Money management while traveling is one of the biggest concerns for most travelers going abroad. At any point, something crazy and unwanted could happen to you, like the theft of a bag or a pickpocket taking your wallet. While there are no 100% proven ways to keep your money safe, you can get pretty damn close.
First off, keep your valuables (cash, credit cards and other financial documents) split up, mixed between your bags and on your person. If anything were to happen, at least you would likely have a way to keep some of your things safe, rather than losing everything all together. Keep copies of your travel documents (passport, ID’s, credit cards, contact information, etc) in multiple places, and that includes the contact numbers for your credit cards, just in case the worst happens. Purchasing a little under the shirt, belt-attached, or under the pants ‘hidden pocket’ bag can also save you – especially from pickpockets. It’s best to put your money, credit cards, passport and other valuable documents in this hidden pocket bag, but be sure you don’t lose it!
First off, keep your valuables (cash, credit cards and other financial documents) split up, mixed between your bags and on your person. If anything were to happen, at least you would likely have a way to keep some of your things safe, rather than losing everything all together. Keep copies of your travel documents (passport, ID’s, credit cards, contact information, etc) in multiple places, and that includes the contact numbers for your credit cards, just in case the worst happens. Purchasing a little under the shirt, belt-attached, or under the pants ‘hidden pocket’ bag can also save you – especially from pickpockets. It’s best to put your money, credit cards, passport and other valuable documents in this hidden pocket bag, but be sure you don’t lose it!
Another issue that a lot of travelers deal with is the separation of travel funds and other money, like your personal checking or savings account that you also use for bills back home. The worst thing to have happen is for someone to scam your cards while you’re traveling, and then by the time you notice, all you can do is lock up your funds, which can take weeks to clear the fraudulent situation with the banks. So, creating a separate PSA (Personal Checking Account) and ISA (Individual Savings Account) can save you a ton of headaches if anything were to happen. There are specialty benefits of ISAs especially.
One of my favorite suggestions for travelers is to carry a faux wallet, which is a secondary wallet that looks real, but will save your ass if you were ever to come in contact with an aggressive thief, who might or might not be threatening you with a weapon. Fill the wallet with with old gift cards or promotional credit cards (you know the kind that come in the mail by the hundreds, with a little sample card saying you’ve already been approved), and don’t forget to load it up with a few local bills, to give it that legitimate feel, so there’s no issues if something were to happen.
When I travel, I honestly setup each and every one of these options, just in case. If you often read my website, you know that I’ve been robbed several times, especially when I first started traveling – but *knock on wood* thus far, I’ve been lucky in 2013. Anyway, all in all, I suggest doing the hidden pockets, the faux wallet, and of course the separate account, so it’s definitely worth the time in finding out about ISA allowances and what not.
(Photo via thegreenestdollar.com)
One of my favorite suggestions for travelers is to carry a faux wallet, which is a secondary wallet that looks real, but will save your ass if you were ever to come in contact with an aggressive thief, who might or might not be threatening you with a weapon. Fill the wallet with with old gift cards or promotional credit cards (you know the kind that come in the mail by the hundreds, with a little sample card saying you’ve already been approved), and don’t forget to load it up with a few local bills, to give it that legitimate feel, so there’s no issues if something were to happen.
When I travel, I honestly setup each and every one of these options, just in case. If you often read my website, you know that I’ve been robbed several times, especially when I first started traveling – but *knock on wood* thus far, I’ve been lucky in 2013. Anyway, all in all, I suggest doing the hidden pockets, the faux wallet, and of course the separate account, so it’s definitely worth the time in finding out about ISA allowances and what not.
(Photo via thegreenestdollar.com)
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