I got the idea for this article after travelling with different groups of friends and realising that there’s always a pattern in how we deal with money during a trip.

From arguing over who grabs the next round of coffees to deciding if we’re spending on a fancy rooftop or camping in a budget hostel, money choices quickly reveal personalities. Watch closely, and you’ll see it. Each friend has their signature travel money style, and it’s more predictable (and entertaining) than any itinerary.

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The meticulous planner

There’s always that one friend who shares an itinerary weeks in advance. Mine is Marina. After her fair share of rough patches, she now puts together very organised spreadsheets, sets flight alerts, and books museum tickets long before we pack.

She even knows the average bus ride cost before we’ve set foot in the country. I love how everything feels so organised, though I’ll admit that I usually end up breaking the plan a little.

The spontaneous spender

Then there’s me. Normally, I’m the pretty chill and quiet one, but when I travel, it’s like another version of me emerges. I want to check out that cool rooftop bar, book a random boat ride, or jump into any new experience that blows the “daily budget.”

Yes, I’ve been told I’m the reason our trips cost more than planned. But in my defence, some of our best travel memories were the ones we didn’t plan, and they were worth every cent.

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The budget guardian

In every group, there’s also someone reminding us not to overspend. I have a couple of friends who will gently suggest cooking in the Airbnb instead of eating out and will always find the free walking tour option.

Sometimes it feels like they’re raining on my “let’s live the moment” parade, but to be honest, they save me from running out of money by day three. And here is my thank-you note to you guys.

The splitter

And of course, there’s the one who becomes the group’s accountant. I love this role, since maths and counting cents are not my forte. João, whom I tenderly call my human calculator, tracks every coffee, meal, bus ticket, and museum pass in some app he downloaded for this or the good old spreadsheet.

By the end of the trip, no one’s fighting over who owes whom, because the numbers don’t lie.

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Keep your adventures going without money stress

So, which one is your travel alter ego?

As the spontaneous spender in my group, I’ve learned that we definitely need a balance between managing money and chasing experiences. But whatever your travel personality is, I’d say Grey is a great way to handle different currencies, track spending, and send money easily so we can focus on the adventures (and maybe a few unplanned treats) without worrying about the budget.

Try Grey now and see how easy it is to manage your money while you travel.

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