Monday, October 1, 2012

Funny money


I have to confess I do not understand currency conversion business. I’ve never understood how to profitably exchange currency nor do I intend to do anytime in future.  Well who needs to know all that if you have a personal financial analyst at home for all that purpose. 

Last week, I was assigned the very important task of transferring money back to India for some urgent work. I received a detailed instruction along with the price at which I was supposed to convert and transfer the money.

Until this point everything looked under straightforward, or maybe I was wishing it to be. Just as I got out, I get a call from the husband, “have you transferred money?” he asked. I was not sure if my no was going to get me into trouble, however hesitantly I said “I am just on my way”. “Hold on let me call you back, think the prices have gone up”.

Upon reaching my destination I get another call, this time hubby says forget all the instructions I gave you earlier. Really? Forget all that and head back home I wondered. Ha Ha !! It wasn’t going to be that easy for me. His next instructions were to get rates anything better than 69.50. Very naively I asked “69.55 or 69.60?”. Technically 55 is bigger than 50 isn’t it? “Sangi no 69.45 is better”, “really?” I asked, surely somebody got his numbers wrong.


“45, are you sure?” I re-checked, “yes” was his prompt reply, thinking to myself that I shouldn’t doubt his knowledge and I got into the exchange. I ask the first person what is the best rate I could get and the smiling lady tells 69.50. I asked if I could get better rate than 69.50 and then I was directed to another gentleman. So he first tells me 69.80 and that confused me once again “is that the best you can give?” I asked. So he then decided to put in plain words for me, which definitely didn’t help.

Panicking I quickly call my husband, while I was dialing I explained to him how didn’t understand any of this. Jokingly I told him, if you don’t give me a good rate, my husband would pack me off to India without the money. The two had some conversation and then decided on 69.45. That made some sense for me now. Happily I then gave him the bank details and got the receipt from to handover the cash to the cashier.

And while I was counting the money, he interrupts to ask, “now I am sure he will not send you to India, right?”. To which I replied, “No he won’t be sending me, while he said is going to strave me for 3 days for not getting 69.40”, and everyone on the floor started laughing. With the jokes exchanged on numeric capabilities I headed for the cashier’s desk and handed over the money I said “here you go doctor”. Everyone laughed again.

Feeling embarrassed on my silliness I got out, thanking the god lord for almost teaching me something new.  


Image credit: Corbis.com

28 comments:

  1. Lolz.. and same pinch.. Money and technology in the same incomprehensible bracket for me.

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    1. :) ah ha I have company .. Tulika I cannot tell you how happy I am to read your comment .. trust you have been doing well ..

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  2. Funny, but forex rates can be a real work sometimes. I have the hardest time getting the best deal when buying forex for travel. Cheers!

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    1. Thank god it's not only a woman thing !! Such a wonderful reassurance :)

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  3. The exchange rate fluctuations when handling bigger amounts can make a big dent on the pocket! Hope , that you did not forego food for three days:)

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    1. As it turns out I saved 400 AED for being late :) thank god he didn't starve me for 3 days .. actually should have taken me out for some fancy dinner..

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  4. try converting at Chennai airport, you'll loose 10% of the value just like that in taxes and service charges

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    1. I have heard of that ... by the way you should never convert at the airport they are the ones with the lousiest rates.

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  5. You know what? I'm pretty slow when it comes to currency conversions and I'm supposed to be a future accountant :|

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    1. oh no that's not a very good sign .. but I am sure you will eventually learn the art :)

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  6. SOooooooo cute mam .. hahahahha
    Funny !!
    Title makes this post more interesting :)
    Way2express~~

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    1. Thanks Anu .. am glad you've enjoyed reading this ... stay tuned for more Sangryism :)

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  7. "Almost teaching me something new..."

    LOL... Are you still in Dubai or have you been packed off to India?

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    1. Vishal you caught me :) I am still Dubai till I transact the next time :D

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  8. lovely post....i happen to get caught in the different currency so much that i don't realize what price i am paying for what and the worst case...i once gave a singapore coin to a japanese lady...loved your write up..

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    1. Same pinch !! The only fact I know is everytime you convert currency you end up losing some money :D

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  9. Woah! This is a tedious job and my hubby won't ever let me do it. Sigh...at least you managed it so well!

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    1. :) Nikita thank you so much for stopping by !!

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  10. Well-written! I know this feeling ;p

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  11. I have missed a loit of posts from here ...

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    1. Yes Bikram and I have missed your encouraging comments too !! Trust you have been good ..

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  12. lol. another lol.. you seriously have good sense of humor.. it reflects well in words.. lol.. i like the innocence of " get rates anything better than 69.50. Very naively I asked “69.55 or 69.60?”. Technically 55 is bigger than 50 isn’t it? “Sangi no 69.45 is better”, lol... smiles

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