Travel money specialist Equals have revealed that UK households could each be sitting on as much as £177 in leftover currency from 2019 trips alone.
Equals is reminding Brits to check on any prepaid travel cards for leftover funds, that could help out those who may be feeling the financial strain during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Analysis of Equals customer database found that those using a prepaid card for spending abroad return from holiday with an average of £177 of leftover currency unspent.
If all British holidaymakers in 2019 returned with this amount of leftover currency, it would total an eye-watering £5.5 billion.
Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of Equals said: “When it comes to spending leftover travel money back on home soil, there are a couple of options to think about.
"The global pandemic of the coronavirus along with the government's response and the market's reaction has left the pound incredibly vulnerable. Combined with travel bans, country lockdowns and mass flight cancellations, holidaymakers are struggling to know which way to turn.”
Those with cash, whether leftover from a holiday or because travel plans were cancelled due to coronavirus, can change their currency back to sterling - but this will leave them at the mercy of buy-back rates, which have been hit by the falling pound over the last few weeks.
Savvy consumers should shop around before they change currency back to make sure they’re getting the best offer available.
“If they can, holidaymakers might want to keep hold of their currency until their next trip and use it then,” added Ian Strafford-Taylor.
For those using prepaid currency cards, they can spend their money online in the UK or in stores, keep it for their next trip, or change it to a different currency altogether.
