Many unforeseen things can happen on vacation, which is why sometimes – despite good planning – there is foreign currency left over. But where should the foreign money go now?
It’s not just distant countries that have their own national currency. Even Switzerland, which shares a border with Germany, has its own currency. So what do you do with Swiss francs, dollar bills, etc. when you get back home?
Keep the money
The simplest method is to simply keep the money until your next trip to that country. This is particularly useful if you travel regularly to the same countries. Relatives or friends may also be spending their vacation there in the near future. Of course, there is also the option of keeping the money as a souvenir.
But what should you do if you no longer have any plans for a vacation to this country and don’t want to keep the currency as a souvenir? And if family and friends don’t plan to travel there either?
Exchange the money
Another option is to exchange the money. In addition to exchange offices, banks and savings banks also offer this option. However, this is usually associated with high exchange fees, which is why this makes more sense for large amounts. Exchanging coins is also problematic, as exchange offices or banks generally do not accept them.
Donate the money
According to the banking association, the third option is to donate the foreign cash. There are different ways to use the money for a good cause.
Yahoo reports that aid organizations are often happy about any donation – even in foreign currency. Welthungerhilfe, for example, accepts banknotes, coins and even currencies that are no longer valid, such as German marks. The donation can be sent by post in an envelope or package, but at your own expense. If you don’t want to do this, you can hand in the donation free of charge to a bank branch after consulting with the relevant Welthungerhilfe contact person.
In addition to Welthungerhilfe, Caritas and UNICEF also accept foreign currency as donations.
According to the banking association, it is possible to leave donations in donation boxes at airports. These special collection containers can also be found at large tourist attractions or in banks.
Editorial team finanzen.net