How Do You Keep Money ?

[John A]

I don't think I'll tell an international forum of strangers how much cash I carry in my wallet.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by John A

I don't think I'll tell an international forum of strangers how much cash I carry in my wallet.

Interesting. I've always considered this an international forum of friends.

[warthog1984]

Originally Posted by John A

I don't think I'll tell an international forum of strangers how much cash I carry in my wallet.

How do you edit a post?

[heatherbrie]

I second the recommendation for Schwab - no foreign transaction fees, no ATM fees (and they refund you others' fees) -- AND the checking acct is interest bearing.

[John A]

Originally Posted by Bash

Interesting. I've always considered this an international forum of friends.

It is. It is a cheerful group of friends who share a fondness for cruising.

But you should be aware that their are currently 900 'quest' on this forum who don't want to be our friends and go to the trouble of registering as a member and becoming part of our commumity.

And you'd be naive to think that all people are as truthful and honest as you or I.

I really don't want to get into the negitive aspects of those on boats who are dishonest, but they are out there, selling boat stuff to locals.

[simonmd]

I do think it was ment to be toungue in cheek. However, no one has sensibly said exactly where they keep their money.

Good advise to split it up. Keeping everything in one place is asking for trouble. One really good hiding place is amoungst the food items. Cash can be easily kept in a cereal box for example and you can buy 'fake food tins' with a false bottom to store items in as well.

[ozskipper]

Travelex also has a debit card that you can use in any currency. You can top it up via the net. The advantage is that travelex is worldwide and if you lose your card from its easier to replace than the card from the bank at home. Handy to keep it on the boat as a back up.

Cheers
Oz

[conachair]

I Trini I didn't really trust the ATMs, all cash was withdrawn over the counter inside the bank. that way you always get your card back.

[Bill_E]

I agree with the notion that you should carry a significant amount of cash in several hidey holes. And be sure that you have a lot of small bills, like 10's and even a bunch of singles. From the Keys you'll probably be mostly in the Bahamas. If it's Freeport or Nassau you are fine with the ATMs but in smaller places (the more fun ones) you may not find an ATM or it might be an hour's walk in the hot sun. Make sure that you have more than one card. I've had mine eaten by a machine for no known reason and with a good mailing address it took me about a week to get a new one.

A year or so ago you could find ATMs with no fees. Now, the best I've found is a $3.00 fee. If you are only getting $50 out of the machine, that's one hell of a percentage charge!! From the Keys you can probably spend USD in most places you'll go and you can change USD to other currency as needed. If you make it as far as the DR, things will change a bit.

[Bergovoy]

i appreciate all the comments and suggestions... I am sure that once i am onboard, I will have more questions and hopefully more resources to speak with...

is there places in the keys, that liveaboards congregate??? maybe at a bar? restaurant? marina? park? bingo??

[lorenzo b]

Marathon is where they congregate. The whole community is set up to cater to cruisers.

[capn_billl]

I've been able to get cash in every country I've been in, but it was not always easy. Like above it sometimes means a long walk or drive to find a bank that handles international currency transactions, and a wait of several days to get your money.

[hellosailor]

Makes me think I should scan some twenties and change the "legal tender" line to something like "Do Not Pass Go" so they won't be counterfeit...print up a fat roll of them, and then stash that bankroll someplace where it can easily be found.

Of course if the US Treasury keeps screwing around with new bills and not collecting the old ones, I won't have any idea what real US currency looks like either.

[Tom and Maje]

Although we are not cruising yet we travel for business alot. Some banks have associations with banks in other parts of the world. For example, with my Bank of America debit card I can get cash from other banks in other countries with out a fee. Every little bit helps. I always carry USD and Euros just in case I land up in someplace that won't take plastic.

Maje

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Bergovoy

I rarely carry more then $20 on me

After you start cruising you will never have $20 on you!!!!!!!!!!