money troubles

[chuds]

Wonder if anyone can help, on last visit we really could not get to grips with using US coins no problems with notes but the variety of coins were at times bewildering as returning in a few months it would be nice to get to grips with coin denominations any advice ?

 

[Claire L]

The US actually have less coins than us! They are -

1 cent aka the penny - copper in colour
5 cent aka the nickel - larger than the 10 cent but smaller than the 25 cent
10 cent aka the dime - smallest of the silver coins
25 cent aka the quarter - largest of the siler coins
and less often a $1 coin - more along the lines of our £1 coin for colour

Claire

 

[wilma-bride]

As far as I'm aware, there are six denominations of US coins in use currently:

one cent - 1/100th of a dollar (I always think of this as similar to our penny) - small and bronze in colour
nickel (5 cents) - 5/100ths of a dollar (LOOKS similar to our 10p) - larger than a dime, I often confuse this with the dime
dime (10 cents) - 1/10th of a dollar (LOOKS similar to our 5p)
quarter (25 cents) - 1/4 of a dollar
half-dollar (50 cents) - I can honestly say I've never seen one of these
dollar - mostly paper dollars now although DH has a 'lucky' dollar coin which he's had since our first trip in 2004

Not sure if this is any use but shows some of the coins http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?i...w=108&prev=/images?q=US+coins&hl=en&um=1&um=1

 

[wayneg]

Or don't use money, I use a fee free credit card for everything except tolls, last 2 trips spent about $10-15 in cash. So much easier.

 

[wilma-bride]

Or don't use money, I use a fee free credit card for everything except tolls, last 2 trips spent about $10-15 in cash. So much easier.

lol Wayne, you mean don't use cash - you do know that credit cards are still money, don't you

 

[wayneg]

lol Wayne, you mean don't use cash - you do know that credit cards are still money, don't you

Its not real money is it Nobody told me

 

[T16GEM]

We are the same as Wayne, we only used about $15 in cash last trip, and I think that was only for locker deposits in the water parks, we paid for everything on card. Much easier to keep track of, just remember to tell your card company that you are visiting the states or they may blcok your card.

 

[wayneg]

just remember to tell your card company that you are visiting the states or they may blcok your card.

Thanks for reminding me, will put it on list of things to do. Never had to do it with Nationwide, they told me it made no difference as security was automated but Post office told me they prefer to know.

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for reminding me, will put it on list of things to do. Never had to do it with Nationwide, they told me it made no difference as security was automated but Post office told me they prefer to know.

I had Nationwide block my card in 2006 as they said I didn't tell them I was going on holiday!

Claire

 

[wayneg]

I had Nationwide block my card in 2006 as they said I didn't tell them I was going on holiday!

Claire

I rang to tell them said I didn't need to used it for 2-3 years no problems.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Its not real money is it Nobody told me

Sssh !! dont tell my dh

 

[JohnnySharp2]

USE money it's more fun

Driving through a toll in April I asked Julie to pass me some change, I assumed she would give me 4 quarters for the $1 fee, but no she passed me 10 dimes instead.
Just about managed to throw them in that 'metal basket thing', though one did touch the top before thankfully dropping in.

 

[Eeyore's-tail-tack]

Hope this helps.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_United_States_dollar

 

[Pegasus928]

One thing that DS always looks out for is the quarters that have the names of the different states on the back.
He is about 6 or 7 away from having the full set so he is itching to get back and continue his search.
Hopefully they will make a nice collection for him when he has the lot.

 

[jmagla]

Hi Wayne,
I knew the Nationwide were starting to charge a fee for use abroad, is the post office card fee free abroad in the same way that the Nationwide card used to be?, I must have missed this one!

 

[wayneg]

Hi Wayne,
I knew the Nationwide were starting to charge a fee for use abroad, is the post office card fee free abroad in the same way that the Nationwide card used to be?, I must have missed this one!

It is, free for transaction abroad. Nationwide were going to increase their fee from 0.84% to 1% but now dropped the increase. Staying at 0.84% but still free for Europe. Post office is free anywhere abroad.
Abbey zero is rated best by http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#topcards
as they also have no fee for withdrawing from ATM abroad, PO is 2.5% (minimum £3)

 

[clazza]

One thing that DS always looks out for is the quarters that have the names of the different states on the back.
He is about 6 or 7 away from having the full set so he is itching to get back and continue his search.
Hopefully they will make a nice collection for him when he has the lot.

My BF has done the same he needs 8, men hey strange characters, that was the first thing he mentioned when we booked this year too