Behind closed doors and under floors Episode 409

Episode 409: Behind Closed Doors & Under Floors – Financial Woes and Boat Updates

Join Taz, Sam and Bella in this emotional episode where they share their experience with financial struggles and boat maintenance issues while living aboard Sailing Catalpa. Watch as they open up about having their credit card blocked, leaving them stranded without access to funds. Learn from the lessons they’ve learned about having backup plans for essential banking needs.

The Challenge:

When Taz put all of his family’s savings into the credit card expecting immediate use, he was blindsided by the card getting blocked just two days later. With no way to access their money, even to buy food, they found themselves stuck in Mexico waiting for a solution that didn’t arrive as quickly as hoped.

Bank Assistance: Frustration and Tears

Taz’s experience with the National Bank of Australia was far from helpful, leaving him extremely frustrated. The lack of support, mixed with ongoing technical issues trying to get their card reissued and working again, only added to the emotional stress.

Learning from Mistakes

Although this experience has been tough on the family, it’s a learning curve that Taz wishes he could go back in time to heed. He advises viewers not to put all your money into one card at any one time and suggests having a backup plan or two just in case such unexpected challenges arise.

Behind Closed Doors and Under Floors

The crew share their ongoing projects on the boat, including rewiring their freezer, VHF radio, installing new electronics, and doing work under the floor. Taz explains his process of creating a custom bracket for the helm’s Raymarine unit.

Financial Tips

In addition to sharing their own personal struggles, Taz also recommends the Australian 28 Degrees Visa Debit card for travel as it has no foreign transaction fees and will reimburse all your ATM fees. It’s an account that Sailing Catalpa has used in the past with great success.

Keeping a Positive Attitude

Despite their challenges, Taz reminds us to stay positive during difficult times, take one step at a time, and remember that sometimes we can’t control everything. The goal is to learn from these situations so you can make better decisions next time.

Related Links & Resources

• Australia’s 28 Degrees Visa Debit Card

Check out their offerings and consider getting one if you’re planning any extended travel or want to save on international transaction fees. They offer excellent travel insurance coverage, making it a reliable choice.