Explore the Manual

Use this quick list to stay organized, protect your money, and keep in touch with card companies while out of the country.

Before you act, collect and safely store your card details so you’re ready to manage, cancel, or protect your accounts.

Understand what happens to your credit card, what debt means if you leave, and how to handle payments, fees, and fraud risks abroad.

Learn how prepaid cards work, if they’ll function in another country, and what to do to keep or spend your money safely.

See what to check with your bank if you keep or close your debit card, and how to avoid extra fees and fraud when you’re outside the U.S.

Before leaving the U.S., it’s important to organize and decide what to do about your bills and “short-term service contracts” — this chapter shows you how.

Use this checklist to stay organized, track deadlines, and share what’s needed with a trusted helper in the U.S.

Get familiar with common contracts you may have — from phone plans to streaming services — so you don’t overlook any bills.

Learn what information to gather, how to organize your contracts, and who you might trust to help manage them after you leave.

Find out how to read your contracts, understand termination fees, and take the right steps to cancel or transfer services safely.