What is the best way to give a friend money from my account in Europe?

Pre-paid debit cards exist, in fact you can purchase them at the ticket window at any train station in Holland; including the train station at Schipol Airport. Travelex also sells them at Schipol. I'm not sure if they are replaceable if lost/stolen. IMO, having $800 cash stored in a money belt stored is reasonably safe, and probably typically of a lot of other travelers.

Cash in money belt is best.

That isn't a whole lot of cash once it is converted to euro. I would just give your friend cash, and then you don't have to deal with it during the trip.

Michelle, why do women do this stuff? Do you ever watch Judge Judy? Do you really expect to be paid back? He's a bum and you aren't his momma.

I have to agree with Bob, sorry. Why is this guy going to Europe if he just filed bankruptcy?

Thanks, Kathleen. I thought that I was going to get hammered, but this was from the head AND the heart.

"No checking account or credit card of his own (recent bankruptcy)" ...

I'm sure he's your friend, but a POOR risk for a loan. There's a reason he doesn't have a checking account or credit card. And setting up an account in YOUR name opens you up to all kinds of financial liability.

If you really value your friendship with him, DON'T loan him any money. That way, no headaches and possible LOSS of friendship in the future.

And it's a valid question: If he just went through bankruptcy, WHY is he spending money for a trip to Amsterdam? He should be working on getting his financial situation in order.

Listen to your intuition. Please don't put yourself in a position to have financial heartaches.

I had a feeling I would get these types of responses...not looking for a lecture, just the practical stuff. Really, it is ok, I'm not in any desperate need for the money and don't care if he can't pay me back for a while or if he never can...it's my best friend who has been down on his luck a lot lately in many areas and pretty depressed, It will be good for him to have something to be excited for

You're a good friend Michelle! I hope you two have a great trip. It's you're money, you have the right to spend/dole it out as you as you wish, without lectures from others.

michelle, not a problem, but do not loan him the money, GIVE it to him, this will avoid all bad feelings,, and if by miracle you ever get paid back thats a bonus. Really,, never lend money to a guy,, but if you must,, ( why oh why) PLEASE have him sign a note that says "this money is a loan, and I will pay it back as soon as I get a job" and date it.

One question, what if he needs more while there,,, I mean, 600 euros does not go very far,, and sometimes things come up.. are you his only money source?? What will happen then?

Ps/ I don't think you should think of the advice as lectures either but rather really as advice from those have been there.

In 1978 I was in high school, I lent my bf 400 dollars to do his brakes( and that was alot of money back then!!) and guess what,, never got it paid back, first he said he would, then it took months, then he denied it was 400 and said it was 300, then about 1.5 years later we broke up and he said( and I will NEVER forget this) ... " you don't have it in writing , you have no proof, I already paid you back anyways"( yeah, about 50 bucks!)

So , not a "lecture" but a warning, but , if as you say you don't mind not getting it back ,, then go for it.

I also vote for giving him cash to keep in his money belt, but you might think about $400 the first day so he'll have enough money for a good portion of the trip. You mentioned that he might not pay attention to the amt he's spending, so giving him the entire amt up front might encourage that. Please also explain the money belt concept if he's not familiar with it - keeping only a day's spending in his pocket with the rest in the money belt which is not accessed in public.

Does $800 not sound like enough? It will be 5 full days, and on the 6th our flight leaves around 11am. So i figured around $150/day. The hotel is already paid for, so it would be just entertainment, food, local transportation etc. That's how much I budgeted for myself as well, am I way off?

If hotel is paid for,, I could certainly manage on 150 a day. Thats about 100 eruos a day( a little less I think) , but that can be eaten up pretty quickly if one eats in restaurants and takes taxis,, but eating in casual places and taking buses/trams etc will make money go alot farther.

In Paris (expensive city) between both my husband and I - we had spend 150E a day. Once we got out of Paris to the less urban areas - that dropped. So I would say 150E is more than generous.

Sorry, wasn't meaning to lecture you. I hope you just give him the money, like someone else said. You avoid hard feelings that way and possible loss of the friendship later on.

It seems you have good money judgment and perhaps your friend has less. I once had a friend who was given $250 all at one at the start of a trip. The money was to last 5 days for meals. (This was a while ago.) On the FIRST stop, he bought a $250 briefcase. When he was asked how he thought we was going to eat for 5 days, that hadn't occurred to him. Since you are his source of money, you might want to consider how much you are willing to spend if the $800 goes away before the days do. I too would just give him the money if you want to keep the friendship. Just something to consider. I hope you both have a wonderful time.

Michelle,
Even with BK he can still open a savings account with a credit union. There are banks which will allow him access to an account.

If you're willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, why not open another account and deposit money there? Then give him the debit card for the trip, and when the trip is over, close the account?

There are prepaid debit cards but the fees are crazy.