Guides
Reference material on how exchange rates actually work, written for when you want the explanation behind the number, not just the number itself.
Aug 18, 2026
Mid-market rate vs. what your bank or card actually charges
Currency converters show the mid-market rate, the real interbank number with no markup. Here's why what your bank or card actually charges is different, and why.
Aug 21, 2026
Why two currency converters can show slightly different rates
Different rate providers, different update intervals, mid-market vs. bid/ask quotes: why two "live rate" tools rarely show the exact same number, and why that's normal.
Sep 24, 2026
Pay in your home currency? Why you should almost always say no
Card terminals and ATMs abroad often offer to charge you in your own currency. That's dynamic currency conversion, and it usually costs more. Here's how it works and how to avoid it.
Sep 24, 2026
How currency pegs work, and why some exchange rates never move
Why the Hong Kong dollar, UAE dirham, and Saudi riyal barely move against the US dollar: what a currency peg is, how central banks hold one, and what happens when pegs break.
Sep 24, 2026
What actually moves exchange rates
Interest rates, inflation, commodities, risk appetite, and politics: the main forces behind currency movements, explained without the trading jargon.
Sep 24, 2026
The cheapest ways to get foreign currency when you travel
Cards, ATMs, exchange counters, and prepaid travel cards compared: which options get you closest to the real exchange rate abroad, and which ones to avoid.
Sep 24, 2026
How to work out the true cost of sending money abroad
The upfront fee is only half the cost of an international transfer. Here's how to spot the exchange rate markup and compare providers by what actually arrives.
Sep 24, 2026
What currency codes like USD and EUR mean (ISO 4217 explained)
How three-letter currency codes are built, why symbols like $ aren't enough, what the X codes are for, and why some currencies have no decimals.