I've always kept some cash, both paper and coins, when returning from another country. The main reason is that I don't want to bother finding a cash machine at the airport when I get off a long flight next time. I much prefer using an ATM inside a bank building downtown, just for safety.
I now have money from eight different countries, stored in ziplock bags in the same folder with our passports. I keep track of it in a spreadsheet that automatically updates every day. In total, it's around $1,500 worth, which is certainly too much. That's OK, because I know I'll spend it all before too long since we love to go back repeatedly to favorite places.
I have the record of what I paid for it all, and over time there has been a small but steady increase in the value of my little stash. Some countries improve over the dollar, and others decline, but mostly the trend has been favorable over the last several years.
Another reason I have so much is that I absolutely refuse to exchange foreign cash at the airport counters simply because of the outrageous fees they charge.
Do others keep a substantial amount of foreign cash or am I an outlier?
And don't tell me I need to plan my spending better on these trips; I'm well aware of that!
I now have money from eight different countries, stored in ziplock bags in the same folder with our passports. I keep track of it in a spreadsheet that automatically updates every day. In total, it's around $1,500 worth, which is certainly too much. That's OK, because I know I'll spend it all before too long since we love to go back repeatedly to favorite places.
I have the record of what I paid for it all, and over time there has been a small but steady increase in the value of my little stash. Some countries improve over the dollar, and others decline, but mostly the trend has been favorable over the last several years.
Another reason I have so much is that I absolutely refuse to exchange foreign cash at the airport counters simply because of the outrageous fees they charge.
Do others keep a substantial amount of foreign cash or am I an outlier?
And don't tell me I need to plan my spending better on these trips; I'm well aware of that!