SHOPPING SPREE

We moved into our new apartment recently and are now in the process of getting settled. We needed to add some furniture since a single woman previously lived in it. Last week we made the trip to our local Ikea store to purchase the articles.

We spent 42,799 korunas on our four hour shopping trip that day. How many of you ever spent that much in one store? Of course,  I should mention that when this was converted to US dollars, it was only $1870.  That doesn't sound like so much since we had to purchase two wardrobes and two recliner chairs plus other smaller pieces of furniture.

Czech money
As you can figure out, the Czech koruna isn't worth too much compared to the dollar. One dollar is equal to about 23 korunas. The easy way I figure out the cost of articles here is that 250 Kc is about the same as $10. So when we get two beers for 100 Kc, the beer only is about $2.00 each in a pub. Not bad at all.

Since korunas aren't worth much, there is no coin worth less than a koruna - so no cents here. Sometimes, there is a charge for a partial koruna such as for our phone bill, but the partial koruna is rounded up - most of the time - so that you pay a bit extra for any partial koruna. The coins here are for 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 koruna. Needless to say, no one likes the 1 koruna coin, yet that's the one you find in your coin purse all the time (just like pennies).

The Czech Republic is unique with money in another way. There are no checks in Czech. Ironic, isn't it? When we opened our bank account here, we received an ATM card  for withdrawing cash, or using as a debit card to pay for invoices at a restaurant. Any monthly payments such as for a phone bill or rent has to be paid online.

Because of the lack of checks, cash is used much more here than in the US. Cash is used for church offerings, grocery shopping, doctor appointments, etc. It's not uncommon for me to have more than 2,000 korunas in my billfold at all times.

It's taken me a while to get used to korunas, however, next week we're going to Germany where my husband has to preach in a church. Then, I'll have to get used to the Euros up there. Life never gets boring over here!

Comments

  1. With all that cash being carried around, how's the crime rate?

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    Replies
    1. I don't think the crime rate is too bad. I've heard "beware of pickpockets" but I feel safe walking around. I always carry my purse with the strap over the opposite shoulder so no one can just walk by and grab it off of my arm. Of course, in a foreign country I think I'd be extra careful anyway so that my identity couldn't be stolen.

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