tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post9094789460654842290..comments2024-03-29T13:11:25.325+01:00Comments on Living the life in Saint-Aignan: Watching the ratesKen Broadhursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-39862165742467561192011-01-09T07:40:38.452+01:002011-01-09T07:40:38.452+01:00Mary, thanks for that recommendation. I'll hav...Mary, thanks for that recommendation. I'll have a look. And thanks for the optimistic view of the currency situation. I would love it if the euro/dollar rate would settle at about 1 euro to 1.25 dollars. And stay stable. The fluctuations are more trouble than the actual rate — within reason, of course.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-89514426367091790852011-01-09T01:55:35.814+01:002011-01-09T01:55:35.814+01:00It's back down a bit again.It's back down a bit again.Starmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12386841450183061541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-13971690914583694972011-01-09T00:25:19.935+01:002011-01-09T00:25:19.935+01:00The financial gurus that I've been following a...The financial gurus that I've been following are forecasting that the Euro will continue to decline vs. the dollar this year. I believe the reasoning is the difficult credit situation throughout Europe isn't getting better and will really start to show this summer. One that I follow and recommend is Jim Jubak. He has his own blog, now, but I first started reading him when he was only on MSN Money. Have a read. He speak in easy-to-understand words but yet is very well educated as an economist. I've had succes over the past 11 years following his advice.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04911284607089608538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-5698017397491521452011-01-07T23:46:42.903+01:002011-01-07T23:46:42.903+01:00For now, I like that the euro is stronger. But we ...For now, I like that the euro is stronger. But we have one retirement account in the US and when time comes, a strong dollar would be welcome!deedeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10278468497564430383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-42493587029964387762011-01-07T18:55:48.359+01:002011-01-07T18:55:48.359+01:00Diogenes, I get a better exchange rate working thr...Diogenes, I get a better exchange rate working through a currency exchange company in London. They don't charge any fees, and their rate can't be beat. The minimum transaction, though, is $5000. There are always fees with ATM cards, I believe. My credit union charges 1% on ATM withdrawals in France. And then their rate is always less advantageous than the rate through the company in London. Not to mention the daily limits.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-65652553650931244552011-01-07T17:02:52.174+01:002011-01-07T17:02:52.174+01:00Well, I was going to say that I've generally g...Well, I was going to say that I've generally gotten the best exchange rates by just taking money out of an ATM. But of course, you can't take out enough volume to pay bills etc, unless you go every day. And now I see you've already covered this topic with Andrew.Diogenesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-46027581546891249592011-01-07T15:52:55.898+01:002011-01-07T15:52:55.898+01:00Ken
For the past two or three yrs, the CAN$ has b...Ken<br /><br />For the past two or three yrs, the CAN$ has been above parity for a short period. <br />Presently that's the case: 1 CAN $ = 1.0031 US $ and I am hoping that it will last longer this time ( or at least until this summer after my vacations in Maine when I take advantage of summer deals from the Outlet stores). <br />Some employees who work for the International organizations in Montreal are complaining - they are paid in US $ and at one point when the CAN $ was worth 0.65US , they were on the winning side :-)The Beavernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-88081255387194588642011-01-07T15:09:27.403+01:002011-01-07T15:09:27.403+01:00So true, Nadège! Money is always a hassle. I guess...So true, Nadège! Money is always a hassle. I guess you're right too about the brain. The old brain. Older and older. Retired. Still churning, though.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-43049643199296981322011-01-07T14:33:04.759+01:002011-01-07T14:33:04.759+01:00Wouldn't it be great if money was NEVER a prob...Wouldn't it be great if money was NEVER a problem? <br />Look at it this way Ken : maybe checking the fluctuation of the mighty $ keeps your brain young.<br />I read yesterday that the Canadian $ is a tad above the US $.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-82545279135250233292011-01-07T14:23:59.118+01:002011-01-07T14:23:59.118+01:00Hi Susan, our currency exchanges are all online no...Hi Susan, our currency exchanges are all online now too. But you still have to watch the exchange rates. Or not worry about it, I guess. It's not the moving around of money that's a problem — it's the fluctuations in the value of different currencies.<br /><br />Leon, so does that mean the Aussie $ is higher than it used to be? We in the U.S. used to have an advantage with Canada similar to your advantage with NZ. And our U.S. $ used to be much higher against the euro than it is now. Now it's all different. Currencies flood and ebb like tides.<br /><br />Andrew, would that it were so simple. We have automatic payments of electricity, internet, satellite TV, and tax bills. So we have to have significant amounts of cash in our bank account. And we need French debit/credit cards and checkbooks. Being a tourist and being a resident are two entirely different things.Ken Broadhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04430899802705818716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-26230969614786032642011-01-07T11:04:15.073+01:002011-01-07T11:04:15.073+01:00Flippant, yes, but can't you just go to the Sa...Flippant, yes, but can't you just go to the Saint-Aignan auto teller machine?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-5606854198437525982011-01-07T10:17:27.841+01:002011-01-07T10:17:27.841+01:00Currently in OZ we are enjoying parity with the US...Currently in OZ we are enjoying parity with the US which is OK if booking a Paris apartment owned by a US owner. The AUS$ is doing OK with the Euro as well but for a really great value holiday, New Zealand is the place for us with our $ being $1.30 to the NZ$.<br />It all depends on where you wopuld rather be at the time.Leon Simshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609891995057827081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18071407.post-31931425219439685882011-01-07T10:02:34.076+01:002011-01-07T10:02:34.076+01:00We can do all our transfers entirely online now. I...We can do all our transfers entirely online now. It's quick and easy - hardly any more trouble than shuffling money around in the same currency.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06472449597146519943noreply@blogger.com