You’re going to a foreign country- you need some of their cash.  Period.  Don’t expect that your favorite credit card will be accepted everywhere.  Plus, other countries have such beautiful money :) I was always told to exchange your money at a bank before you get to a foreign country.   This seems safe and all, right?  You have their currency before you land, and you don’t have to worry about it!  But, how much currency should you get? And how much money will you lose in the exchange?  Did you even know that you will/can lose money, and sometimes a significant amount as well!

The ways to exchange: 

• Airports will have ATMs, most of the time outside of the security, so you can get the currency before you leave the airport.  You can always ask to make sure before you leave the secure area.  This is what I do 99% of the time.  I didn’t in Sao Paulo, Brazil because the internet told me one of them had a card reader on it, so I got scared away.   If you are nervous, google the airport. 
• Don’t use random ATMs on the street- people can put card scanners on them.  Use ones inside of big banks.  If you are going to really unsafe places, research the major banks, so you know which ones to trust. 
• Know that not everywhere will accept your debit card.  Sometimes it took a few tries on an ATM to get it to accept.  Sometimes the ATM didn’t have an “English” option, so maybe know the ATM words in that country’s language.  Sometimes, one ATM wouldn’t work, but the one next to it in the same bank would work.  Be patient.   Don’t wait until you are out of currency to get more so you avoid using sketchy ATMs. 
• If you use ATMs, check your statements every once in a while to make sure your card didn’t get scanned.  I have never had trouble with this, but was careful about where I used the card.

When I pack for a month trip of back packing, I take pride in having as little as possible, but having anything I may need with me!  A Mary Poppins Bag!  I take with me only a backpack the size of a school bag.  I know this isn't possible for everyone, but let me show you how I do it!  This way, your bag doesn't get too heavy, you're limited on how much you can acquire on your trip- which saves you money!!!- and you never have to check your bag no matter what budget airline you take.

I just got back from backpacking South America for 5 weeks.  Here is what I brought for that particular trip.
Note: Be familiar with the weather and conditions of all the places you are going.  I was going to be in places that were as low as 30 degrees and as high as 80 degrees, which makes it tougher to choose clothing. I was going to places with mosquito threats, so I needed sprays and a net.  Research and be familiar with the needs of the areas!

My Packing List!

Clothes:

Items!

Passport!
A shoulder bag for buying gifts, and to carry around day trips
A book and a journal, pens, sharpie
Camera, lens, filter, gopro, phone lenses
Filtered water bottle, life straw
Locker lock, backpack lock
Money belt, card reader block
2 sunglasses (I don't know why!)
Eyemask, ear plugs
Chords: chargers for phone, cameras
Outlet converters
Deoderant, toothbrush
3 travel sunscreens, 4 travel bug sprays
Scissors, nail clippers, ducttape, Q-tips, safety pins
2 hand sanitizers, wet wipes
1 bag of travel toiletries- shampoo conditioner, soap, razor, toothpaste
Mosquito net
Manilla folder with print outs of ticket confirmations, copy of passport, itinerary, directions, and any collected papers on the way
Purse ( This was my sacrifice purse if I were to be mugged)
Personal safety alarm, flashlight
Medicine: any prescriptions like inhaler, melatonin, tums, pepto, antibiotic, Dramamine, allergy pills, diamox (altitude sickness), ibuprofen
Motion sickness wrist bands
Hair: ties, bobby pins, head band, comb
Makeup: mascara, eyeliner, chapstick, lipgloss, 1 pallet for eyes and blush
EmergenC packets, throat/cough drops, granola/protien bars
Extra ziplock bags and plastic bags for organization or if it rains
Thermometer, bandaids
Rain poncho
Deck of cards
US dollars, credit card with no transaction fee, debit card
Extras for you- I needed a wrist brace
I carted around the airplane blanket and pillow too for comfort on busses!

I always make sure to have snacks with me.  You never know when you are going to get stuck in a place with no food open, or really expensive food you don't want to buy! Protein bars work well or trail mix.  Something with a little sustenance but small.  I like quest bars :)

How to pack ALL that into a backpack!

• Pick thin shirts and roll them up.  Now put a sock around it!  This helps keep the roll nice and tight.  The bigger items, I put a hair tie or rubber band around them.  
• Line the rolled up clothes along the bottom of the bag.  You'd be surprised how little space it can take. 
• When on the move: I wear the tennis shoes, the jeans, a shirt, the money belt. I tie a cardigan or zip up around my waist.  I put the gloves and ear muff in the pocket of the winter jacket, and the pull over rolled up into the sleeve of the jacket- carry that on your arm.   
• I put the sandals along the side of the bag and fill them with things like deodorant, or sunglasses. 
• My backpack has lots of straps on the outside- I clip on to the outside- the water bottle, the scarf, the duct tape, safety pins, the airplane pillow, and the mosquito net
• Organize the small things into ziplock baggies.  One for chords, one for medicine, one for toiletries, etc.  That way it is easy to shuffle through the bag to find things
• Put medicines into baggies too- they don't need to be in the extra box or the pill container- those are always way bigger than the actual medicine.
• Place the folder along the back of the bag and pile in the ziplock bags of things- don't forget to make liquids accessible in case they ask you to take them out at an airport
• I keep the journal and book in the shoulder bag, as well as my camera.  And then as I collect souvenirs and gifts, I put them in that bag too.  This bag also helps when you are just going out around town for the day and you need a bag to carry just your camera and water or something.  That way you don't have to unload your entire backpack.