Depends on where you are getting your currency--we get ours from a TravelEx in a nearby mall--they offer different packages for currency, with the more you buy the less the admin costs. I start by assuming we'll be paying the max suggested in tips so I determine that and what I'll need for cash where credit is not available--if it all works out with the least admin costs from the currency store, I'll just plan to have envelopes set aside for the two guides. I also bring US bills too (maybe $300 or so)--and roughly $50/day per person for days I'll be on my own in the foreign country in that currency. That worked out fine for Greece--had money for taxi rides (very cheap), for coffee, lunches at stands or local fast food type shops or museum cafes, tips--and purchased the hop on tickets in advance. If I ran low on the foreign currency I dipped into the guide tip money--and replaced it later with US dollars (I think the US and the local guide both are fine with either local or US currency).
This way I can cover all my basis--store most of the currency (US and foreign/tip envelopes) into the hotel safe, and carry one credit card and walk around money. We have a couple of credit cards we rarely use--so we save them for trips (having one as a backup). We have so many bills paid automatically using our credit union credit card that we don't bring that with us--if it were to get stolen then we have to change all of those accounts to the new card.
If you know folks who have traveled try asking them for euros--you can offer to buy at the current rate; they get rid of extra non-spendable coins/bills and you get a better rate for the currency!
Thus endeth my money tips for the day.