Money for Xmas in Ireland

linola_c

Hi everyone,

Heading home for an Irish Xmas and was just wondering how people usually deal with their money at home. Do people transfer money across to Irish accounts or just use their Australian cards? My irish account is actually closed now so it might be a bit of bother to have to get it up and going again now.

Thanks
L

Xavi6

I'll be taking some cash but not too much. I have a platinum credit card that has no overseas transaction fees so I'll be using that as much as possible. Get reward points too so makes sense.

I have an Irish account as well but it'll cost me to get money into it so not much point.

hussey

Easily the cheapest way to move cash is currency fair:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76408971
But if you don't have a bank account, maybe transfer it to your family account or something.
Otherwise a currency card is pretty handy and gives you better rates
and an example would be: http://auspost.com.au/personal/loadandgo-travel-card.html
(no idea if this is cheapest) but will give you an example.

So just transfer aus cash to this account then you can withdraw cash via atm, or use as a credit card

irishmover

Currencyfair is the bees knees!

Rates are great. Takes a couple of days to register and then a couple of days to transfer money so prepare for that.

jimjam1878

If you're with NAB over here get a NAB travel card, no overseas fees and you can set it up there and then and just transfer money into it. Think it costs like $7 to transfer money. I used it when I was home.

jackbhoy

jimjam1878 wrote: »

If you're with NAB over here get a NAB travel card, no overseas fees and you can set it up there and then and just transfer money into it. Think it costs like $7 to transfer money. I used it when I was home.

Do you not get screwed on exchange rate though?
Transaction fees wouldn't be a big concern for me but I wouldn't touch NABs, or any other major bank/ card company's, exchange rates.

I've transferred my money back to AIB acc via currency fair and I'll just use my AIB card while at home.

Xavi6

jackbhoy wrote: »

Do you not get screwed on exchange rate though?
Transaction fees wouldn't be a big concern for me but I wouldn't touch NABs, or any other major bank/ card company's, exchange rates.

I've transferred my money back to AIB acc via currency fair and I'll just use my AIB card while at home.

I wouldn't say 'screwed', even though the rates aren't as good as Currency Fair, my bank offers better than Australia Post, Travelex and other third parties so it's not *that* bad.

Today's is 0.7840 for example so it's about $2 difference for every $100.

jackbhoy

Xavi6 wrote: »

I wouldn't say 'screwed', even though the rates aren't as good as Currency Fair, my bank offers better than Australia Post, Travelex and other third parties so it's not *that* bad.

Today's is 0.7840 for example so it's about $2 difference for every $100.

Yeah, that's ok compared to many rates I see. What bank are you with?

Xavi6

jackbhoy wrote: »

Yeah, that's ok compared to many rates I see. What bank are you with?

Bankwest

In comparison -

ANZ - 0.7759
Westpac - 0.7731
Commonwealth - 0.7744
NAB - 0.7731

So yeah it's very good against the big four.

linola_c

Thanks guys. I think the best idea will be to transfer into an irish account and just withdraw - cheers