How to Carry Cash SAFELY While Traveling! 💵 ✈️

Nora Dunn
26 Feb 202308:45

TLDRIn this informative video, the speaker discusses the challenges and strategies of carrying cash while traveling. Despite personal reservations about cash, the speaker acknowledges its necessity in certain situations and shares tips on using money belts, minimalist wallets, and secret stashes for safekeeping. The emphasis is on being prepared, maintaining security, and adopting a minimalist approach to travel finance.

Takeaways

  • 🚫 Cash as a last resort: The speaker dislikes carrying cash due to the risk of loss or theft with no recourse.
  • 💳 Importance of credit cards: Credit cards are preferred for travel as they offer protection against fraudulent purchases in case of theft or loss.
  • 💰 Carrying some cash: It's advisable to have a small amount of cash for situations where card payment is not accepted or the machine is broken.
  • 🌍 Cash in different countries: Despite the global move towards cashlessness, there are still places where cash is the primary mode of transaction.
  • 🛡️ Money belts for security: Money belts and underclothes wallets are recommended for securely carrying cash and valuables like passports.
  • 🌡️ Comfort considerations: Money belts can be uncomfortable in hot climates and may cause sweating, and they can damage items like passports if not used properly.
  • 🎒 Alternatives to money belts: Yoga or running belts can be more comfortable and useful for active travelers, serving dual purposes at the destination.
  • 👜 Minimalist wallets: The speaker prefers ultralight, minimalist wallets that carry only essential cards, coins, and a small amount of cash, with RFID protection.
  • 💡 Secret stash strategy: Keeping a backup stash of US dollars or Euros in a separate place from the main valuables can be helpful in emergencies or where ATMs are inaccessible.
  • 🔒 Remembering hidden cash: It's crucial to remember the location of hidden cash or stashes to avoid forgetting and losing it.

Q & A

  • Why does the speaker prefer not to use cash while traveling?

    -The speaker prefers not to use cash while traveling because if cash is lost or stolen, there is no recourse. It's gone without any possibility of recovery, unlike credit cards where one is not liable for fraudulent purchases if the card is stolen or compromised.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on money belts?

    -The speaker is not a big fan of money belts. They find them uncomfortable, especially in hot climates, and they can cause sweating. The speaker also destroyed a passport by carrying it in a money belt and now prefers a crossbody tech bag for its multifunctionality and usefulness.

  • What is the speaker's strategy for carrying a larger amount of cash?

    -The speaker suggests using a yoga belt or a running belt as an alternative to a money belt for carrying a larger amount of cash. These belts may be more comfortable and can also be used for active activities like running or yoga at the destination.

  • What does the speaker advise against carrying when traveling?

    -The speaker advises against carrying gigantic purse wallets that contain every single credit card, department store card, birth certificate, tax ID card, and other items. They suggest that one doesn't need that much stuff with them when they leave the house.

  • What type of wallet does the speaker use?

    -The speaker uses a super slim, minimalist wallet that contains a business card, driver's license, two credit cards, a bank card, a secret passport copy stash, and a few coins. The wallet is RFID-protecting and has a bit of room for cash.

  • What are the speaker's issues with card-holders and money clips?

    -The speaker has two main issues with card-holders and money clips. First, bills often need to be folded twice to fit, which can lead to vendors or vending machines not accepting them due to damage. Second, it's challenging to organize the bills without risking them falling out or revealing the amount of cash one has, which can be a security risk.

  • How does the speaker hide a backup stash of cash?

    -The speaker hides a backup stash of cash, between 20 and 100 US dollars or Euros, in a pouch or pocket in their luggage that is separate from all other valuables. They also suggest carrying this stash in an underclothes pocket or pouch, and additionally keeping a spare credit card and ID card there.

  • What currencies does the speaker recommend keeping in the backup stash?

    -The speaker recommends keeping US dollars or Euros in the backup stash because they are the most commonly used and accepted currencies internationally, making them likely to be accepted at a currency exchange counter regardless of the location.

  • What should one do to ensure the safety of their cash while traveling?

    -To ensure the safety of cash while traveling, one should consider carrying it in secure pouches or pockets, avoid revealing the amount of cash they have, and keep a backup stash in a separate location from their main valuables.

  • What is the speaker's advice on handling cash in public?

    -The speaker advises that it's uncouth to access a money belt or similar item in public because it signals to onlookers that one has something worth taking. They suggest being discreet when handling cash to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

  • How can one minimize the risk of losing their wallet and its contents?

    -To minimize the risk of losing a wallet and its contents, one can carry only essential items, use an RFID-protected wallet with a slim profile, and keep a backup stash of cash and cards in a separate location from the wallet.

Outlines

00:00

💡Cash Carrying Concerns and Travel Smarts

The speaker begins by expressing a preference for non-cash payment methods due to the irretrievable nature of lost or stolen cash. They emphasize the importance of being prepared for cash-only situations while traveling, despite the global shift towards cashlessness. The speaker also highlights the advantages of using credit cards, such as protection against fraudulent purchases. They introduce the topic of the video: strategies for safely carrying money while traveling, including a personal 'secret stash' strategy. The speaker advises on the use of money belts and other underclothes wallets for storing cash and valuables, while noting the discomfort and potential issues with such methods. They share a preference for a crossbody tech bag due to its多功能性 and practicality for travel needs.

05:03

📌Minimalist Wallets and Cash Organization

The speaker discusses the drawbacks of wallets that primarily hold cards and include a clip for cash, extending the discussion to money clips in general. They mention issues with folding bills, which can lead to vendor refusal or vending machine incompatibilities, and the organizational challenges of keeping bills separate or together. The speaker advocates for a minimalist wallet that holds a limited number of cards and some cash, emphasizing the importance of not carrying excessive items. They describe their own wallet, which is RFID-protected, slim, and versatile, allowing for easy storage in various bags or pockets. The speaker also touches on the topic of carrying cash in countries with cash-based economies and weak purchasing power, acknowledging the need for larger amounts of cash in such situations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cash

Cash refers to physical money, such as banknotes and coins. In the context of the video, it is discussed as a less preferred method of payment while traveling due to the risks associated with loss or theft. The speaker mentions that while they generally dislike using cash, it is still necessary to have some on hand for situations where card payments are not accepted.

💡Credit Cards

Credit cards are a form of plastic money that allow cardholders to borrow funds from a financial institution to pay for goods and services. The video emphasizes the preference for using credit cards over cash while traveling, highlighting the security of not being liable for fraudulent purchases in case the card is stolen or compromised.

💡Money Belts

Money belts are wearable accessories designed to securely hold cash, passports, and other valuables close to the body, typically underneath clothing. They are mentioned in the video as a method to carry cash securely, although the speaker is not particularly fond of them due to discomfort and the potential to draw attention to the fact that one is carrying valuables.

💡Travel Security

Travel security refers to the measures taken to protect oneself and one's belongings while traveling. The video discusses various strategies for keeping money and valuables safe, such as using money belts or crossbody bags, and avoiding public access to these storage places to prevent theft.

💡Ultralight Traveler

An ultralight traveler is someone who prioritizes minimalism and carries only the essential items while traveling, often using carry-on luggage only. The video touches on the concept of ultralight travel and how it has influenced the speaker's approach to carrying money and valuables.

💡RFID Protection

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) protection refers to the security feature that prevents unauthorized scanning or reading of information stored on RFID chips in credit cards or passports. The video mentions an RFID-protecting wallet as a secure option for carrying valuables.

💡Cash-Based Economy

A cash-based economy is a system where transactions are predominantly conducted using physical currency, rather than electronic or digital payment methods. The video discusses the need for carrying more cash when traveling to countries with a cash-based economy and poor purchasing power.

💡Money Clip

A money clip is a small tool used to hold folded banknotes together, typically for the purpose of keeping cash compact and organized in a wallet or pocket. The video addresses the disadvantages of using money clips, such as the need to fold bills and the risk of revealing the amount of cash one carries.

💡Secret Stash

A secret stash refers to a hidden or concealed storage place for keeping valuables or cash as a backup in case of emergencies. The video introduces the concept of having a secret stash of cash in a separate location from one's primary valuables as a safety measure while traveling.

💡Anti-Theft Travel Tips

Anti-theft travel tips are strategies and precautions taken to prevent theft and protect personal belongings while traveling. The video briefly mentions a separate video where these tips are discussed in detail, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for various scenarios that could compromise one's security.

Highlights

Cash is considered a last resort due to the lack of recourse if lost or stolen.

It's advisable to carry some cash for situations where card payment is not accepted.

The pandemic has accelerated the move towards a cashless society, but cash remains essential in some places.

Money belts and underclothes wallets are recommended for securely carrying cash and valuables.

Money belts can be uncomfortable, especially in hot climates, and may cause sweating.

A crossbody tech bag is a preferred alternative to a money belt for carrying passports and other valuables.

It's impolite to access a money belt in public as it may signal to others that you're carrying valuables.

Yoga or running belts can be a more comfortable alternative to money belts and are useful for active travelers.

Carrying a large purse or wallet with numerous cards is not recommended for travel.

The speaker prefers a minimalist, RFID-protected wallet with space for a few cards, cash, and coins.

Carrying large amounts of cash is necessary in cash-based economies with poor purchasing power.

Wallets with money clips or card holders have limitations, such as the need to fold cash and organizational challenges.

A low denomination bill should be on the outside of a money clip to avoid revealing higher value cash.

The speaker shares a secret stash strategy for carrying backup cash in case of emergencies.

Backup cash should be hidden in a separate part of the luggage from other valuables.

An underclothes pocket or pouch is a good place to hide the backup cash, especially on travel days.

A spare credit card and ID card are also kept in the hidden pouch for added security.

The speaker plans to create a video on creative ways to hide cash for travel.

It's important to remember the location of hidden cash to avoid forgetting it.