I mentioned last time that Citibank told me it would only cost $1.25 to withdraw money from ATMs overseas using my credit card. I was dubious, so I sent them an email to confirm it. And I was right to be dubious! The actual fee is $2.75 or 2.75%, whichever is greater. It's got to the point where the people you talk to on the phone are so incompetent, you always have to get confirmation from another source.

But Citibank redeemed themselves today. They sent me an offer for Readicredit, which is basically a flexible personal loan with an introductory rate of 6.9%. It comes with a cheque book and ATM access. All transactions are free, even those overseas. Paying the 6.9% interest rate works out far cheaper than paying ANZ $5 for every withdrawal. And I get 5,000 frequent flyer points for signing up. Bonus!

Good holiday news

Our refund from Contiki came through. For those who don't remember, Contiki are total bastards. They've taken about six weeks to refund our money.

The other good news is that all our holiday accommodation is now booked.

Sailing

I'm going sailing on the Swan River tonight with some mates. I haven't been sailing for ages, so it should be enjoyable.

The Butterfly Effect

Went to the movies last night and saw The Butterfly Effect. I thought it was very impressive, and definitely worth seeing.