Crisp new bills and saving for a trip.

[JR]

Depending upon where you go you may want to take some cash with you on your trip. In Moscow many use ATMs and report no problems at all. I plan to use ATMs this time around in Pitr and Moscow with a cash back up.
 
I used cash in Tashkent: two dollars will get you a taxi from one end of the capital to the other so having good condition small bills is a must. And the apartment guys wanted new, US currency.

I have gone to banks and found new high denomination bills but it's a pain. A lot of trips, phone calls, etc.

So what I started doing about six months ago is to glean the newer bills from my weekly cash allotment and stashing them away. I use cash for gas and other minor purchases. I found that this made me cash short every week so I started looking for a few ways to reduce some expenditures. I got pretty good at those reductions, to the point where I could reduce my weekly cash allotment and save the newer bills. It became a double plus.

[Shadow]

You might just change to local currency instead of paying double.
Sure if you wish to waste money not a problem, but do not think people will actualy be thankful for receiving a small amount of dollars...

[JR]

You might just change to local currency instead of paying double.
Sure if you wish to waste money not a problem, but do not think people will actualy be thankful for receiving a small amount of dollars...

You are assuming: you know what that means.....

I never offer. When asked the answer I have always recieved is US currency. I have both in my pocket. One of the first things I do is exchange a reasonable amount of currency and use it.

[ECOCKS]

I rarely had any issue with the bills and noticed that people generally preferred dollars. I was never asked for Euros and only one time can I remember scrounging pounds from a friend for someone.

We had a family member who had a sizable amount of cash at their home and gave me a great rate whenever I had USD and always reminded me that they wanted them.

If you know your numbers it is probably worth getting a taxi fare or apartment rental down as low as possible and then pulling out crisp new bills worth about 10% less and see what happens.

[Doll]

Six months?  If I need crisp bills I call my bank, they make the appointment and I get my cash.

[JR]

Six months?  If I need crisp bills I call my bank, they make the appointment and I get my cash.

Doll, do you comprehend the English language? The title includes "saving" for a trip. Not everyone is in the position to do what you do. To assume that they can is well, assuming: and you know what they say about that....

One could even save old bills, call the bank and exchange the old for new.

[BC]

I put excess coins in a jar.. but that's about it anymore.. guess that's married life.

[Chicagoguy]

The U.S. is coming out with a brand new design $100 bill in about a month so you might want some of these.

[Doll]

Doll, do you comprehend the English language? The title includes "saving" for a trip. Not everyone is in the position to do what you do. To assume that they can is well, assuming: and you know what they say about that....

One could even save old bills, call the bank and exchange the old for new.

Sorry- I reacted on "crisp bills" ("crisp" being the key word)

[Faux Pas]

Sorry- I reacted on "crisp bills" ("crisp" being the key word)

Doll, do you comprehend the English language? The title includes "saving" for a trip. Not everyone is in the position to do what you do. To assume that they can is well, assuming: and you know what they say about that....

One could even save old bills, call the bank and exchange the old for new.

Well just the people with a bank account is in a position to do what she does. Most banks given enough notice will order brand new crisp bills for a customer, some for a nominal fee and some may even waive it if you are a good enough customer. JR, your OP was helpful. It's a pity you trash the thread with your condescending reply

[IAmZon]

I just hope your next trip report is half as suspenseful as the last one.  I still wonder what the hell was going on with that situation from time to time.

best of luck

[Shadow]

You are assuming: you know what that means.....

I never offer. When asked the answer I have always recieved is US currency. I have both in my pocket. One of the first things I do is exchange a reasonable amount of currency and use it.

You never offer but people ask you for US currency ?  Unsure which people you meet.
It does depend on what you use it for. When paying the rent for apartment or buying imported goods, foreign currency is indeed something people want, as they might pay their suppliers with it.
Regarding Euro, they would not ask Europeans to provide US dollars....

[JR]

Sorry- I reacted on "crisp bills" ("crisp" being the key word)

And I am sorry for being an a$$. Please accept my alpolgies.

I was intentionally vague in my OP so as to promote individual application. One does not need to be saving for a trip to La La Land to buy an MOB. The same method can be used to save the down payment for a new car or to furnish the nursery.

BC: I do this too but it takes a lot longer.... My best friends does it aggressively and it pays for about two nice wine tasting weekends for him and his wife each year. One year they saved enought to pay for a trip to Nova Scotia.

[JR]

You never offer but people ask you for US currency ?  Unsure which people you meet.
It does depend on what you use it for. When paying the rent for apartment or buying imported goods, foreign currency is indeed something people want, as they might pay their suppliers with it.
Regarding Euro, they would not ask Europeans to provide US dollars....

Duh...master of the obvious.

I have been to Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Canada, Germany and England. Even the Canadians peg me for American in the first few seconds of conversation, as I do them for being Canadian. All the Uzbeks had to do was look at me and they knew I wasn't a local. Usually they asked if I was American. I suppose if I had responded in German or French they would have asked for Euros...do you think?

[Blues Fairy]

The title includes "saving" for a trip. Not everyone is in the position to do what you do.

Do you stash your saved cash in an old stocking?

[ECOCKS]

Duh...master of the obvious.

I have been to Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Canada, Germany and England. Even the Canadians peg me for American in the first few seconds of conversation, as I do them for being Canadian. All the Uzbeks had to do was look at me and they knew I wasn't a local. Usually they asked if I was American. I suppose if I had responded in German or French they would have asked for Euros...do you think?

Doubtful with regard to Ukraine. My Brit friends asked me far more times for help getting together USD than I ever had to ask for pounds. The small exchange kiosks had far more USD (most of the time at least, there were a couple of runs on the currency which lasted for months at a time) than pounds or Euros. The sense was that when times were tough and the gryvnia was inflating they went to USD. I suspect it has changed a bit in the last couple of years but up to 2009, real estate listings were considerably more often in USD than gryvnia, rarely in Euros and never in pounds or rubles.

[Doll]

It's a pity you trash the thread with your condescending reply

Not that it really matters but I read the OP one more time- it was mostly about "newer bills".
Not much about how to save.

So what I started doing about six months ago is to glean the newer bills from my weekly cash allotment and stashing them away.

So I answered. Seems like my comprehension is ok.

Also, I don't think Russians prefer dollars.

[Doll]

  I used to have cash only, then both cash and debit card, but ended up in using ATM only.
I mean when I go back to Russia.

  I was a little bit uncertain about how safe it was to always use the card, but I do online banking and it worked perfectly in Russia. I could watch the account(s) and transfer funds from saving to checking. I did have some cash but just brought it back.

[dbneeley]

About a month ago, we closed on a new flat. The transaction was in cash--mostly dollars, some Euro, no griven at all.

To get the cash, we had to notify the bank well in advance--and even then it was somewhat difficult to get enough of the newish bills that are demanded here. God knows what it would have been like if the flat had not been as inexpensive as it was.

In Ukraine, dollars still predominate as the favored foreign currency, followed well down the list by Euro. If people keep cash at home, it will usually include dollars as well as griven.

We maintain two primary bank accounts in Donetsk--one in griven, one dollars. Any wire transfers I arrange are thus in dollars, so I don't get hit with an additional five per cent charge by my U.S. bank for foreign currency conversion on top of the three per cent charged locally simply for using the bank to begin with.

For travel here, it is still worth accumulating any cash in new, crisp bills. ATMs are seductive, but costly...unless you don't mind high bank fees added on to a very poor exchange rate for those machines that do not have dollars. I've seen the combination result in a loss of over ten percent of the cash withdrawn--something I'm not so fond of, personally.

David

[Partizan]

From my own experience of travelling and living in EE, I have never been asked for US$ just euro and the local currency, be it Bulgarian leva, Serbian dinar or the Rouble. For a trip I usually take approx €500-€800 in cash with me. Change some (about €100) at the airport to tie me over for a day or so then change the rest in a bank until I need to go to a bankomat (ATM). I tend to avoid the ATMs as often as I can due to the rates that Irish banks charge for using ATMs abroad. Be mindful of the banks regarding the exchange rates but in the past I have never had a problem with them. I remember a couple of years ago entering a Belgrade bank and plonking €700 on the counter. Your man behind the counter nearly keeled over when he saw the cash and promptly gave me back 60,000 Serbian dinar. I practically needed a suitcase to take the money out of there.

Another thing, try also to avoid using the credit card unless you really have to. Things are a nightmare.

[Faux Pas]

From my own experience of travelling and living in EE, I have never been asked for US$ just euro and the local currency, be it Bulgarian leva, Serbian dinar or the Rouble. For a trip I usually take approx €500-€800 in cash with me. Change some (about €100) at the airport to tie me over for a day or so then change the rest in a bank until I need to go to a bankomat (ATM). I tend to avoid the ATMs as often as I can due to the rates that Irish banks charge for using ATMs abroad. Be mindful of the banks regarding the exchange rates but in the past I have never had a problem with them. I remember a couple of years ago entering a Belgrade bank and plonking €700 on the counter. Your man behind the counter nearly keeled over when he saw the cash and promptly gave me back 60,000 Serbian dinar. I practically needed a suitcase to take the money out of there.

Another thing, try also to avoid using the credit card unless you really have to. Things are a nightmare.

Speaking strictly of Russia, I find credit cards very convenient and inexpensive for places that do accept credit cards. My credit card company makes the conversions without any additional expense. As any place be mindful of to whom and where you leave credit card information. But, to date I have not had a single burp or added expense when using a credit card.

I've not been a position to "have to" use a CC but, many situations where it was more convenient to do so. Usually, to aid in hanging on to rubles I might need later. There seems to be a bit of hyperbole over credit cards. Of course much of it depends on your CC company. My experience has been hassle free and preferred.

[Chicagoguy]

As chance would have it I have an account with Citi Bank. And they have many ATM's in Moscow and there is never a fee. Do not know if they are anyplace else.

[Chicagoguy]

Just checked and Citi Bank has 30 ATM locations in Moscow and is also located in 32 other Russian cities. Nothing in Ukraine or stans.

[chivo]

The exchange rate is not much if any different at the airport now (Sheremetyevo II) if you're flying into that airport so you can make a quick $100-200 exchange before you leave. 

As far as euro vs. dollar and what is better, it really depends on whom you're dealing with. Some prefer $ others euros.

Not sure how you're getting to the city but the express train would be my suggestion (around 320 roubles) and then go from there or have your contact pick you up from there (Metro Belaruskaya). It's clean, modern, fast, uncrowded, easy to use even for a foreigner and you will deal with a lot less traffic. 

I would use a credit card before I use an ATM card here. I also have had no problems doing so using all of them (Visa MC) and haven't used an ATM card for over 6 years. Too many fees and the chances for problems are greater IMO.

It's true that Citi Bank has no fees if you are a customer. Just seems you can never find one when you need one

[JR]

I just hope your next trip report is half as suspenseful as the last one.  I still wonder what the hell was going on with that situation from time to time.

best of luck

Sorry Riv Ma Man but I truly hope it isn't)))) As to what happened: I believe it was her sister in law that found my T/R here after googling me. An offense was taken and that was that.

Doll:
After careful consideration content was edited then deleted. I'm just going to start calling you T-Doll