Currency

[Jens303]

I'm going to the USA in May for the Mr's 40th birthday - question is should I be buying some $ now or do I wait until nearer the time?

Any advice appreciated - thinking of maybe half now & half after Brexit (if it ever happens)?

Not sure about currency but do you have a credit card that doesn’t charge for use abroad? We have Halifax clarity and used it extensively in two trips to US. No charges and rates better than currency conversion.

We did take currency too (4 of us, all adults!) but used card whenever sensible to.

I opened a FairFX mastercard which is a preloaded currency card which you use like a credit/debit card. You just add funds as and when you like for better than high street rates. No charge to use it or to withdraw cash.

The minimum to open it is $75 for the dollar card. I loaded it with about $400 and took cash for the rest of my spends, FairFX actually do cash as well with 24 hour delivery.

I bought my cash from the post office in the end as they had the best exchange rate (buying online and collecting locally, is more expensive to walk in to the branch and buy).

perfect, thank you

Keep an eye on the exchange rate. If it goes above $1.30 to £1 I’d buy!

thanks - it's more my worry that's it's going to drop after Brexit but who knows