What should you do with your foreign currency after a trip?

After returning from a trip abroad, it is very common to come home with foreign currency that has not been spent locally. A few dollars forgotten in your wallet, some Thai baht or extra Swiss francs…

In this article, we outline the options available to you when you return from your travels with unused foreign currency.

 

Key takeaways:

• It is common to return from a trip with unused foreign currency, but keeping it is not always a good idea. Its value can change unfavourably due to numerous economic and geopolitical factors.
• Keeping foreign currency at home means tying up money that could otherwise be used immediately for everyday expenses or new projects.
• Over the long term, some banknotes may be withdrawn from circulation, become damaged or difficult to exchange, particularly coins.
• Selling your foreign currency as soon as you return is the most effective solution to limit losses and quickly recover pounds.
• Selling currency online, with a preferential exchange rate and 0% commission, allows you to maximise the amount you receive, while the BuyBack guarantee protects your future trips against exchange rate fluctuations.

It may be tempting to keep your foreign currency in a drawer in anticipation of a future trip, but this solution is far from ideal for several reasons, explained below.

First of all, the value of your currency changes every day and may experience significant depreciation depending on several factors, such as:

• The country’s economic situation: GDP growth, employment levels, inflation and productivity all directly influence the value of a currency.
• Interest rates and monetary policy: Central bank decisions are crucial. High interest rates can attract foreign investors, increasing demand for the currency and therefore its value.
• The trade balance: If a country exports more than it imports, it receives more foreign currency, which supports its local currency. Conversely, a trade deficit can negatively affect its value.
• Market confidence: Political stability, strong institutions or credible reforms reassure investors and have a positive impact on a currency’s value. On the other hand, uncertainty or crisis can cause a rapid depreciation.
• International financial flows: Foreign direct investment, financial investments and speculative movements directly affect supply and demand on the foreign exchange markets.
• Geopolitical and global events: Conflicts, health crises or sanctions can drive capital away or, conversely, strengthen currencies seen as “safe havens”.

As you can see, it is very difficult to anticipate changes in a currency’s value. Keeping it for a future trip may therefore result in a loss if its value is negatively affected by one or more of these factors.

Whether it is Thai baht, US dollars or Japanese yen, keeping your unused foreign currency means tying it up. It cannot be used for everyday spending or to fund new projects.

It is therefore better to exchange it without delay so that it becomes immediately available budget.

Keeping foreign currency over the long term can also be problematic, as certain series of banknotes may be withdrawn from circulation. Some coins can also be difficult, or even impossible, to exchange.

Finally, banknotes tend to deteriorate over time, which may make resale impossible.

We recommend selling your currency as soon as you return in order to convert it immediately into pounds.

To do so, you can either go directly to a currency exchange office or use our online currency selling service.

Although this option does allow you to sell your unused foreign currency, you will not benefit from the most favourable exchange rates, and a commission is generally applied to the transaction.

Visiting a currency exchange office on your return, for example at an airport, is particularly convenient as it limits travel. However, it is not the most economical solution for recovering pounds.

Our online currency selling service is the most cost-effective solution for selling your unused currency after a trip.

We offer a preferential exchange rate and 0% commission on the transaction, allowing you to receive the maximum amount of kronor with complete ease.

To sell your currency online and benefit from our exclusive rates, simply follow these steps:

• Go to our homepage
• Click on the “Click & Sell” tab in the widget at the top of the page
• Select the currency and the amount you wish to sell (enter whole numbers)
• Click on “Sell now”
• Confirm your basket and choose the ChangeGroup branch where you wish to bring your remaining currency
• Leave immediately with pounds

Related reading: 4 apps to manage your travel budget effectively

Avoid being affected by market fluctuations thanks to our BuyBack guarantee.

This solution has been designed for travellers who find it difficult to accurately estimate the budget required for a trip abroad.

The principle is simple: when you exchange your pounds for the currency you need, choose our BuyBack guarantee for just £5.99, and we will apply the same exchange rate when you bring your unused currency back on your return.

Related reading:

• How to organise a trip abroad efficiently
• What should I do with my remaining currency after a trip?

After returning from a trip, unused foreign currency can quickly become a headache – and a source of financial loss if left untouched for too long. Between exchange rate fluctuations, tying up your money and the constraints associated with exchanging banknotes or coins, keeping your currency is rarely the best option.

Selling your foreign currency promptly, on the other hand, allows you to recover an immediately available budget while limiting the risks associated with value fluctuations. By choosing a simple, transparent and commission-free solution such as online currency selling, you maximise the amount you receive and save time. And for your future trips, the BuyBack guarantee remains an excellent way to travel with peace of mind, without worrying about unexpected exchange rate changes.

Also worth reading:

• Is last-minute travel more economical?
• 4 things you can do with ChangeGroup to save time and money
• Why planning your currency exchange in advance can save you money