Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
#7636
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Joined: Aug 2010
Location: US
Posts: 4,224
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
See my previous post, #7493 in answer to your question on this very topic: 'When I came back almost 3 years ago, I brought travellers checks with me and the bank in the US had to raid their supplies - some of the checks were very, very old! I took them to Thomas Cook at the first opportunity and had them exchanged and put on a GBP card, then I used that to pay for whatever I wanted to - one set of charges, one exchange rate instead of going place to place to find a deal. You need a photo ID to get the card, such as your passport, and the card is not linked to your bank account. You can also change travellers checks at a Post Office - they do not charge commission for doing that, but do not, to the best of my knowledge, offer the same Cash Card scheme as Thomas Cooks.
http://www.whichwaytopay.com/compare...ds-summary.asp
I am not advocating the use of any of these cards, as my only experience is with the one I bought from Thomas Cook.
http://www.thomascook.com/travel-mon...el-money-card/
You can also check your balance at any ATM machine, as well as withdraw cash from an ATM machine using the card.
Happy travelling! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/smile.gif'
http://www.whichwaytopay.com/compare...ds-summary.asp
I am not advocating the use of any of these cards, as my only experience is with the one I bought from Thomas Cook.
http://www.thomascook.com/travel-mon...el-money-card/
You can also check your balance at any ATM machine, as well as withdraw cash from an ATM machine using the card.
Happy travelling! http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/smile.gif'
#7639
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,606
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
[QUOTE=cheers;10752279]
A few years ago my inlaws brought travelers checks from UK to USA, we/they had the hardest time cashing them, some of the bank tellers had no clue what Travellers checks were, Im not kidding...
Inlaws now bring cash, I dont like carrying that much Cash, Id more likely go the ATM route...
Do you mean to bring money as a tourist?
Yes
The most practical way these days is to use an ATM. (I understand that Bank of America account holders pay no charges if they use Barclays Bank ATMs, also they're commonly called 'Cashpoints' in the UK). You will probably see some symbols on the reverse of your ATM card and you will almost certainly spot one of them on the British ATMs. They have ATMs at LHR when you go into the arrivals hall and at all of their terminals to the best of my knowledge.
[/COLOR]
I don't know anyone who uses traveller's cheques these days and as far as I know, even American Express now issues a 'pre-loaded' TC card. It's probably only worthwhile if one doesn't have a bank account.
Besides the dollar losing value in the last week we also have to pay different fees. Foreign exchange fee 3%, cashpoint fee and the the exchange rate they use can be different than market rate.
We quit BofA several month ago after they took money out of our account. So no good there.
I can get travelers checks but will I lose money when I cash them?
I agree that the Atm is a good way but I'm gun shy after our experience of the bank raiding our account. See Cyprus isn't the only ones that had it happen to them.
Yes
The most practical way these days is to use an ATM. (I understand that Bank of America account holders pay no charges if they use Barclays Bank ATMs, also they're commonly called 'Cashpoints' in the UK). You will probably see some symbols on the reverse of your ATM card and you will almost certainly spot one of them on the British ATMs. They have ATMs at LHR when you go into the arrivals hall and at all of their terminals to the best of my knowledge.
[/COLOR]
I don't know anyone who uses traveller's cheques these days and as far as I know, even American Express now issues a 'pre-loaded' TC card. It's probably only worthwhile if one doesn't have a bank account.
Besides the dollar losing value in the last week we also have to pay different fees. Foreign exchange fee 3%, cashpoint fee and the the exchange rate they use can be different than market rate.
We quit BofA several month ago after they took money out of our account. So no good there.
I can get travelers checks but will I lose money when I cash them?
I agree that the Atm is a good way but I'm gun shy after our experience of the bank raiding our account. See Cyprus isn't the only ones that had it happen to them.
Inlaws now bring cash, I dont like carrying that much Cash, Id more likely go the ATM route...
#7640
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
When I go back I don't bother with cash, usually I just take nylons and chocolate
#7642
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Trip to St Ives, Cornwall:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634077921778/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islandw...7634077921778/
#7643
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
Rodney, aren't you responsible for reminding me to buy lottery tickets today?
#7644
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
dont forget the number 8 is the chinese lucky number ---- and you have 4 of em
Thank goodness you remembered, good luck and good fortune and let me know how you got on!!!!
Rodney.
#7645
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I only remember one date I was taught in history class ---- 1066 battle of hastings
Last edited by jasper123; Jun 12th 2013 at 3:05 pm.
#7646
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I remember my dad's car license plate number, the name of all 30 kids I went through secondary school with (in my class), my first girlfriend's phone number, the formula for a standard deviation (theoretical and computational) - but damned if I can remember what I had for breakfast this morning!
#7649
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Joined: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 745
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I'm one for course work assessment rather than final exam, I can always work through problems but can't recall facts out of blue, especially facts that are just out there with little relevance to the subject in hand. I'm useless at pub quizzes and other trivia knowledge.
#7650
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Back home now in my home town in England U.K. after 36 years in U.S. now retired and loving it,
Posts: 3,208
Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
I remember my dad's car license plate number, the name of all 30 kids I went through secondary school with (in my class), my first girlfriend's phone number, the formula for a standard deviation (theoretical and computational) - but damned if I can remember what I had for breakfast this morning!
Funny how we remember things from way back in our past forever!!!!
Ive always known my S.S. number by heart of course,
my one and only cats name, and hes been dead for 58 years, all my Jobs I had in Oz, and all the Jobs I had in Canada, and all the Jobs I had in the U.S. and my old first phone number I had in Nevada in 1977 and zip code, and address, ----- and I REMEMBER MY FIRST GIRL FRIEND ----- Sylvia Yates, I was 15, ----- and I do remember what I had for breakfast this morning ---- 2 weetabix, 1 shredded wheat, and half cup of whole wheat muesli all in same bowl, spoonful sugar and a handful of blueberries, covered in milk with a sliced banana on top!!!! Hmmmm lovely!!!
Last edited by jasper123; Jun 12th 2013 at 9:22 pm.