No Tengo Cambio

¨I don´t have change.¨

It is a phrase often heard here in Argentina.

The money is Pesos (2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 notes) and centavos (100 to the peso. 5, 10, 25, 50 centavo coins and a 1 peso coin).

It is always good to have change because no one seems to have it here.

if you go to a store and buy something for 2.40 and hand them a 5 note, chances are they will ask if you have .40 change.

They will also ask for smaller bills if you give them a 50 or a 100.

I was in a grocery store, which was doing a good deal of business, and the cashier (who was sitting down, as they all do) had to ask the manger for change - 3 customers in a row. The manager came, gave some change for the first customer, went away, second customer - same thing. I step up, pay for my 24 pesos in groceries with a 100, the cashier calls the manager.

I have not figured out the lack of change issue. it is not due to the use of non-cash to pay as it seems 95%+ of all transactions seem to be in cash.

Today, I am back in BA with 2 x 100 peso notes and some change. I figured I would help myself out by stopping by the bank and break a 100.

Enter bank.

Ask for 9 x 10P and 10 x 1P.

Teller hands me 50, 2 x 20 and 10. He then adds ¨I do not have any more 10´s¨

after some talking, I am able to get 10 peso out of him and he gets his neighbor to break a 20 and I receive 2 x5´s and a 10.

I chalk it up as a success since I can now pay .90 for the bus and buy a 5P ice cream without the hassel of trying to find change.

adios

bjm 02.27.08