The ultimate finance packing list

If you’re going abroad, consider exchanging cash before you leave so you have the local currency to spend when you arrive. The amount of physical cash you bring depends on several factors including destination, budget and security considerations. Once you know how much you’re exchanging, research the rates and fees to get the best possible deal and make sure you go through an official bureau de change. Also try to avoid getting your travel money at the airport as it’s usually more expensive.

This allows you to know exactly how much money you have to spend and means you don’t need to worry about trying to access your account from abroad.

Saving for your next holiday? Consider one of our easy access accounts, nickname it ‘Holiday fund’ and get saving.

It could be cheaper to buy a sim card when you arrive at the location. If you decide to use your own sim, consider adding a spend cap to help avoid unexpected roaming costs.

To avoid overspending, divide your holiday savings by the number of days you’re away to get an approximate daily spending budget. You can then adjust depending on your priorities for each day. For example, maybe you’re planning to hit the slides at a water park, or visit a museum, in which case, allocate more of your daily budget to these special events, and consider a cheaper activity-free day to balance it out.

Read more about how to succeed at budgeting.

Some credit and debit card providers may charge you when buying something in a foreign currency. Before your travels, check with your bank and credit card companies to see what travel fees they may charge. A good place to start is by reviewing your card’s website or terms and conditions. 

Some providers may ask you to set a travel notice to prevent unnecessary fraud suspicions. Check if this applies to you and send the notification before you leave.

Make sure you choose a policy with suitable cover for the activities that you'll be doing and compare providers for the best deal.

Holidays can be unpredictable. By setting aside a portion of your holiday savings for an emergency, you’ll build a safety net to be better prepared for the unexpected.

Read more about emergency funds.

It may seem obvious, but don’t forget to turn off your utilities and appropriate electrical items before you leave. You’ll be thankful for the pennies saved when you get home!

Dinner here, a drink there, and before you know it, you’ve lost track of who owes who what. We’ve all been there. For stress-free paybacks, consider using a bill-split app. Everyone adds in their expenses and at the end of the trip, the tool works out exactly who owes whom what.