I was thinking how much easier it is to travel nowadays. When we first started exploring the world, money was a bit of a problem. We used to have to purchase travellers' cheques before the journey and hold on to them for dear life. If something unexpectedly came up, there was no easy way to get more money than what one was carrying. I never figured one could count on a convenient embassy for assistance. Granted, travellers' cheques were a little safer than cash. We once had all our TC's stolen from a hotel room in Nairobi, Kenya but Thomas Cook replaced them the next day.
By comparison, money is no longer much of a travel concern because of online banking, credit and debit cards, and a globe filled with ATMs.
I wanted to lock in a current, sale price on this Canadian-designed e-scooter. However, I want the shipment to British Colombia to occur after we're back in April 2022. The Montreal company was happy to take a downpayment to ensure my pricing. Last night's order went through like a breeze and I paid the card right away from a bank account.
I never use credit cards for credit, but rather as an easier way to make payments (with rewards). In fact, I always pay 'ahead' on my credit cards for most normal, monthly expenditures. I like always seeing a positive balance on my statements. Needless to say, I have never, ever paid an interest charge in my lifetime, except on a few low-interest, student loans back in the day.