How do I handle money abroad?

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Some of the preparations need to be made while you are still at home. Be prepared with a combination of travelers checks, cash, and appropriate credit and bank cards.

Most of your major costs for the semester (tuition and fees, housing, and sometimes food or airfare) will usually be taken care of while at home. If at all possible, try to do so because it can be more difficult than you might anticipate to pay large bills abroad.

After your major fees are paid you should try to create a budget and stick to it while abroad so you do not find yourself running out of money or unable to travel or complete the excursions you wished to do because of lack of funds.

Learn the local exchange rate and what options you have available to you for changing money. Avoid the exchanging money on the "black market" as this is illegal in most countries. Toward the end of your trip be careful to exchange only as much money as you'll need since some countries limit how much hard currency can be changed back into US dollars.

Below is a currency converter. While rates may change by the time you're actually abroad, this can help you begin to get a sense of what your money will be "worth" in the currency of your host country.

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