These days debit and credit cards sometimes make cash seem like a thing of the past. There are still many places around the globe that function solely on a cash basis, and where even having a bank account is hard to come by.
I’m headed out this afternoon for a business trip to Macedonia & the Democratic Republic of Congo for the next three weeks. Preparing for the trip means going to the bank this morning and getting a wade of cash. Not a wade exactly, many countries outside of the US won’t accept USD that is wrinkled or isn’t of the new print style. Big bills also earn you a better exchange rate.
There isn’t an ATM in the entire country of the DRC, so you’ve got to anticipate your costs well and hope not to run out of money. This means carrying a lot of cash in a country where security is anything but optimal. Plus once you convert the USD to local currency, you end up with very large stacks of cash. A stack of bills can equal a twenty. Then you feel like a mafia member carrying around bags of cash.
Wish me luck! I’m headed to the bank to load up. I’ll post money adventures from the road. If there are any topics you are interested in learning about just drop me a comment.
Best,
Miel
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