here and I have been blogging there since 2010.
I hope you have found this information useful. Thank you for reading.
Best regards,
Mike
Image credit: https://www.prestwick-airport-guide.co.uk/
