Day 28 - Money

Ok, this is a short one.  I have been asked, “What does the money look like?” So here are some pictures.

100 and 50

20 and 10

5, 2, 1, and .50

Since I have been here the exchange rate has varied from about 6.8 to 6.9 Bs. (Bolivianos) to 1 Dollar.  Today the exchange is 6.93 to $1.  So I have been rounding it to make it easier to understand; basically 7 to 1.  I have freaked out when I saw something in the market for 100 Bs.  But wait a minute, that is only around $13 dollars.  Then it doesn’t seem so bad.  I bought three steaks the other day for 21.80.  Divide by 7 and that is $3.  Not bad for steak.

My friend Sandra tells me to stop thinking in dollars and start thinking in Bolivianos.  I can't do that, since my paycheck is in dollars.

Not sure how the exchange will do over the next months.  When I was last in Bolivia inflation was out of control here.  A dollar got more and more valuable. It is probably why most places want to rent in dollars rather than Bolivianos.  It makes sense.  One hundred dollars might only be worth ninety dollars in six months.

I have started using the ATM next door.  You can almost see it out my window.  Lock the door, take the elevator to the ground floor, go out the front door, and walk 30 seconds to be at my ATM.  Most of the ATMs here will lock behind you.  This one also has the upper half covered in a nice glaze.  No one can see in and see what I type.  And it also has an option for English. 

The maximum I can get is 1000 Bs., a little over $120.  I was also warned that my bank will charge a fortune to use the ATM.  I have checked online and it is only $1.  I'm glad I started banking online with American National so long ago.  Almost everything can be taken care of online.

I will have to start going to the ATM over the month and get money out for my rent.  Then I'll have to turn it into dollars for my landlady by the end of the month.

So that is my little spiel about money.