6 Tips for Successful Shopping at a Local Market

Markets pop up all around the world and are a popular shopping spot for locals. Now, I’m not just talking about food markets, but also clothing markets, flea markets, art markets, and everything in between. No matter what part of the world you are in, chances are there is a local market in a city near you. Markets are the perfect spot to grab the freshest ingredients for tonight’s meal, handmade clothing, or even decorations for your home. Keep these 6 tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to successful shopping regardless of the type of market you are setting out to explore.

1. Observe the Locals

The first thing I do when entering a market is take a lap around to see all the different stalls and products, but also to observe the locals! The locals will give you an idea of proper etiquette since this will vary greatly in different regions around the world (just think, what is acceptable and normal at an American market might be considered rude at an Asian market). Another great reason to observe the locals is to find out which are the most popular stalls. These are often the most crowded and it must be for a good reason.

2. Don’t Touch the Food

It might be acceptable to touch the fresh produce in an American market, but it’s often considered extremely rude in many other parts of the world. Wait for assistance from the vendor, point to what you want, and they will handle the food. You can determine what’s acceptable by referring to #1 – observe the locals – or by simply asking the vendor.

3. Haggle

This is also heavily dependent on the part of the world you are in. In America, there is normally a fixed price for goods, but in many parts of the world, such as Asian countries, it’s expected to haggle. Do a little research on the region you are in to know what is appropriate.

4. Bring Cash

It’s a necessity to have cash at a local market. Most of the time, the market consists of a bunch of pop-up stalls, so vendors likely won’t have any way to accept credit/debit cards. Come prepared with cash!

5. Compare Prices

You would hate to buy a carton of strawberries for $2 just to find out the vendor a few stalls down was selling them for $1. It’s important to take a lap around the market to see what’s offered and at what prices. This also helps to be successful and more confident with #3 – haggling.

6. Bring Your Own Bag

Again, this is dependent on the part of the world you’re in, but it’s a good practice regardless. Some vendors will provide bags for merchandise that you buy and others won’t, so you’ll want to have your own bag to carry your goodies just in case.

Visiting local markets is the perfect way to experience the culture and lifestyle of the country you are in. Markets are a great, affordable way to find authentic souvenirs to take home with you. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s fun to wander around and see the different products for sale and watch the locals going about their daily lives. Remember these 6 simple tips and you’ll be a successful shopper at any market around the world!

What additional tips do you have for shopping at a local market? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

How To Manage Your Money While Traveling

No matter where you are traveling, managing your money is crucial.

It’s no secret that with traveling comes the inevitable burden of managing your money in a foreign country. It can be hard to know the appropriate payment form to use for day-to-day purchases or the safest ways to carry and withdraw money. I’ve learned a lot about managing money during my travels- here are some great tips and resources that have helped me and will surely help you manage your money while abroad.

Tips
1. Talk to your bank and credit card providers before you go.
Be sure to call your bank and credit card providers to let them know when and where you’ll be traveling. You don’t want to get a few days into your relaxing vacation and find out all your accounts have been frozen and you’re stranded with no money. Avoid the headache and inform your bank and credit card companies prior to your departure.

2. Be knowledgeable about the exchange rate.
This way, you can avoid overspending. You’ll be able to know exactly how much something costs, where you are. It’s easy to get preoccupied with what looks like a great deal in the local currency, but don’t forget to convert it to your native currency because it might not be such a great deal after all. This is especially important when signing long-term contracts such as renting a home or apartment.

3. Withdraw cash from the ATM.
Regardless of what type of currency you need, making a withdraw from an ATM is generally the cheapest and easiest way to get cash abroad. An ATM or debit card with a four-digit PIN number can be used to easily obtain money abroad, however your home bank and/or the bank abroad may charge fees which could quickly add up with frequent withdraws. Normally when I’m withdrawing money abroad, I’ll withdraw a larger amount of money at a time to minimize the amount I’m paying in bank fees. I never keep all of my cash on me at one time in case my wallet gets stolen, and you shouldn’t either. Carry enough cash with you for a day and leave the rest in a secure spot like a hotel safe. 

4. Use credit cards for big purchases and cash for most everything else.
Generally, when I’m traveling I use credit cards to pay for any big purchases such as flights, lodging (hotels, hostels, apartments), and transportation (if booking ahead). If I book anything before I leave on my trip including museum and attraction tickets, I’ll use a credit card. When I’m actually traveling, I almost always use local currency. It’s a lot more common to use cash in Europe and Asia than it is in the United States. Some local restaurants and stores in Europe won’t accept credit cards, so it’s imperative to always have cash. I usually carry around a credit card with me just in case, however I almost always use local currency for day-to-day purchases. MasterCard and Visa are the two most widely accepted credit cards internationally.
*If you’re going to use a credit card internationally, make sure to get a card with no foreign transaction fees!*

5. Always keep a variety of coins on hand to make change for small purchases.
Store owners don’t generally appreciate you paying for a 1 euro postcard with a 20 euro note. If you are traveling through Europe, you’ll accumulate a lot of euro coins along the way, trust me. I suggest bringing along a small coin purse or bag, this helps you keep all those euro coins organized and expedites the paying process for smaller items. Note: This is not as important if traveling in the U.S. where credit/debit cards are widely accepted regardless of the amount of the purchase.

Resources
1. Xapo’s Bitcoin Wallet
If you’re looking for an easy way to spend money abroad without worrying about exchange rates or fees, check out Xapo‘s bitcoin wallet. It’s a form of digital banking that allows you to save, spend, and transfer bitcoins to the person or merchant receiving the funds. This is a great resource for easily managing your money on your phone when and wherever you want.

2. RFID Blocking Wallets
These wallets help protect against thieves trying to steal credit card and passport information by using a scanner to read the internal chips. I’ve heard contradicting reviews on whether RFID blocking wallets are really necessary but in my mind, better safe than sorry! We were given an RFID blocking wallet as a gift that we’re planning to take with us on our trip to Europe in May. I’m interested to hear opinions from other travelers about RFID blocking wallets – leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Most of my international travel has been to Europe and I’ve always found money handling to be relatively easy and worry free. I use my credit card significantly less in Europe than I do in the U.S. but I’ve found that using cash to pay for everyday expenses has allowed me to better budget my money.

I’ve always used a cross body purse that zips to keep my money safe during the day, and I’ve never run into any issues with carrying my money this way. I’m always super cautious of my surroundings and almost always have a hand on my bag in crowded areas. I normally use a purse I have on hand, but I know Pacsafe makes some great, anti-theft products that are ideal for travelers.

Leave a comment and share any additional tips you have for managing your money while abroad.