I don't mean Harry Redknapp and brown paper bags, I mean the currency, it seems to be going up and down like a fiddlers elbows and I don't know whether to buy before or after the EU referendum / and will it make much difference, any advice,gratefully received!
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I have a trip booked for after the vote so am in a similar position.
I don't think we will exit, but markets hate uncertainty.
I'm buying this week. But you could always hedge your bet by buying some now and some later.
A specific Halifax credit card was also the best" rate provider" last year. I haven't checked if it still is.
If we vote in sterling will rise.
If we vote out, sterling will initily fall and then rise again to same levels as would rise to after the in vote.
If you are concerned with money for a holiday the best thing you can do is find out the way of getting euros that gives you the best exchange rate on the day, and the lowest fees.
I do have a Czech bank account which offers five currencies under one account number, and that works quite well, if you are going to be using euros regularly. I believe Citibank offer that in the UK. But you never know with Citibank what they might do next year.
http://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/currencyconverter.
I used these two last year.
ttps://www.currency-express.com/cooptravel/aboutus.html
Travel FX Ltd
Enough for 10 days?
https://www.thomasexchangeglobal.co.uk
https://www.compareholidaymoney.com/buy-currency/euros.php
I just bought with these as they came out best. But I'm not recommending. It's up to you etc etc.
https://www.thecurrencyclub.co.uk
But seriously, what I do is run dollar and euro accounts and feed money into them in dribs and drabs to smooth out the effects of currency fluctuations. I then don't take any money with me but switch my debit card over to the relevant account and draw money out fee free from local ATMs and also use the card for shopping/restaurants.
But I expect that bloke who must have been related to Gordon Brown will be along soon to tell you to buy gold instead and live in a bunker in Scotland.
I have a contrary view to others on what Brexit will mean. While it's true Markets don't like uncertainty, many will see leaving the EU as a nice little gamble on forward currency pricing. They will see the potential for a significant UK interest rate rise - needed to protect sterling and stave off inflationary pressures caused by rising commodity/import costs. So a Brexit vote could just as easily see Sterling rise in value.
Like everything, only time will tell I guess.
Edited to add: a side benefit of running the Euro account is that it facilitates buying stuff directly from Europe. I find this particular useful for things like consumables on German kitchen appliances which are much, much cheaper there than in the UK. My bank does not charge for SEPA payments and Deutsche Post seems to be able to get packages to me much more quickly than the UK postal service manages. (This kind of flexibility is another reason I'll be voting in. Without free movement of goods, whatever other countries might do, HMRC will be wanting their VAT on personally imported goods if we leave and that would mean this type of arrangement would be dead in the water and give Siemens and the like an immediate opportunity to raise prices in the UK.)