One of the most unique day-to-day experiences we have in Buenos Aires involves the art of managing our peso and centavo coins. The ATMs dispense almost exclusively 100 peso bills. There are also 50, 20, 10, 5, and 2 peso bills. The coins (monedas) come in 1-peso, 50, 25, 10, and 5 centavos. Since we have arrived, the official exchange rate between the US dollar and the Argentine peso has has increased from 3.35:1 in late January to 3.73:1 on April 6. The conversions have been pretty easy to do in our heads, but the most frustrating part about paying for things is the inevitable awkwardness that awaits us when it comes time to giving us our change.
As we have talked about before, the bus system here is extensive. People take the bus everywhere, and it is generally a very well-run, efficient machine. The only drawback is that you can only pay with coins. Because of this, the entire city guards their coins, which are worth less than a US quarter, like they are gold bullion. Anytime our purchase requires a merchant to give us anything less than 2 pesos in change, it is usually accompanied by a well-choreographed act of patting pockets, searching for coins, then begrudgingly handing us our change. It isn't just at small street corner kiosks or fruit stands either. When you check out at the large chain grocery stores, an icon pops up asking if you would like to donate the change from your purchase so that they don't have to give you any coins. Every corner shop or internet cafe in town has a sign explaining that they do not have coins. "No Hay Monedas". Don't even think about coming in here to ask for change.
As we have talked about before, the bus system here is extensive. People take the bus everywhere, and it is generally a very well-run, efficient machine. The only drawback is that you can only pay with coins. Because of this, the entire city guards their coins, which are worth less than a US quarter, like they are gold bullion. Anytime our purchase requires a merchant to give us anything less than 2 pesos in change, it is usually accompanied by a well-choreographed act of patting pockets, searching for coins, then begrudgingly handing us our change. It isn't just at small street corner kiosks or fruit stands either. When you check out at the large chain grocery stores, an icon pops up asking if you would like to donate the change from your purchase so that they don't have to give you any coins. Every corner shop or internet cafe in town has a sign explaining that they do not have coins. "No Hay Monedas". Don't even think about coming in here to ask for change.
Luckily, we now have the choice of either taking the bus or taking the subway to class. In the Subte, you can buy tickets or passes with bills. In our old apartment, we had no choice but to take the bus to class everyday, thus we were far more obsessed with making sure we had enough monedas. We would often have to go out and buy things we didn't want or need, in order to get coins for the bus. We knew which shops had friendly checkout clerks. We would frequent those stores, even if it meant paying more for a soda, just so we could get to class. If a kiosk was selling hot dogs for 2 pesos, and the kiosk next door was selling them for 2.50 pesos, I would buy from the guy selling them for 2.50 in order to get monedas. He may whine and complain when I hand him two 2 peso bills, but what is he really going to do with the hotdog in his hand when its already got my ketchup, mustard, and fried potato sticks all over it?
*Editor's note: There is an very well written article posted on Slate.com entitled, "Yes, We Have No Monedas!" about the coin/change phenomenon here in Buenos Aires. I recommend checking it out.
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