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If you are a frequent flier, and a fan of using plastic over hard cash, then doubtless you will be aware that you can collect points for spending with your credit card that can be used to subsidise your air miles.
Air miles and credit cards seem to enjoy a fruitful relationship, and have done so for a matter of decades; and yet so few of us take advantage of the options available to us. Read more “3 Best Credit Cards For Picking Up Free Air Miles”
Before you pull out and flourish your credit card to pay for your goods and services whilst travelling overseas, think twice – then think again!
Withdrawing money using a credit card is a costly move even in your own country – credit card companies penalise cash withdrawers heavily with a host of associated charges – and the same applies overseas – don’t think the same rules do not apply. Read more “3 Overseas Credit Cards To Use Abroad”
Overseas investment; property, financial, or business related; supporting family and relatives overseas; moving and living abroad; importing or exporting goods over the medium to long term.
These are all good, and prominent reasons for taking extra care that you are managing currency exchange rate risk effectively. Failure to do so; using a high street money transfer company last minute to make a significant transfer of funds from pounds into euros, dollars, or renminbi, for example; can result in paying way over the odds, in fees and charges, or exchange rates skewed in the vendors favour. It could cost you 5% extra each and every time you make such a transfer, research shows. Read more “3 Of The Best Expat Overseas Bank Accounts”
There is a hopeless romantic inside every one of us, and if ever there is a perfect time to give it free rein, it’s your wedding day. How much will a dream overseas wedding set you back? At The Money Cloud we have carried out some research on your behalf, to make sure you have the “perfect figure” in mind for your big day. Read more “Overseas Weddings: Thinking Of Getting Hitched Abroad? Here’s How Much You May Have To Pay”
Emmanuel Macron is an ex investment banker which may explain why the French President is pursuing an aggressive strategy to try to relocate fintech startups and financial services companies to Paris in the aftermath of Brexit. Can he succeed? Read more “Revolut Rejects Macron Overtures But Can London Stay Ahead Of Paris For Fintech?”
Whilst enjoying some late season sun in Cannes, France, I’ve noticed that my pounds and my euros are virtually interchangable.
Let’s start at the beginning. Flights to the Cote D’Azur with the likes of Ryanair are, in our humble opinion, currently Europe’s biggest travel bargain. Tourists love the South coast of France, and France loves having them here – provided they are not too rowdy and don’t jump in the fountains – that is, after all, what the sea is for. Read more “Cannes It Be? Don’t Expect Your Pounds To Go Further Than The Euro On Cote D’Azur”
This week at The Money Cloud we are taking stock of the latest Internations Annual expat survey. Yesterday we explored the global networking and event company’s overall country ratings, which saw Bahrain emerge for the second year running, as the top rated destination for expats, with Taiwan a close second, Ecuador third, and reality checks for the likes of the UK, India and Saudi Arabia.
But how do the world’s countries rank for all things digital? From always-on South Korea, to the cashless Nordics, to Estonia, the digital nomads paradise, let’s examine Internations findings more closely. Read more “Fast Internet, Cashless Payments & Social Media Spying: The World’s Digital Havens Uncovered”
Anybody considering life as an expat should pay special attention to Internation’s latest Expat Insider survey. The international networking and events group for people living overseas questioned more than 18,000 people to compile its annual list of the best and worst destinations for expats, based on factors such as Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, Family Life, and Personal Finance. Read more “This Gulf State Has Just Been Voted Best Expat Destination For The Second Year Running”
If you are one of the world’s 15.8 million high net worth individuals, then you may well dream of becoming one of its 584,000 multi-millionaires, or even one of just 2,252 billionaires that exist in the world today. Read more “Breaking Down The World’s Wealthy: How They Live, What They Buy, And Where They Hang Out?”
Now that the light is starting to fade and the temperature is dropping across the UK and Europe, it may be as good a time as any to reimagine those dreams of emigrating abroad.
Many of us have thought about, or perhaps been given the opportunity to relocate abroad. Whilst there are many good reasons; children at school, family at hand, the language barrier; to name a few, not to take the plunge, there are just as many persuasive reasons why 2019 might be the perfect year to seize the opportunity for a new and revitalising life experience.
To get you started, let’s look at 3 destinations that contain an enticing blend of culture, opportunity, and life-learning. Read more “3 Expat Friendly Destinations To Consider Now That Winter Is Here”
Amongst the many disruptive fintech startups that have mounted a sustained attack on banks and money transfer operators’ share of the international money transfer market, TransferWise may be the best known, and certainly the noisiest, trumpeting their bank beating rates via PR campaigns and flash mobs, everywhere from the City of London, to the streets of Singapore and now, as far afield as Sydney.
Today the company announced another historic moment in their short history, recording their first ever annual pre-tax profit. Read more “TransferWise Records First Ever Annual Profit, Pledges To Maintain Bank-beating Prices”
Some people like plastic, whilst others prefer cash. These two payment methods have been around for generations, and, until recently, there has been little to choose between them when it comes to choosing how to pay for goods and services.
Today, however, and particularly in the Western world, it seems that we are increasingly moving towards a “cashless” society, where debit and credit cards, or even mobile wallets, hold sway. But what about when we spend time overseas? Read more “Multi Currency Debit Cards – Should You Have One?”
Russia’s market for international remittances is set to grow to $68 billion by the year 2021, according to research, with the fastest growing sector being bill payments made by companies, which looks set to double in size over this period. Read more “How To Send Money To Russia – Soon To Become A $68 Billion Remittance Market?”
Every six months, the Economist Intelligence Unit publishes its liveability survey – a comprehensive attempt to rank the world’s cities in terms of their safety and stability, healthcare systems, levels of culture and environmental health, standards of education and strength of infrastructure. Read more “From Vienna To Damascus? The World’s Ten Most, & Least, Liveable Cities In 2018 Announced”
Have you ever considered getting your medical treatment abroad? This increasingly popular industry caters for a variety of treatments, from dentistry, to fertility treatment, to cosmetic surgery, to orthopaedics, and is driven by a surprising disparity in the costs of the same treatments in different parts of the world, and the quicker availability of treatments in some countries as opposed to others. Read more “$60bn Medical Tourism Industry Is Thriving; But Watch Out For Exchange Rate Fluctuations”
The spike in temperature here in the UK will provide food for thought for anybody who has been considering relocating, or acquiring a property in Spain. There are two ways to look at it. Read more “Seen A Spanish Property You Love & Hoping To Make An Offer? First Add 15% To The Price. Here’s Why”
Life as an expat can be full of surprises; a new culture to learn, surroundings to explore and barriers to overcome. Amidst so much uncertainty, if you are planning to make a big move overseas but have not yet decided where, or want to get the lowdown on your destination of choice, UBS’s latest Cost Of Living Around The World report may well have the answers you are looking for. Read more “Tempted To Move Abroad? UBS Reveals List Of Most Expensive Cities For Expats, & Some Of The Best Priced”
Jen reviews fantastic guide to 100 things to do and experience in Singapore reminds me of my first visit to this incredible city state, almost exactly a year ago, writes The Money Cloud’s Edmund Ingham Read more “Singapore, The Lion City With The Wow Factor, Offers Unforgettable Experiences For Everyone, Starting With These 100!”
It’s coming home. England’s nerve-shredding victory over Colombia last night was watched by an incredible 23m of the population, and whilst many may have been hiding behind the sofa as the goals, fouls, and penalties flew in, a nation is celebrating, and contemplating an unprecedented run all the way to the final of Russia 2018. Can you get to Russia in time for the QF? Maybe, just maybe. Read more “How To Make It To Russia To Watch England Play Sweden In World Cup QF – & Save Money!”
Summer is here, and although it’s an opportunity to enjoy some rare sunshine (for those of us based in the UK), it also tends to give many of us itchy feet. Whatever you plan to do with your summer holidays, or even if you are considering upping sticks and embarking on a long term travel adventure, it helps to have the right resources to hand.
We have selected 5 travel blogs that will put you firmly in the know, introduce you to new experiences, and prepare you well for your next travel adventure. Who, knows, after spending time on some of these five sites, you may never want to come back! Read more “5 Inspiring, Must-Read Blogs For International Travel Enthusiasts”