Student working in France

andrewp369

My student daughter is spending the summer working in France. She has a Santander student account. Can anyone advise the best way to handle her money in France? She will be paid in Uk pounds but will obviously need to pay for anything she needs in euros. Thanks in advance for any advice.

System

If it were me I would use a Halifax Clarity credit card for withdrawing cash and paying for things in shops and settling at the end of each month. The Halifax Clarity card is the cheapest way of spending abroad - no fees at all, though interest is charged on ATM withdrawals - but settling monthly would mean this does not amount to much.

Alternatively a current account with Metro Bank (or Nationwide?) would allow spending and cash withdrawals without charges.

Spending on her Santander card would work out quite expensive with commission and fees added on top of every transaction.

grumbler

MSE article: Top Travel Spending Cards

For a student Revolut prepaid card is likely to be the easiest option.

Anthorn

Walk into a French bank branch and open an account. Very easy to do.

In U.K. Post Office (BoI) current account allows free transfers in Euros to any E.U. country.

agrinnall

As your daughter probably won't qualify for a Clarity card herself you could apply for one and make her an additional cardholder (assuming you trust her not to go mad and spend all your money on designer clothes and sports cars, or other less savoury items!).