favorite app for converting US $$
Mar 30th, 2017, 12:52 PM
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
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In practice, when I travel I don't ever convert any on-the spot purchase. For me, worrying about a price difference of 7%, or 10%, or even 30% in USD for a meal, or a museum entrance, or a bus ride nearly any other similar purchase is sweating the small stuff. And I try not to sweat small stuff.
My brain would much rather focus on how good that gelato tasted, or the joy in my wife's eye when she sees gets something she has her eye on, and not spend mental energy trying to figure out if the gelato was $1.07, or $1.20, or $2, or the larger purchase was $100, or $107, or $120.
In short, If I want to buy something, I buy it.
My brain would much rather focus on how good that gelato tasted, or the joy in my wife's eye when she sees gets something she has her eye on, and not spend mental energy trying to figure out if the gelato was $1.07, or $1.20, or $2, or the larger purchase was $100, or $107, or $120.
In short, If I want to buy something, I buy it.
Mar 30th, 2017, 01:15 PM
#22
It's not necessarily about "sweating the small stuff." I actually find it interesting to compare prices in different countries. We just got back from Australia and the difference for some regular everyday items was astounding to me. And nothing would stop me from buying and eating wonderful gelato!
Mar 30th, 2017, 02:31 PM
#23
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I find it interesting, too. And for us it's not "sweating the small stuff" when we're talking about which day to schedule the repaving of the driveway or re-do the roof tiles or even which 3 weeks to spend traveling to England. I realize our concerns are different from most travelers to Europe, but I still like to know how much I'm spending on things and plan accordingly, or make plans that best suit my budget.
There are sometimes enormous price differences between the USA and other countries. Here, a great plumber costs 20€ an hour, whereas in the USA I'd have been lucky to get one for less than $90 an hour. On the other hand, try to find a cheap lipstick here for under 25€ or a nice piece of fish for less than 25€ a kg. I'm not in the "if I want something I buy it" camp. I'm in the camp that follows exchange rates and compares prices before I just "buy it."
And no, I don't go around with my head buried in my cell phone checking these things. Half the time I don't even know where my cell phone is. I do check exchange rates almost daily, though. They can make a big difference to me, even though I'm not "fussy" about spending money as a general rule.
There are sometimes enormous price differences between the USA and other countries. Here, a great plumber costs 20€ an hour, whereas in the USA I'd have been lucky to get one for less than $90 an hour. On the other hand, try to find a cheap lipstick here for under 25€ or a nice piece of fish for less than 25€ a kg. I'm not in the "if I want something I buy it" camp. I'm in the camp that follows exchange rates and compares prices before I just "buy it."
And no, I don't go around with my head buried in my cell phone checking these things. Half the time I don't even know where my cell phone is. I do check exchange rates almost daily, though. They can make a big difference to me, even though I'm not "fussy" about spending money as a general rule.
