Low denomination notes again

mgfvvc

For children going on trips with scouts/guides, the leaders want them to have their money divided up into envelopes, with spending money for a single day in each envelope. They don't want the children to carry high denomination notes. We also don't want to change large amounts of money as it's only pocket money.


Is there anyone, preferably online or with a branch network that can supply small notes (Swiss Francs in this instance) and will accept a smallish order?

Westin

mgfvvc wrote: »

For children going on trips with scouts/guides, the leaders want them to have their money divided up into envelopes, with spending money for a single day in each envelope. They don't want the children to carry high denomination notes. We also don't want to change large amounts of money as it's only pocket money.


Is there anyone, preferably online or with a branch network that can supply small notes (Swiss Francs in this instance) and will accept a smallish order?

Quite a faff. I am not sure the tour organisers have thought through the logistics well enough. It might suit the scout leaders but won't be an easy fix for the poor parents to find low denomination Swiss franc notes/coins for daily pocket money envelopes. I'd be tempted to ask the person who came up with the idea to explore and recommend where small denomination SF can be obtained from.

How old/responsible is your child? If just for pocket money I think I would be tempted to just give them the money in one go. Presumably this will only be <£30'ish. Use the opportunity to explain about different currencies in different countries. Talk them though the Swiss Franc currency and denominations, show them from Google images what each note/coin looks like and draw up a small conversion graph on a piece of paper that they can slip in their pocket showing what each CH coin/note is worth in equivalent GBP£. Explain that the note/s you give them is worth £xx and how when they use it the first time they will get change. Perhaps even encourage them to take a small note book to record what is spent each time.

eDicky

What is child's age and how much is a day's allowance going to be?

Order online for collection and there should be no problem requesting CHF10/20 notes. Shops will have smaller change of course. Sainsbury and Tesco look best in my area, rates not as good as using a 'travel' card in local ATM of course.

https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/holiday-money/

mgfvvc

eDicky wrote: »

What is child's age and how much is a day's allowance going to be?

One is aged 12 and quite responsible. One is aged 10 and completely scatterbrained, like her dad. She is quite likely to put her purse down in a shop and forget to pick it up again.


The allowance will be 20CHF per day.

eDicky wrote: »

Order online for collection and there should be no problem requesting CHF10/20 notes. Shops will have smaller change of course. Sainsbury and Tesco look best in my area, rates not as good as using a 'travel' card in local ATM of course.

It's all very well saying " there should be no problem" but have you tried it? I can't see any way to request low denomination notes at Tesco Bank or Sainsburys Bank.

Thomas Exchange Global have a Google review saying that they are helpful with low denomination notes, but when we phoned they said they can't help.

eDicky

mgfvvc wrote: »

It's all very well saying " there should be no problem" but have you tried it? I can't see any way to request low denomination notes at Tesco Bank or Sainsburys Bank.

When collecting your order, ask for the smaller notes. If it's only for Fr100 or so they should oblige. But I have never done this and never would, always using fee free cards for travel. Ifonly larger notes are available, just let the teacher change them down in country, as it's their requirement.


Ideally the 12 year old would open a Nationwide FlexOne account with debit card, using it to allocate daily allowance also to the younger one, plus learning about account and card use, but this might be too modern or something...

Preedyboi

Thomas Exchange UK are usually ok to give small notes, I have never had an issue apart from sometimes having to collect the following day so they can get it in stock.

mgfvvc

Preedyboi wrote: »

Thomas Exchange UK are usually ok to give small notes, I have never had an issue apart from sometimes having to collect the following day so they can get it in stock.

They weren't helpful when my wife enquired.

mgfvvc

First Direct were helpful and supplied us with low denomination notes.