Posts on /home/bashuk

Template post

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Template#

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

🫙 Weekly donation jars

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Regular batches of fresh donation jars from people around me, for anyone who prefers to go through a list once a week and distribute donations.

🗓️ December 27, 2025#

🗓️ December 20, 2025#

🗓️ December 13, 2025#

https://send.monobank.ua/jar/2VNjCmeXY3

🗓️ December 6, 2025#

🗓️ November 29, 2025#

🗓️ November 22, 2025#

https://send.monobank.ua/jar/5ndzHWVnFg

💸 Analysis: GBP → UAH transfers

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Goal#

Transfer GBP to UAH on a Monobank card with minimal losses, and preferably quickly.

Exchange rate#

As of Sunday, October 12, 2025, 12:00:

	Google	Wise
GBP → EUR	1.1494	1.1490
GBP → UAH	55.2353	55.1079
EUR → UAH	48.19	47.9408

Comparison table#

Method	Rate	Fee	Composite exchange rate	Speed	Notes
Apple Pay	55.1572	1.768%	54.182 🔴	Instant	Fixed fee
Revolut (EUR SEPA)	55.05147	1%	54.500 🟡	45 min	Weekend fee
Revolut (EUR SEPA)	55.05147	0%	55.052 🟢	45 min	No fee on weekdays
Wise (IBAN)*	55.1079	1.52%	54.270 🔴	25 min	Fee for £100
Wise (IBAN)*	55.1079	0.796%	54.669 🟡	25 min	Fee for £500

* – Wise allows a maximum of ₴30k = £543 per transfer.

🏦 Analysis: Interactive Brokers

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Referral program#

Please ping me if you’re interested in IBKR after reading this note, and I’ll share a referral link.

Main use case#

Deposit USD from the US;
Convert USD to GBP;
Buy UCITS ETFs using GBP, potentially (but not necessarily) within an ISA;
Eventually sell the ETFs and withdraw GBP.

⚠️ IBKR is not happy when you only use their services to convert the currencies without further investing on their platform – they’ll be sending you a warning if you do so. If you’re not planning to use IBKR for investing, you should not use them for currency conversion either.

💸 Donating in crypto from the UK

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

🇺🇦 Читати інструкцію українською: bashuk.net/uk/posts/crypto/
🤝 Credits for translation: Ivan Mylianyk, Kateryna Tverdokhlib
🔍 Spotted a mistake? Let me know: hello@bashuk.net

ℹ️ Why crypto?#

The Guide below describes purchase and transfer of stable cryptocurrency Tether (1 USDT = $1) in GBP via Kraken platform (FCA regulated).

✅ Relevant: Chmut is grateful for donations in crypto and uses it to by “specific products”. Prytula asks for crypto, prays for it, uses it to buy thermal imagers and “hell cars”. Chobanian explains how crypto can save lives.

🕶️ About Ray-Ban Stories glasses

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

They fit my lifestyle really well, though I admit this kind of device is not for everyone.

👍 Pros#

Why I like them, in no particular order:

They look stylish, so I can wear them even when I am not filming anything.
Built-in speakers let me listen to music without losing touch with the real world. That is useful while running or cycling, when I still need to hear what is happening around me.

💳 Analysis: American Express

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Referral program#

Please ping me if you’re interested in Amex after reading this note, and I’ll share a referral link. You’ll get £25, I’ll get £30, everyone’s happy. 🎉

My personal use case#

Buy stuff online and in stores using Amex credit card;
Get cashback.

Which Amex card should I get?#

Amex offers several different types of cards with different benefits. Some of them reward you with miles and discounts in selected stores, but I was primarily interested in cashback.

🏦 [SOLVED] Estimated £422,800 of donations to Ukraine are stuck in J.P. Morgan Chase

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

✅ UPDATE 2022/09/07: Money reached the NBU!#

Accidents happen. Luckily, the world is full of great people to help with the recovery.

Turns out, some folks in J.P. Morgan Chase noticed the payments early on, and took an action fairly quickly to forward the funds to the National Bank of Ukraine.

Quote from a J.P. Morgan Chase employee:

The issue was resolved and the funds were credited to the correct account of Bank of Ukraine.