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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:34 AM
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Mental Math Euros & Dollars

Can anyone share with me the simple mental math process of converting euros to dollars? Thanks so much!
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:37 AM
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There are online convertors. Try www.oanda.com
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:39 AM
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Well, it depends on the exchange rate the day you're doing a transaction, but for the last year or so I've generally figured everything in euros costs about one-third again as much as it does in dollars. So if something is 1 euro it costs me $1.33.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:40 AM
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One euro = One dollar Thirty four cents, as of May 23, 2007, so add roughly one-third to the dollar to get euro.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:41 AM
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I don't know whether this is what you mean. But when I was in Europe in March the Euro was worth about $1.31. So when I wanted to roughly figure the cost in dollars I just added a third to the cost in Euro.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:45 AM
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Thanks everyone. We leave tomorrow and I wanted a quick way to figure it out.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:48 AM
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If you're doing the mental math, fake it like you would for a tip.

Move the decimal point one place to the left, multiply by three (to get the extra 30 percent) and tack it on.

Ex. Euro 23.30
2.330 x 3 = (about)7.00
$30.00

It's rough, but if you're just trying to make sure that you don't go over budget or start getting declined credit cards, it'll be close enough.

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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 06:51 AM
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Or sometimes it's easier to figure out when you say that 3€ equals $4. So if something is 30€ it's $40, 60€=$80, 120€=$160 etc.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 07:58 AM
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What I do before I go is to access www.oanda.com and print out the FXCheatSheet (under Currency Tools). I print both Euro to USD and USD to Euro. I tape them to an index card and carry it with me. I can usually memorize the common amounts, like the equivalent of $20, $50, $100, but it is nice to have the card. I know the exchange rate can change from day to day, but this works for me.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 08:34 AM
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Just spent 3 weeks there and the ATMs 1.36-1.37 USD per Euro (a USD is $0.7325 Euro - nearly the interbank rate.
Everything is way expensive.
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 08:53 AM
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Easiest:

Multiply your dollars by 8 and drop a zero.

$30x8/10=24€

Close enough
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Old May 23rd, 2007 | 09:00 AM
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I don't think about it.

Just jesting, like a previous poster, I add a third. For example, if a Coke Lite is 1 euro, I think $1.30

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