I usually carry a pocket-sized tiny notebook. It’s handy for writing down phone numbers and e-mail addresses, important numbers and information, random things that you need to scribble down… and also for jotting down what you spend on various things during your trip. A small pocket-sized notebook has a zillion uses, and is great to keep handy.

I try to write down whatever I spend, in the local currency, as I spend it. Then later, when I get access to a calculator, I add it up and keep tally.

It’s easier for practical purposes to set yourself a budget in Euros or whatever the local currency is where you’re travelling. That way you won’t always have to do the conversion in your head, which is simple enough with round numbers but gets really tricky at some points (e.g. my recent trip to Costa Rica – one US dollar is equal to roughtly 465 colones… try doing THAT in your head all the time…). If your budget is in local currency, you’ll know when you’ve hit your limit and you’ll be able to stick to it better.

I get 200 Euros (or whatever) out of the bank, and then recount it at the end of the day, or whenever I feel like it (in a safe, private place of course). That way I keep track of how fast the money is going. The last two trips I’ve hardly used credit cards. Some of the smaller places don’t like to take them, or offer a discount if you use cash, and this way I know I don’t have to worry about any fraudulent use of the CC number (I know it’s quite easy to fix the problem should that happen, so that’s only a very trivial concern).

I’m mathematically oriented, so no matter how ridiculous the exchange rate is, I more or less instantly convert in my head.

quote:I was wondering if anyone had any tips for keeping track of the money they spend on their trips… between conversion charges …

If you are talking about conversion charges, were you planning on exchanging money at banks and such? I would recommned using ATMs to simply withdraw money. You’ll typically get a better exchange rate and in most case there isn’t a fee. You should make sure to check with your bank though.

quote:
I guess this is the right forum for this…I was wondering if anyone had any tips for keeping track of the money they spend on their trips… between conversion charges and such things it seems as though it could get confusing any suggestions would be much appreciated….thank you
much love and peace- rachel

It’s really not that hard to do. If you set a daily budget, go to the ATM and pull out 3-4 days worth of that budget (which should be close to, if not at your daily withdrawal limit). Put all but one days worth in your money belt, and then just spend what you have out. Odds are you’re going to wind up with money left over, so just re-dip into your stash the next morning. I did this for the past trip that I took (22 days, just flew back Sat) and I was always under-budget and hit the ATM a lot less than I expected to. I got a $5 fee everytime I hit the ATM, but it was much more comfortable for me to pay cash than to constantly have to guard my ATM card with either keeping a hand on my money clip in unsafe spaces or fumble to get it out of the money belt in some shop. Losing the ATM card is way worse than losing a hundred euro’s.

As for conversion, just note the exchange rate when you pass a place and then round up to the next easiest number to remember and then do the math on whatever you buy. For example the exchange rate of Ukraine Hryvna to US Dollars was 5 to 1 (was actually about exactly that, but sold at 5.1 bought at 4.9, etc) so everything I bought I just divided by 5 and new how much I was spending in my currency.

Shocked me when I bought four people a 3 course fine dining dinner, with a bottle of good french red wine for 335 hryvna. Ukraine rocks for the budget traveller. I tipped the waitress the change from 400 since it only cost me $80 total that way.