The Fine Print Trap: What Your Bank Doesn’t Tell You When You Pay Abroad

Let me say it plainly: If you use your bank card abroad, your bank is charging you more than you think.

Not once.Every time.

It happened to me. I came back from a trip, opened my banking app, and saw charges I didn’t recognize. I thought I had overspent… but no. It was the fine print.

Small fees.Unclear currency conversions.Charges just for using your card abroad.And the worst one of all: paying “in euros” when you’re in another country.

All legal.All silent.

And all coming out of your pocket.

What exactly is “the fine print trap”?

These are charges that appear when:

– you shop on foreign websites– you pay by card while traveling– you withdraw cash from ATMs abroad

They usually show up in four ways:

• Currency exchange fees (normally 3–4%)

• Inflated exchange rates (they apply a worse rate and keep the difference)

• Fees just for using your card abroad

• The famous “Would you like to pay in euros?” (this can cost you up to 10% more)

This last one is the most common.

👉 Simple rule: always pay in the local currency.

How to turn these charges off (yes, you can)

You don’t need to be a finance expert.

This is all I do now:

– I called my bank and asked for the exact percentage of their fees.– I never accept paying in euros outside Spain.– I review my transactions when I get back.

With that, I stopped giving money away.

Quick summary

✅ Ask your bank what they really charge you

✅ Use a card with no international fees

✅ Always pay in local currency

✅ Check your statements

Because your pension isn’t just a number.It’s the result of a lifetime of work.

And protecting it from these quiet white-glove thieves — hidden fees, unfair exchange rates, unexplained charges — is also a way of taking care of yourself.

It’s not about distrusting the world.It’s about being informed.

Travel should be that: life.Not money disappearing without you noticing.

Next week

The card terminal trap: pay in your home currency or local currency?

That awkward moment at the payment terminal when it feels safer to choose your home currency… but you’re actually losing money.

We’ll explain why paying in the local currency is usually the better choice, how much this mistake can really cost you, and which button you should press to protect your savings.

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Traveling with peace of mind also means knowing how your phone works abroad.

→ What is roaming? (easy guide)

If you’re thinking about travelling solo after 60, here’s an honest reflection on fear, freedom, and taking that first step.

→ Travelling solo after 60: how to overcome the fear

How to pay by card outside your country without losing money: which option to choose and how to avoid unnecessary charges on every purchase.

→The card terminal trap

This article is part of the Travel section, where we talk about moving through the world with calm and intention.