I was recently contacted by somebody from the UK Post Office, about their new Travel Money Card. They did a survey that shows that 30% of people say taking food from home is their best way of saving money on vacation. The results suggests that with the current exchange rates and weak pound at the minute, people could save on average about £34 by taking their own food and people are taking stuff like tea bags (58%), marmite (blech) (20%), chips (36%) or cornflakes (35%) when they go on vacation. Apparently nearly half (43 per cent) also admitted to taking extra from the hotel breakfast buffet and stashing it in their beach bags to eat later in the day!
The Post Office Travel Money Card allows holidaymakers to preload a card with foreign currency which they can then use abroad, which helps save on costly foreign exchange rate conversion fees. It doesn’t have any credit or debit facilities so it’s impossible to overspend and money can be loaded on to the card in installments.
When we travel abroad, we just use our regular bank cards. But I really like that this one can be loaded in installments and can’t be overspent- perfect budgeting in action! I’m not quite sure if it’s only available for those with UK accounts or not, but it certainly sounds interesting.
Here are my favorite links from the week:
- 103 Debt Management Calculators @ CESI
- Spending Less Than You Earn Is Not Enough @ Oh My Aching Debts
- Seeking Self-Reliance, Americans Raise Own Chickens @ NYTimes.com
- Investing in Our Kids. Should we give our children financial advice? @ Babble.com
- What’s worth the money (and what’s not) @ (What if No One’s Watching?)
- No Limit: Know Your Worth @ DailyWorth
- Insurance – Key Questions for Consumer Empowerment – Brochures & Catalogs, questions, and consumers
- Frugal Living 101: A practical mom tells her story
- Shopping Ethics @ beingfrugal.net
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{ 4 comments }
“30% of people say taking food from home is their best way of saving money on vacation” I don`t like to have a lot of bags … but you can save money doing that
.-= World Travels´s last blog ..Mexico City, two sided city =-.
I believe American Express gift cards serve the same purpose as the UK Post Office cards. (I hate to advertise anything, especially a credit card company, but Amex gift cards make superb gifts because it allows the recipient to pay their bills with it. Thus allowing you to pay your friend’s utility bill instead of giving them a gift for their birthday.)
But I don’t see how you couldn’t take one to your beach vacation in Mexico or elsewhere and leave your credit cards at home.
.-= J.N. Urbanski´s last blog ..Chicks & Ammo =-.
That taking extra from the hotel buffet breakfast and stashing it for later thing? I’m SO guilty! Bread rolls and fruit are my usual targets.
The taking food I have done a few times, when “nearcationing”, but it usually doesn’t work well for crossing international borders.
A card that can’t be overspent sounds really good, both for the budget and for personal peace of mind: if it gets lost or stolen then there is a limit to the losses. I like it.
Keep up the great posts!
.-= NaTasha´s last blog ..How long does it take? =-.
Instead of taking food from home, I get a home from home. I vacation for free by doing home exchange with another family that wants to visit my town. I stay in their home while they use my home. I will never cram my two small kids into a cramped hotel room again. I much prefer having several bedrooms, full kitchen, at least 2 bathrooms, laundry facilities and sometimes the free use of a car. I have done more than 40 swaps with great success. This is the cheapest, yet richest way to travel. My non-commercial blog at HomeExchanger.blogspot.com has lots of tips for new exchangers.