Thread: the euro

January 1 2002 isn't only the start of a new year but also the start of the euro. We are now able to pay in euro's.
What I would like to know is what do all of you think about it. Is it a great step forward or is it the biggest mistake the EU ever made. I would like to hear especially the ones from the UK, Denmark and Sweden(means you too Series ).

Personally I think it is a very good thing. You won’t loose money if you go to an other country and we will be a stronger economic society. First I thought it was a bit sad because we would lose our Belgian Frank, but now I don't care anymore. We are part of something bigger and I like it.

I also would like to know (to follow Kermi3 post) If you live in a EU country that will use the euro, live in a the EU and will not use the euro, or don’t live the EU at all.

I’m holding a 20 euro bill right now, and it looks nice.

Maybe on a side note but what did you think of the Belgian EU presidentsie (spelling?)

Did you know the countries around the Gulf are also discussing a monatair (spelling?) union?


Thx

Maes, as you know I live in Scotland but I'm Spanish. Therfore I won't be using the Euro in a daily basis, but I will every time I travel around Europe.

It's a bit sad to loose the Peseta (Spanish money) after 134 years of use, but I think it's worth.

For "normal" people like you and me, it's going to be more comfortable when we travel, when we want to compare different countries, .... for example, I've crossed Europe a few times, and I hate loosing money just to get change. Or, every time I move money between my bank accounts (I have some in Spain, UK and Germany) I loose a lot because of the different currencies.

For the European companies is going to be great. For example, a company based in Belgium might have to do some process in Portugal (cheap labour), then transport the product back to Belgium and finish it. Then, take it to Germany to sell it. This means that if you use all the different currencies, it'd be a pain in the .......... to calculate the costs; and you'd need a margin because of the change of the value of each coin. So, if you use just the Euro, the product might get a bit cheaper, even if it's just a very little bit. This would make a more competitive market.

Of course the Euro will bring problems as well, for example, it will be more difficult to know if someone is paying with real/false money. As you'd use notes from different countries.

Do you guys think that the UK will join the Euro as well? I'm sure they will as soon as I live the country

Yep. Euro here. German Marks are going to expire in February. Until then we can pay in both currencies, but only get Euro as change. In february Euro is the only accepted currency. I'm sorry to see it go, but then, the new Euros aren't so bad. I'm just glad each bill has a different color like the German Marks had. I really hate american money, where you just have a bunch of green paper and no clue what it is worth without looking at every single one. This way, I can just look into my purse, see I've got two greys, a green and a red and know it's about 80 Marks. ( Don't know the equivalent euro colors yet... ) I wonder how you US guys do that... Oh, four greens, must be $57...

I don't think it's a big deal, but all the older people, who still remember the war and the new currency ( Marks ) being introduced, are afraid their money will lose it's value...

i like the concept of a europe wide currency for ease of use and travelling freely between european states. However i do not think it is a good idea for all economic polocies to be controlled by Central European Government.

hmm rather easy to tell apart money here in the states. different textures, pictures, and words on each, you get use to it

Yeah, I don't think I've ever gotten a 1 and a 20 confused before.

> Oh, four greens, must be $57.

Actually, it's more like: "Yup, that's a lot of wallet - $0"

btw - purse implies a little bag women carry (a Handtasche), men carry wallets (Brieftasche)... Unless you actually carry a purse, in which case, no offense.

lol... nope, it's a wallet then of course. I seem to get too much of my vocabulary from fantasy games I could probably describe an armoury of medieval weapons in detail, but don't ask me to get a breakfast in the US on my own... I would probably either starve or have a 'burger in the morning However, I hate your style of marking bills. Can't you just do color coding like the rest ? or different sizes ? Anything the normal european guy without intimate knowledge of the last 50 presidents of the US can cope with ? Whatever, I don't seem to get to the US in the near future anyway

Hey, a question for the other Euros: Do you have an easy exchange course Euro -> YourFormerCurrency ? 1 Euro is roughly 2 Marks here. It's quite easy. I guess it would suck if it were like 1 -> 1379,68...

haha, I was just about to ask him about the purse comment, too...

>>
but don't ask me to get a breakfast in the US on my own... I would probably either starve or have a 'burger in the morning
<<

Ask for:
"cereal"
"waffle" (yum)
or "a large bowl of ketchup"

> a large bowl of ketchup

You're an evil bastard...

> Anything the normal european guy without intimate knowledge of the last 50 presidents of the US can cope with ?

Yeah, if you have intimate knowledge of the numbers 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100, you should be fine. Besides, not everyone on the bills are presidents.

Not to mention I don't even know who the last 50 presidents were...I think we may have had one named washington...but that's about it

>>You're an evil bastard

What? That's a perfectly normal breakfast meal!!

Also not to mention that we haven't had 50 presidents...

> That's a perfectly normal breakfast meal!!

Maybe for that kid from "Big Daddy"

>>Also not to mention that we haven't had 50 presidents...

right. my point exactly *fiddles nervously in seat, runs out the door*