How to declare money at the airport?

Ugh, declaring money at the airport, right? What a pain! I always get this little knot in my stomach, like, am I doing this right?? You know? You have to get this form, a FinCEN 105 – sounds super official, doesn’t it? – and you can get it online or from a customs officer. Honestly, I think doing it online beforehand is way less stressful, because who wants to fumble with paperwork after a long flight? But sometimes, I totally space and forget until I’m practically at the customs desk. ????‍♀️ One time, I was coming back from a trip to Mexico – had a little extra cash left over from pesos I didn’t exchange – and almost forgot to declare it! It wasn’t even that much, maybe like $200, but still. You have to declare everything, even if it feels weird, like they’re peeking into your finances. But seriously, it’s so much better than the potential fines or other problems you could run into if you don’t. I remember hearing a story once about someone who tried to sneak in a ton of undeclared cash – something crazy like tens of thousands – and they got into so much trouble! It’s just not worth the risk. Just be honest, fill out the form, and you’re good to go. Easy peasy, once you get the hang of it. Hopefully! ????