How I Save Hundreds Every Year on My Trips to JB
If you’re a frequent traveler between Singapore and Johore Bahru (JB), Malaysia like me, you know how quickly those little “overseas transaction fees” on your credit card can add up. I used to shrug them off as a cost of convenience, but after switching to the YouTrip card, I discovered just how much that convenience was costing me.
My Travel Routine
Being the typical kiasu Singaporeans who seeks deals, I travel to Malaysia twice a month. On average, I spending about SGD300 each trip on food, shopping, and self-care experiences. That’s SGD600 a month or SGD7,200 a year. Not a small sum! Here’s where YouTrip makes a real difference.
The Hidden Cost of Credit Cards. Most Singapore credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of around 3% every time you spend in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). That means, for every SGD300 you spend, you’re losing SGD9 to fees — or SGD18 a month for two trips. Over a year, that’s SGD216 just in fees!
YouTrip: Zero Fees, Best Rates. With YouTrip, you pay zero foreign transaction fees. The card uses the competitive Mastercard wholesale exchange rate, so you’re already saving that 3% compared to regular credit cards.
And sometimes, YouTrip even runs cashback promotions (like 3% cashback on MYR spending), which means even more savings!
Retirement Guru Tip …. Top Up When Rates Are Low for Extra Savings
Here’s a trick I use. I top up my YouTrip card when the SGD is stronger against the MYR and YouTrip’s latest Rate Update feature helps. By dollar cost averaging, I get more MYR for my dollar. Over the past 6 months, the MYR/SGD exchange rate has fluctuated between 3.24 and 3.30 MYR per SGD, so if you had topped up at the best rate (3.24 vs. the average 3.30), you save about SGD11.11 a month. This works out to SGD133.33 a year on top of the usual YouTrip savings!
Why I Recommend YouTrip
While some will say it is troublesome to have an additional card, I think being frugal is important as a dollar saved is a dollar earned. For me, YouTrip is not only convenient, but offers the following benefits:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Great exchange rates
- Easy top-ups and multi-currency wallet
- Extra savings if you top up at the right time
- Occasional cashback promos
By using YouTrip, I’ve saved (and will save) over SGD300 a year or 4.9% of my annual spend in JB just by making this simple switch.
Ready to Start Saving?
If you want to travel smarter and keep more money for the other things you love, sign up for YouTrip card using my referral link. You’ll get a welcome bonus, and I’ll get a small reward too . Win-win!
👉 Sign up for YouTrip here! By using my referral link, you’ll receive an immediate $5 bonus when you top up just $10.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates fluctuate, and savings may vary. Always check the latest rates before topping up.
