FintrekHow to budget a trip in several currencies
Updated 28 October 2026
Travel budgets get confusing the moment you exchange money: cash in one currency, card in another, prices in a third. Here is a simple way to plan, track and compare — without a calculator on every purchase.
Plan in one main currency
Choose the currency you think in (usually the one you earn in) and put the whole plan in it: accommodation, transport, food, activities, shopping, and a buffer of 10–15% for surprises. One number for the trip, one per category.
Record the rate you actually got
When you exchange money, note how much you gave and how much you received — that is your real rate. Use it to convert local prices back to your main currency. A rate from a website is usually better than what you got at the exchange office or ATM, and using it makes the trip look cheaper than it was.
Track spending as you go
- Record each purchase in the currency you paid — local cash, card in local currency, or card in your own currency.
- Do it right away; at the end of a travel day nobody remembers the third coffee.
- Keep exchanges separate from spending: changing 100 dollars into lira is not an expense.
Compare plan and actual
Halfway through the trip, compare each category with the plan in your main currency. If food is running ahead, you still have time to adjust. At the end, the comparison is your best input for the next trip's budget.
Free travel budget template
The free Fintrek budget template works for trips out of the box: set your main currency and the rates you got on the “Rates” sheet, add categories with a plan, and record expenses in any currency — the summary converts everything for you.
Even easier: say it in Telegram
On the road, typing into a spreadsheet is the last thing you want. With Fintrek you say “taxi 300 baht” or “dinner 45 euros” to a Telegram bot, confirm, and it is recorded in the right currency at your rate. After an exchange it offers to update the rate to the one you actually got. Later you can export everything as the same template, filled in.
Questions
How much buffer should a travel budget have?
Ten to fifteen percent of the total is a common starting point; more for long trips or unfamiliar destinations.
Which exchange rate should I use for my travel budget?
The rate you actually got when exchanging money or paying by card — not the mid-market rate from a website.
How do I track expenses abroad?
Record each purchase in the currency you paid, right after paying, and convert to your main currency with your real rate for the totals.
Is an exchange an expense?
No. Exchanging money moves it from one currency to another; only what you spend counts as an expense.