The Value of Cash

In the US, we normally take our cash for granted. I mean that paper stuff you sometimes carry around. It's easy to forget that the plastic credit cards we use everyday are moving around legal tender from one company to another, ultimately coming back to our personal bank account. Ah, the quickening nostalgia of paper currency.

The third world is a different story. They generally don't have credit cards; those are for the elite and tourists. Sure, you will see a few ATMs around, but the general populace isn't using them. You have to rely on cash unless you frequent the nicer stores or restaurants.

Before I head over, I like to get some cash ahead of time. The key is to make sure your bills actually look nice. The physical appearance of a note will have a direct affect on how much it's worth. I've had shopkeepers comment, "Do you have a better $20? This one... not so good." It's not uncommon to be offered less than face value because of rips, marks, or just plain wear. Counterfeiting is a big problem, and people are wary of falling victim.

So the next time you try to shove a wrinkled old $1 bill into a vending machine, keep in mind that there are places in the world that might offer you $0.75 for it, or hand it back for the same reason.