Understanding The Money Echange Rate Can Save You Money

By: Brian D. Jardine
Understanding the money exchange rates of the world makes purchasing overseas products, enjoying vacations and making business trips much easier. With all of the different currencies that countries have, whether it is from the Kenyan Shilling (KES) to the Euro (EUR) in France, all currency fall under a system of exchange. Since the world is filled with varying levels of economical statuses, there are some places that possess a higher value of currency than others.

Money exchange rates simply state how much one country's currency is worth in the units pertaining to another country. For instance, when traveling from the United States to Mexico you will want to know how much the dollar compares to the Mexico Pesos (MXN). While some countries will gladly accept the American dollar as payment, often, it is more advantageous for a traveler to exchange their dollars for the currency associated with their vacation destination.

The Affect of Currency Exchange Rates on Foreign Interaction

The currency exchange rates regarding foreign travel and buying products creates a system filled with ups and downs with room for comparison, especially when traveling to a foreign land. Money exchange booths and banks are scattered all over tourist destinations. You should understand that exchange rates can be rather mind-boggling and if you don't keep on top of this ever-changing system, you might get fooled into paying more for something than you should have.

This is because not all currency exchange locations offer the same rates. For example, large banks often present better rates than independent vendors and small-scale currency exchange booths. Doing a bit of home work upon arrival will help you to find the best rates in town.

If you enjoy buying goods from the Internet, knowing exchange rates come in handy. This allows you to decide whether or not you will receive a better deal once converting your currency. All of these details regarding a foreign purchase should be ironed out before completion since exchange rates are always changing. Often, currency exchange and foreign transactions are made easy with websites like Ebay, which posts both currency expectations for foreign purchases. For example, if a product costs AU $15.82, Ebay will make note that the final price in American dollars will be approximately US $12.07.

When exchanging currency in a foreign country, it is recommended not to go overboard unless you plan to spend a lot of money during your vacation. The more unused converted money you have, the more you stand to lose in the long run. This is because unused money will have to be converted into the currency of your country upon departure, which means you will most likely receive lower rates. For example, at the time this article was written, $100 United State Dollars equals $112.55 in Canadian Dollars, but $100 Canadian Dollars only equals to $85.65 United States Dollars.

Where Can You Locate Exchange Rates

When traveling, currency exchange rates and options are offered in grocery stores, airports, post offices and gift shops. As a tourist, you can avoid being taken advantage of as a clueless foreigner by calculating exchange rates on your own. This is when a currency calculator or converter will come in quite handy. On the market, there are many different models to choose from, including talking translators that double as a currency converter, pocket versions and currency converters thin as a credit card.

If you need to know the exchange rate for online shopping, there are several websites to look into. A few popular selections include: Yahoo Finance; Pacific Exchange Rate Service; ExchangeRate.com; and Knowingmoneymatters.com. These sites offer money exchange rates information, as well as convenient currency converters.