What's your prediction on the Australian Dollar?

More to the point is why the hell would anybody buy currency and cart cash around when their is a number of fee free debit cards available for use and ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today? :confused: :confused: :confused: That confuses the hell out of me.
 
Cruiser Elite said:
More to the point is why the hell would anybody buy currency and cart cash around when their is a number of fee free debit cards available for use and ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today? :confused: :confused: :confused: That confuses the hell out of me.
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Not sure if you've been to India before, but there's ATMs and then there's ATMs.......!!
 
Cruiser Elite said:
More to the point is why the hell would anybody buy currency and cart cash around
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Several reasons:

1) Often a better exchange rate for cash.

2) Can be a better purchasing rate for cash. As just one example there are two different rates for buying fuel in the US. Cash rate is often 10% cheaper than the rate for any card (including debit cards).

3) Cards do sometimes fail. I've had situations when either the merchants system is down or my own Australian bank's system is down and I've also had situations where my bank has frozen my account whilst I have been overseas even after I had informed them of my travel plans.

4) This just isn't true 'ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today' + those that do exist often have very high fees that they impose even for small withdrawals.

I prefer to travel with cash. There's a reason why they say 'cash is king'.
 
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Flashback said:
Not sure if you've been to India before, but there's ATMs and then there's ATMs.......!!
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Euro is the currency of India?
Dr Ralph said:
Several reasons:

1) Often a better exchange rate for cash.

2) Can be a better purchasing rate for cash. As just one example there are two different rates for buying fuel in the US. Cash rate is often 10% cheaper than the rate for any card (including debit cards).

3) Cards do sometimes fail. I've had situations when either the merchants system is down or my own Australian bank's system is down and I've also had situations where my bank has frozen my account whilst I have been overseas even after I had informed them of my travel plans.

4) This just isn't true 'ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today' + those that do exist often have very high fees that they impose even for small withdrawals.

I prefer to travel with cash. There's a reason why they say 'cash is king'.
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Mostly rubbish but you stick with those thoughts Ralphy - good thing we don't all like the one girl huh?
 
Cruiser Elite said:
More to the point is why the hell would anybody buy currency and cart cash around when their is a number of fee free debit cards available for use and ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today? :confused: :confused: :confused: That confuses the hell out of me.
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So carry cash in the form of a card?

Personally I prefer cash. The exchange rate can be better than ATM's. Also I don't have to worry about finding the right ATM. Also I try to limit use of credit cards overseas if not already prepaid in Australia.
 
Cruiser Elite said:
More to the point is why the hell would anybody buy currency and cart cash around when their is a number of fee free debit cards available for use and ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today? :confused: :confused: :confused: That confuses the hell out of me.
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To lock-in a rate. I'd never buy a cash card or a disposable credit card with their woeful exchange rates, but I do buy cash online and deposit it into overseas back accounts.
 
This may be getting way OT and my apologies if it is - locking in a rate not much value if A$ strengthens - great plan if it weakens - IMHO the various Debit Cards available are the only way to go - but who knows - remote possibility I might be wrong here - but buying cash for personal spend went out with button up boots didn't it? Maybe the senior cits here advocating cash here are just creatures of habit?
 
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Cruiser Elite said:
More to the point is why the hell would anybody buy currency and cart cash around when their is a number of fee free debit cards available for use and ATMs on almopst every street corner in the world today? :confused: :confused: :confused: That confuses the hell out of me.
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I don't want to apply for anymore cards, being retired, and not having any debt at all, it's all just a pain in the bum. Even when I said 'yes' to their offer of an increase to my amex limit, I was then told I had to supply stuff from my accountant. I always (unless I forget) pay all my cards off in full each month, it's justa another hassle I can do without.

In Portugal recently I had to pay for our tour in cash, I hadn't brought enough cash with me and I could only withdraw 300 euro in one transaction, I therefore paid a 'fee' each time, it was was annoying.
 
Travelling much more off the beaten track these days, I like to hedge my bets and have both cards and cash. I rely generally on cards but always have cash as a backup. It's proved very useful more than once......
 

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