tossing the plastic (financial question)

Part of my motivation to follow buZZsaw BRAD 's path, is my frustration with plastic failing. The most recent card wouldn't work at a certain gas station brand here. Then it quit when I had a larger purchase. The previous cc quit more than once at a chain groccer....the initial charge was denied (for no reason) so i tried it x2 more times, and the fraud people called.
I still had the bank card handy to get what I needed, but I was seething every time this happened.
And the bank card tap thingy is toast.

So it's a matter of planning.
And finding a change jar.

I travel a lot, so dipping the card at the pump, the snack place, the coffee place....all will take more time now.

Far as travel stateside I'll leave the big stuff locked away, keep cash gift cards handy for the unforseen and greenbacks for the rest.
Will check out traveler's checks just for variety. Banks I do not trust.

 

If you are an iPhone user, add the card to your Apple wallet and ditch the card. I'm sure Android has the same thing but I'm not sure what it's called. When you use Apple Pay, it's virtual card number. I try to use Apple Pay for as much as I can, any place you can touch a chip card you can use Apple Pay. PayPal also does something similar for online shopping.

Comment: One-time codes are the Apple Pay secret weapon that's just a little too secret - 9to5Mac

From the article:

"To make this crystal clear, a unique code is generated for every single Apple Pay transaction you make. Effectively, Apple creates fake card details for you and hands those over to the retailer instead of the real ones. As soon as that transaction is complete, the code is automatically voided – it can never again be used for a purchase."

 

Yes, your phone is safe if your unlocking mode is safe.
You can use one time (virtual) card numbers.
Third world countries do a lot of their small scale transactions via phone apps anyway.

 

Oh that is awesome!

 

Some cc companies like it if you can give them a heads up on your travels. If they know you will be outside of your normal area, and where that is, you can avoid cards not being accepted.

 

Having been to many different countries, I always carried a mix of cash and credit cards. Invest in a good money belt or pouch; I used a neck wallet in the Philippines back in the 80's and remember several acquaintances had their neck wallets pilfered right on the streets (the pickpockets are very good and often work in teams). When in Vietnam in the late 1990s doing POW/MIA ops, we were required to use only cash (some kind of deal between the USDoS and the RVN) and they had to be the new (at the time) $100 bills. Concealed money pouches were strongly recommended, along with keeping a small amount of bills in a wallet. Only issue with the money pouch was that I sweat so much during our missions, the sides of the outer bills were completely dyed black from the leather (always put the cash in a Ziploc bag after that). Almost always converted some American dollars to local currency on day one (if not before arriving) and usually tried to pay with that. Nothing screams foreigner like using non-local currency. Never had any issues in European countries, Japan, South Korea, and some parts of the middle east, and often just carried a wallet and used a credit card. When in remote locations, cash was the only option and never (ever) open your concealed money belt/pouch in plain view of the public (someone is always watching you). That's why keeping 'spending' cash in a wallet is done. Pickpockets will go for the wallet as an easy target and not for the concealed pouch. As others have said, no matter what you do, you will always be pegged as an American, and you are instantly marked as a target for thieves. Good idea is to purchase your cash concealment method (belt, pouch, etc.) in advance and practice wearing it before leaving. It may sound silly, but if you wait to wear it until you're travelling, you will draw attention to it when you adjust it, move it, scratch, etc. due to its uncomfortableness/newness. And in remote locations, never, ever leave your money in your hotel/hostel/guest house room, even if they have a safe.

 

OP read ^^^^ this at least twice