When we arrived, the exchange rate was about 6 SEK to the little wimpy (but beloved) dollar. That meant that a small latte cost $5, a haircut was $100 and entrance to the indoor playhouse was $24 for 2 kids. It also meant that my long-suffering husband had to listen to me start every other sentence with "omigod, that's outrageous!!"Then the economy tanked and the dollar got stronger (go figure) and now the exchange rate is 8 SEK to the dollar. Now 2 SEK may not seem like a lot, but for me it's like everything went on sale by 30% (or is it 25% you math whizzes?) and suddenly the latte is only $3.75 and the haircut is $75 (which is still ridiculous but not as ridiculous) and the playhouse thing is $17 and it's like I might actually pay those prices at home.
Of course since we are earning kronor, our buying power hasn't actually changed -- we still have the same income as we did last summer -- but the mental conversion panic has stopped and I, as a result, am a much calmer and more pleasant person after the big weekly grocery shop.
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