All You Need To Know About Using Your Credit Card Abroad – Guest Post

March 22, 2013 By

 

 

This is a guest post. I have been compensated. 

All you need to know about using your credit card abroad

 

When you have a credit card, it is important to use it responsibly and keep a close eye on your finances. However, this is not always so easy, particularly when there are charges, penalties and restrictions on using your credit card that you might not know about.

 

One of the aspects of having a credit card that often trips people up is what happens when you use it abroad. Unless you take the time to inform yourself about how credit cards work in foreign countries, your next holiday could be a very expensive one indeed.

 

To help you understand what you can and can’t do with a credit card abroad, here is the vital information you need to know.

 

Keep your credit card provider in the loop

 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make before travelling is to not let your credit card provider know that you are going away. Unless you inform the bank or provider of your travel plans, any transactions you make during your trip could be marked as suspicious. If the provider suspects that your card has been stolen and is being used without your knowledge, your transactions could be declined.

 

Work out what you will be charged for overseas transactions

 

Before you travel, make an effort to work out what your credit card provider charges for overseas transactions. This may include currency conversion fees and transaction fees as well as interest rates, so don’t miss anything out when making your calculations. Write this information down somewhere and take it with you on your trip – this may help you curb your spending and avoid unnecessary charges.

 

Could a new credit card be the answer?

 

Some credit cards are designed specifically for use in foreign countries, offering holders the chance to spend and withdraw cash without being charged any fees. If you have time before you travel, compare credit cards of this type and get in your application. You may find that interest rates are higher, but if you pay your balance off in full when you get home, this shouldn’t be a problem.

 

When given the option, pay in the local currency

 

Whenever you are given the choice during your trip, you should choose to pay in the local currency. This is because the process of converting your transaction to GBP can work out very expensive.
Withdrawing cash can be expensive

 

Whenever possible, you should avoid taking out cash with your credit card during your trip. You are likely to incur a cash advance charge and you may even start accruing interest immediately. If you do have to withdraw cash, make it one large amount rather than lots of smaller amounts, as this will only result in one charge.

 

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Sponsored Review: Post-it Mobile Products

March 21, 2013 By

 

 

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Post-it sent me an array of Post-it Mobile products for free so I could do this review.

 

Being a busy mom, I’m always on the go. And being a busy mom also means I can’t remember my head unless it is actually attached to my body! I’m guessing you may be the same way. So when Post-it offered up some of their new Post-it Mobile products I jumped at the chance. I have always liked Post-it. I thought the idea of little sticky notes were amazing and when I used to work outside the home I had Post-it notes all over my desk and computer. Now I don’t need Post-it notes as much to remind me of deadlines or projects but instead I need them to help me jot down phone numbers, write notes while I’m on the road or bring important items with me when I take the boys to gymnastics or music class.

Post-it Mobile was created to cover all sorts of situations. I particularly like the Post-it Mobile Attach & Go Dispenser; it was designed to clip to your car’s visor. This is perfect for me because I often need to give someone a small note when I’m dropping the boys off some where or I want to make sure I remember something important.

Something that my husband has taken to are the Post-it Mobile Attach & Go Insert products. These insert into items you carry such as binders or folders. They have flags, arrows flags and fan pads. These are great when he is reviewing documents on the fly, or reviewing contracts at customer sites.

I know my cousin in college would really use the Post-it Mobile Attach & Go Pocket products. These are pockets that attach to things you carry such as laptops, binders, planners and notebooks. I plan to use the large 9 inch by 12 inch pocket on my laptop next year when I’m the PTA secretary and need to keep a ton of things organized at meetings. And with the Autism One Conference coming up in a few months I plan to take the smaller 2 5/8 inch by 3 7/8 inch pocket with me to carry business cards. There is a ton of networking that goes on at these conferences and I want to make sure I have my cards handy.

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I love that Post-it knows we are a group of people on the move, that we are Mobile. But I also love the fact that Post-it still embraces the fact that many of us will always love the feel of paper and pen. That there is a tactile element to writing, to thinking, that just feels good and real when we put pen to paper.

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Wordless Wednesday Blue Cheese Sour Cream

March 20, 2013 By

This Wordless Wednesday I found some amazing Blue Cheese Sour Cream in the back of our refrigerator. Yowza! That is some nasty, gross stuff. Good think hubby bought some fresh sour cream for our fajitas, huh?

 

Wordless Wednesday

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I’m Falling Apart: Plantar Fasciitis Or How I Lost My Butt

March 19, 2013 By

broken egg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I am truly falling apart. A little while ago I told you about my back problems and showed you this horrible photo of myself and how my head and neck were protruding forward. Well, now we find out I have plantar fasciitis and no real core muscles, plus I LOST MY BUTT! What that means is that my glutes don’t really fire when I am standing or walking or doing pretty much anything. That allows my hips to flop all around which causes leg and back pain, not to mention the darn plantar fasciitis.

As I sit here typing this I have my left foot taped up like some pro-athlete. Which I most certainly am NOT. The plantar fasciitis is getting so bad that my physical therapist is making me wear shoes all day long. That includes some sort of support when I shower and I have to keep something next to my bed that offers some stability; no bunny slippers for me.

Then she has me doing all these fun exercises including pulling my belly button into my spine. Yeah, if I could do that we wouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place, now would we? I am definitely feeling my age lately. The upside to all of this is that my PT thinks she can fix all these problems, but I didn’t know I was so broken. I have lost over 12 pounds so far, so that has got to help and I am walking on a regular basis. My PT won’t let me run, because, well I can’t do that right either. Due to those floppy hips of mine I cross the mid-line with my feet when I run. Apparently that is a no-no in the PT world and the running is just exacerbating my hip problems. And to think, I was actually getting into it. I always said I hated running, then the first time I start to like it I have to quit. Story of my life.

So I’m falling apart. Hopefully someone can put me back together again, cause I don’t know too many King’s horses or King’s men. And anyway those guys didn’t do much for that Humpty fellow if I remember correctly.

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