10 Money Minders for a Holiday ! - Part 2

5. Ask your banker ... all about cash advance, ATM, foreign purchase and foreign exchange rate policies and fees.

6. Find out .... the number you can reach your bank or credit card company on while you are abroad. The 800 number listed on the back of your card may not work from foreign location.

7. Check for currency conversion rates ... of your credit card companies. In that case you can find the most economical card on which to place your foreign purchases.

8. Using the ATM card ... is also a good idea. The ATM will issue money in local currency. but better check: come banks charge a high usage fee for their ATMs. Although even high ATM fees may be less than others will charge for currency exchanges.

9. Exchange your currency at ... the bank;s wholesale exchange rate. yes; there;s something like that!

10. Best currency conversion option is ... to carry dollars. It's easier to exchange.

Concluded

10 Money Minders for a Holiday ! - Part 1

Its Holiday Time, but being strapped for cash is a traveller's worst nightmare. Read on how to keep it bay!

A holiday is an escape to somewhere your worried can't reach you. Yes, that's the word - worry. Fair enough! But what if you land yourself in one while travelling? What if your credit card isn't accepted and you aren't getting a decent exchange rate for your native currency? Now that we have you worried before you have face it, we have also got you a check list :

1. Take along your major credit cards....

Make sure they are really credit cards and not just debit cards with a credit card company logo on them. many locations require a credit card and will not accept a debit card, as they may have limited use on your travel.

2. Notify your credit card company ....  of your trip before you leave. The unfamiliar spending patterns might cause them to suspect that the card is being sued fraudulently and delay your approvals. Further they will explain many of the services that they can provide while you are on your trip.

3. Inform your bank ... of your trip too, so that arrangements can be made to pay bills that will come due while you are gone.

4. Confirm your credit card company .... if your PIN number will work in the countries you are visiting. They can also issue you another PIN number, if your current PIN is unacceptable in the foreign bank system.

To Be Continued.....  

Self Help Mantra - Work Your Relationships

With both partners working in stressful jobs, couples feel that they do not have time for each other.

Often a husband and wife relationship gets torn between office commitments, tours, deadlines and presentations. Here are some solutions that will help you come closer to your partners despite your busy work schedules :

BACKPACKS HELP

Taking a vacation together is a great idea and can be a great bonding exercise. Sachin, automobile engineer from Mumbai, India says, "Since wife & my timings don't match, we make it a point to for weekend getaways quite often. Whenever we feel that we are getting less time for each other, we just plan a power holiday to one of the nearby beaches or hill stations and just chill there. Along with sightseeing, we ensure we go to hotels where we can swim together, play table tennis or just make sure we talk.  And on a holiday as a rule, we switch off our cell phones and just spend time with each one another.

SMALL GESTURES, BIG GAINS

Marriage is a relation, that has to be nurtured and doing small gestures for your partner really goes a long way in strengthening it. "Every relationship has to be nurtured. Since my husband and I do not get to spend time with each other, we go on lunch dates as our offices are close by. We keep work, in-laws and our baby aside and just talk to each other. This really strengthens our relationship. Also, small gestures like husband making tea for me, when I am running a cold, says a lot," says Tina, who works for a advertising agency.

HOUSEHOLD CHORES CAN BE FUN TOO

Doing household chores together or cooking together on weekend can also bring a couple close. "We don't have a TV at home and that's a deliberate decision, we have taken. In order to bond, we listen to music and cook together. This helps us spend some good time together" adds Arnob, a resident of India.

Source : Timeswellness