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Bring your debit card abroad, you'll save money

Kevin Shult — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Good news, Consumer Experience, Competitive Strategy, Morgan Stanley (MS), Personal Finance

In today's world, people rarely carry large amounts of cash on them. People have credit cards for large purchases or even debit cards to access their checking accounts. ATM machines are on every urban street corner in America. But what happens when you're not at home in that urban setting? What do you do if you're on vacation?

I recently went to the Caribbean with my wife. We knew that most places would accept our cards but we questioned the exchange rate. Eastern Caribbean money isn't that strong in comparison to the U.S. dollar ($2.60 EC to $1 U.S.) and we knew that our credit cards would charge a service fee for purchases made in EC dollars. My wife, whom I consider a "world traveler," has always gone with the traveler's checks and prepaid card route. She would cash the checks in at the hotel and use prepaid cards so she wouldn't put her personal accounts at risk. I always used my credit card on vacation. Before our trip, I was sent to the bank to pick up a pair of prepaid cards and some traveler's checks.

The July issue of Money magazine has a great article regarding the best way to keep exchange costs to a minimum with today's weak dollar.

I found out she was completely wrong - a month too late.

Continue reading Bring your debit card abroad, you'll save money

Bring your debit card abroad, you'll save money originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today in Money & Finance (11/6/03): Retire well, tech help, fast-food spying

Allan Halprin — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Consumer Experience, Money and Finance Today

See the stories that editors at AOL Money & Finance are talking about this morning...

In the News:

-- Four Seasons Hotels Gets $3.7 Billion Buyout Offer

-- Abbott Labs Buys Cholesterol Drug Maker Kos for $3.7 Billion

-- Vivendi Talks With KKR Over a Potential $50 Billion Takeover Bid Collapsed

-- Google to Sell Print Ads for 50 Major Newspapers

-- Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Profit Soars in 3Q

-- Merrill Lynch Hit By Private Equity Probe

-- Toyota Prius Demand Slows, The Waiting Is Over

-- Hollywood Studios Asking Stars to Share Their Pain

-- Big Weekend for 20th Century Fox and 'Borat'

Candid Camera at the Fast-Food Drive-Thru
Smile! Candid camera could soon be coming to the fast-food drive-thru near you. As you place your order a camera located at the drive-thru order window will take a picture of you and your car. The photos supposedly will help staff accurately match the order to the customer, thus cutting down on botched orders. Would it bother you getting photographed every time you place an order? Is Big Brother watching you?
Some fast-food chains want your picture at the drive-thru - Nov. 6, 2006

Best Places to Vacation
Instead of the typical vacation, consider these more memorable journeys. According to MONEY magazine they are a wine county bike tour in Sonoma, CA, a luxury train from San Antonio to Mexico City, a road trip from New York City to Quebec and an antebellum Christmas cruise from South Carolina to Florida.
Best Places to Vacation | 4 | Money Magazine

A Boomer Couple's Big Gamble That Doubled Their Net Worth in Two Years
Without enough money to retire on, Tom Murphy and his wife rolled the dice. See how a Costa Rican fixer-upper doubled their net worth in just two years.
Save Your Retirement [Fool.com: Commentary] October 31, 2006

Retire Well for Less Than You Think
You'd be surprised at how far your money will go once you no longer have to pay the costs of working.
Retire Well for Less Than You Think

Good Tech Help Hard to Find
With many tech options, getting gadgets to work together isn't easy. Consumers are fumbling through thick manuals, holding on customer-support phone lines, searching for tech experts or driving themselves mad. Most people say they've become so flustered, they've ended up swearing, shouting, experiencing chest pains, crying or smashing things. Here is how you can improve your tech support experience by getting the most out of your call for help.
Technology troubles set off tantrums, tears and tirades

Top Tips for Safely Buying Toys
When shopping for children's toys this holiday season, put safety at the top of your list. Watch for small pieces, easily breakable parts when buying toys.
Safety issues can be ugly surprise in toys for kids - USATODAY.com

Allan Halprin, managing editor of AOL Money & Finance, prepares "Today in Money & Finance" each weekday morning.

Today in Money & Finance (11/6/03): Retire well, tech help, fast-food spying originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Nov 2006 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wal-Mart CEO's big vacation

Amey Stone — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors, Management, Newspapers, Wal-Mart (WMT)

The Wall Street Journal has a great career column today about the brouhaha over Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott's plan to take off the entire month of May.

The gist of the column is that the guy deserves a break after 27 years on the job and that more CEOs should take the occasional lengthy vacation to refresh and refuel. You can't argue with the benefits of a vacation for renewed vigor on the job.

Still, I can't help but wonder -- even if though the company adamantly denies it -- if there isn't more going on behind the scenes. Columnist Carol Hymowitz notes that Wall Street is currently speculating that maybe the big break is just a preamble to a longer one -- retirement or resignation.

Wal-Mart CEO's big vacation originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 Apr 2006 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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