Do you convert(cost)into local currency when buying a thing from oversea?
By cloud31
@cloud31 (5809)
February 20, 2010 2:07am CST
When we travel we can't resist ourselves to buy something from the place we are visiting,or call it a souvenir from that place we have been.The case is "Do you convert the cost of it into your local currency?Do you calculate how much would it be if you purchase it in your local currency?And finally you realized its not worth to spend for it because you find that you can get it in your country in lower cost with the same quality.
Majority of the traveler don't convert as they think its not about the price its all about remembering the place where they traveled.
But in my part,i used to calculate and convert the cost in my local currency and i will end up into frustrations and after realizing that i can get the thing in my country in better price and i can do a bit bargain as well.Lol.
Do you guys have this habit?Do you bring your calculator when you travel and starts converting before purchasing.Lol.
Happy Lotting everyone!
1 person likes this
13 responses
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
20 Feb 10
Hi cloud, I always do.I know it is not practical to do so, but I still do it.I guess it is natural for anyone to do so.My friends and relatives too discuss about how things are so expensive when you convert it into rupees etc; Just to tell you an incident that happened to one of my cousins who went London and Europe.She bought a nice looking striped cotton shirt for 8 pounds at a budget shop in London which roughly converted is about Rs 575/-. Imagine her surprise when a friend of hers had the same shirt bought from Bangalore for Rs 120/-, and when she turned the shirt inside out there was a small label which said it was made in India lol...I buy only what is unique to that place and something that is not available in my country ...All the best
@cloud31 (5809)
•
20 Feb 10
hello kiran,
Yah that is what exactly i'm saying its about price and quality,aometimes we are taking time to consider the cost of what we want to buy but finally we don't realized it was made locally from our own country,in other words we have just pay for the whole thing and its export tax.Lol.So when buying a thing from oversea be sure to see the label where it manufactured because maybe you can get that thing to your own country in half price and its tax free ..Lol.
Nice to have you here again Kiran..Happy Lotting and God bless!
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
20 Feb 10
I usually convert to my own currency when I travel, but not with a calculator. Doing some math in your head is good for you :-) So I normally will find and exchange rate and round it up to something that's easy to multiply or divide with, then do that for most things I buy. If I stay somewhere for long or go somewhere they use a currency I'm familiar with (pounds or euros, Swedish krones) I stop doing it after a day or two.
@cloud31 (5809)
•
20 Feb 10
Its not that i actually referring to an electronic calculator i have just used that an example to calculate over exchange rate,I am very much familiar with exchange rate as well, and with all the world notes and value..I just used calculator just to make the discussion bit in humor style.Anyway its good that you are familiar with all the currencies and hope you will be able to give me a hints in stock market value too..Thanks for responding...Happy Lotting and God bless!
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
20 Feb 10
If the exchange rate is something like A$2.00 to £1.00 that is easy to work out. If it is something more challenging then I bring my calculator with me. I have traveled in so many different countries and remember visiting lots of countries in Europe when they all had different currencies.
I have been to cheap countries like Guatemala and there I found everything a delightful price. When I went to Norway I was frightened of the cost. Most things seemed very expensive there. I visited the Maldives and found the prices there challenging to understand. A boat trip to a resort island was about $100. Accommodation on the islands was really pricey. It was much cheaper in the capital city where the local people were. In countries like that they charge tourists a lot.
@cloud31 (5809)
•
20 Feb 10
Hi maxi
Absolutely some countries overcharging visitors sometimes especially when they know that visitors are not very aware of exchange rate they take advantage how useful the product they were selling.In some cases once you know how is the exchange rate and the value of the currency to the country you are visiting you may know exactly how would it cost you and you will consider spending or not.
Thank you for responding and Happy Lotting!
@mymelodake (1338)
• Philippines
26 Feb 10
When I travel, I find myself actually forgetting to convert it into local currency. But I think if I keep obsessing about how much things will cost when converted to our local currency, then I might end up not fully enjoying my trip. I think the best thing is to buy things that are unique to a place, that you won't easily find back home. That way, you don't second guess yourself, and you don't have to worry about finding something similar back home at a cheaper price.
@warvial (1146)
• Singapore
20 Feb 10
Yes, at least me and my family does. My sister and I will firstly do some mental calculation with a limit in mind so that we will not overspend on the souvenirs and stuffs like that. And when we are interested in something, we will try to work out the sums to get what is the amount converted into our own currency. But when travelling, we sometimes can't help wanting to buy those cute little items that we spotted on the streets which usually aren't that costly so that's one of the rare occasions that we just spent without much calculating.
@dilipmiester (932)
• India
21 Feb 10
ya i will convert the cost into my local currency when i buy something from the overseas . it will not be a problem if i live earn there and buy a thing . if i am going in a travel to that country and if i have to buy in that time i have change my currency into that one and then have to buy so i will compute that how much it ill cost in my currency . but i dont take a calculator and all . i can compute it in my mind itself 
@bobi0828 (31)
• Hungary
20 Feb 10
Yes, if i am abroad i often calculate the prices. but if i find something nice, or cute i do not put it back just because of its price. If i am on holiday, that is not the time for spare money. Of course if something is too hich in price, i would not buy it. Calculating the price is just because i am curious.
@allknowing (130067)
• India
20 Feb 10
When it comes to souvenirs I normally go for something that I do not get in my own country although I do calculate its value in Indian Rupees. I remember however an incident where I refused to buy a cup of tea in Germany at the airport where it cost 3 US dollars which when calculated came to around Rs, 150/-!! I never realised some Indian lady was watching me. After a while she walks over and offers me a cup of tea! I was embarrassed no doubt but took the offer as she was very polite and said that she had some extra cash!!
@Kumar1232009 (1215)
• Spain
20 Feb 10
of course i do! but some items i found it much cheaper here like the jewelries. it is more likely that the price for two piece here when compared to my local price is one and a half. anyway, some souvenir items here are found locally. the only thing that i used to buy and bring home during my vacations are the local fruits here like the dried fruit dates.
@MimiRemo (418)
• Philippines
20 Feb 10
Yes, I tend to do this on all the money I spend when I am abroad. It makes me think how much it's worth in my local currency, if it's actually expensive or just reasonably priced. I have a budget to stick to, and I also examine the quality because it could be hard to return or exchange a product in a foreign country when you are just visiting.
@cloud31 (5809)
•
20 Feb 10
hello Mimi
Thank you for responding its kind of budgeting and be wise when buying something abroad,your right we have to examined the thing we are trying to buy as its not as easy to bring it back when there's something wrong with it and for very reasonable price buying things from oversea is not bad.
Happy Lotting.
Thank you, so kind of you to offer, LOL. TATA. @fireice247 (140)
• Slovak Republic
20 Feb 10
I am converting all the time in the shops, trying to find out how much is the thing cost in my country. Just recently I was in a shop buying a bottle of whiskey and i was converting the price into my own currency, so i was talking to myself. The shop helper came over to me and asked if everything was alright the person was concerned because I was talking to myself. He thought I was drunk already and was buying another bottle. But somethings I will buy from the country that I am visiting as a something by which I can remember the country by, no matter how much it costs me in my own country.
@cloud31 (5809)
•
20 Feb 10
Hello fireice,
Next time don't speak to yourself make somebody think your drunk.Lol and its also nice that we had something like souvenir from the country we've been who knows you will just have one time to be in that place and you bought something back home.
Happy Lotting!
@painkillerus (46)
• China
20 Feb 10
Hi,cloud31! This is a good discussion for sure. When I travel aboard, I do not convert cost into local currency as long as the product I buy can make me happy. You know what, some of the products like NIKE or ADIDAS shoes here in China cost a lot because of the high import tax. That's to say, some products outside our county can be less expensive compare with a product of same quality. And when I find a souvenir contained a very strong local culture, as long as I like and no matter how much the price is, then I take it. Maybe after all that's will be the last time I visit that place. ( *^_^* )
@cloud31 (5809)
•
20 Feb 10
hello painkillerus
That is what i have mentioned previously that traveler won't mind how much it cost them unless it can bring happiness to them of what they buy,In your country i think its more likely to advise that better purchase some of the useful thing for you from oversea than purchasing it in your country.I have made a closer look of some products in your country as it is very closed from where i am now, and i am not quiet satisfied of what the cost and the quality itself.In your example, sports shoes is really quiet costly because its an export from other country and some of it was locally manufactured in your country but local consumers seems aware of what is mean by "QUALITY"
Thank you for responding and Happy Lotting!
