to not want to turn up in a foreign country with no cash, just card ?

[Lemonadedrinker99]

Every time we go abroad H insists we don't take any cash, instead we just take a pre-loaded card (which we can top up as and when during the holiday). How can a family with children turn up abroad with zero cash ? we need to get taxi's to/from the airport as a starter. He argues there are cash points out there, yes there will be but what if the neartest cash point is either out of order, run out of cash or charges £5 a go (which is what we have found in the past) to get cash (plus our banks currency charge). We've had a massive row this morning when I asked him what currency we need to take. He went into one saying he will sort the money side out and i dont need to waste money paying to get the currency in the uk.

Just to add for context ...

a) last year he went to get cash out of the cash machine abroad and it wanted to charge him the equivalent of £5 to draw cash - the money was needed for a boat trip where it was cash only on the boat for drinks/snax. Luckily i had the small stash i took with me that we could use
b) we once arrived abroad with no cash (his idea) and the airport cash machine was broken, so was the hotel one. The nearest one was a 30 minute walk away each way, which H did.
c) earlier this year while in the States we trugged for what seemed like ages to try to find a 'free' cash point. No idea if he found a free one in the end or just ended up paying the withdrawal fee - the fee would have been the same if we had brought currency in the UK, and much easier and less time consuming too
d) the pre-loaded card doesn't always work - we have an app to xfer cash onto the card, he ALWAYS tried to xfer the cash to the card in a way that doesn't work. Earlier this year he tried to xfer £100 while abroad, the xfer failed (because the way he was doing it is wrong, but he wont accept it), he tried it 5 times in the end. The money left our 'available' balance, but never left the account or reached the card, and we had to wait 5 days for £500 to go back onto our 'available' bank account balance

Can't you just get some yourself

Why do you need his permission?!? Just get some of the required currency from the Post Office.

Just get some currency yourself before you go. Can't be that hard!

I never take cash

Always use card

yanbu. just get some money exchanged yourself and take it. do you have access to family money yourself?

Sounds like poor planning on your/ your husband's part. I only take a card but it's fee free and I know where the non charging machines are. No hassle if you do a bit of advance research.

I always just get cash with my bank card from a cash machine, but agree it’s helpful to bring some with you so you aren’t trudging around the airport looking for one. Why not just go get some? Surely you can work out what currency you need without asking his permission.

I would always take local currency, handy for taxis, small purchases, tipping etc.

Oh I will be taking my own stash of money all right, i always do. Its a joint account and if i want to draw my cash out and change into currency then i will.

i just cannot understand his logic that he wont take any cash.

he once exchanged his currency in gatwick departure lounge - which gives the worse rate ever !

Just tell him you're taking cash. You don't need his permission and he doesn't get to make the whole family wait around while he walks around trying to find a cash point when that could have been easily avoided.

Cash machines in airports are always expensive and usually have outrageous FX rates.

Always use card. But we always take £100 in cash for taxis and newsagents etc.

Card is just so much easier. But you have a DH problem anyway... If you want to sort cash, you sort cash, whatever you feel is best for you. Is he always a controlling arse?

totally #delena

why would he want to waste his time on holiday walking miles to search for a cash point or pay the extortionate fee.

Its beyond me.

#notnormal

*not waste his time - our time

I always take a small amount of cash as we usually get a taxi so need cash for that.

greenbottle - He has aspergers, social anxiety and other diagnosed conditions. But he is so argumentative and determined with the no cash thing, its draining.

I'll have cash on me for me and the children.

I take a small amount of cash for my destination country, plus my normal debit card to withdraw extra cash if I need it, plus a credit card with no fees for transactions abroad that I use for 'larger' purchases.

Like being at home - combination of cash, debit and credit.

could you point him in the direction of Martin Lewis? he is very passionate about people getting the best deal on their holiday money.

he had such a meltdown when i asked him what currency the country used, i think the shock for me was the his extreme reaction and how i am 'pissing him off' (his words) when i asked 1 question.

wtf

Just pop into the Post Office and get a small amount to start you off.

We normally take some cash but use cards when we can, and yes you often get charged for taking cash out of ATMs in a foreign country. It's better to pay by card when you can and take a limited amount if cash to use when you can't pay by card.

Neither is being unreasonable. A combination is definitely sensible. Both of you are unreasonable for having had a massive row over it, it feels a bit childish tbh and almost as if you are waiting for the card to fail to prove a point. Let him sort the card and you take a small amount in cash for things and then draw a line under it. No need to be petty about it, the cash can cover you all as a family not just you and the children.

Where are you going OP?

Is he generally difficult on holiday? Doesn't sound like much fun for you and DC

Does he give a reason for this?
Fear of being mugged?
Better exchange rates?
It would be fine in lots of places, but if you want yo go anywhere off the beaten track you would be in trouble.
I always take local currency and/or dollars depending on where I am going.
I don't often take a credit card either

Depending on which country you go to, it can either be totally fine or very inconvenient to have no cash, so that's always a consideration.

I go to Denmark quite often and never take cash. You can pay for everything with a debit card, even taxis and small purchases.

However, in some other countries there are still lots of places that are cash only, so if that's the culture it's wise to take some cash.

We mostly holiday in the euro zone, so usually just save what we have leftover from last time, it's usually around 50-100 euro, so fine for the first day or two even in a cash heavy economy.

But if it's more than a week or two until you go away, just open yourself a Starling account and use that card as there are no charges and no loading of the exchange rate. Most pre-pay cards do have some charges or pinch a bit of the exchange rate and some other cards are very expensive to use. Some cash machines in Europe have started to charge now.

We've holidayed a lot in Spain and went for years of free cash withdrawals, but last time even the banks seemed to charge for cash withdrawl, but we did find that we could pay on card in restaurants a lot more than we used to be able to.

Plus, yes, get a bit of cash (£100 worth) at home to take with you. The loading on the exchange rate will cost you a couple of quid, but it's nothing as a proportion of what your trip will be costing and worth it for peace of mind/convenience.

If it's such a big deal for him, just sort yourself out with no discussion with him. Just google what currency you need for wherever you are going. Never ask him again.

I'd tell him that I'm going to bring some cash. End of conversation. He's not your boss.