Currency Exchange Rate in Our Favor

One of the aspects of living in the UAE that we have had to adjust to is the different currency. The local currency in the UAE is called the Dirham and one dollar is equal to 3.66 Dirhams.

Shelley and I find ourselves trying to convince or dissuade each other of purchases by rounding up to 4 or down to 3 - whatever supports our case. Lucky, our tech-savvy daughter is usually standing by with her calculator app ready to give us the exact conversion.

Good parents would probably use the opportunity of living in a country with a different currency to teach their children some hands-on math skills. However, Shelley and I have intentionally not explained the differences in exchange rates to Colin.

It has been to our advantage when we go into a store and he sees something that he wants. He will pick up the item, look at the sticker and realize that it is at least 3.66 times more expensive than in the U.S. He will turn to us with a look of disgust and complain that everything in Dubai is expensive. Shamefully, we agree with him as he sets the item back on the shelf.

Another way that the currency exchange rate has played in our favor is with the allowance that the kids get for doing their chores. Shelley and I are still using the same chore chart and with the same numbers on it that we used in the U.S. The only difference is that we are now paying them in Dirhams. So far, only Gaby has realized that they are getting short changed and that the numbers on the chart need to be updated.