I really love Amazon.

November 3, 2009 by Avalon
Filed under: Banks, Cost of living, General Budgeting 

Right now the benefits of a crap exchange rate are working in the favour of people already living in New Zealand – so it’s worth making the most of it. Even at $3 to the UK£ its often more cost effective buying books from the UK than buying them in New Zealand, but with the rate at nearer $2 to the UK£ – we are laughing.

On an Amazon order of about £180 (the whole family really loves books), I’ve saved about $200 on Christmas pressies purely because of the exchange rate.

I guess that the thing with currency – when it’s bad for one person – it can be great for others.

But there’s also been an interesting development at Amazon.co.uk which can be even better for us. They are now charging in local currency – so if you live in New Zealand and have an NZ Credit card – you can be charged directly in NZ$. You will be told at the time of order, before you confirm, what the NZ$ cost is, and if you switch the currency conversion on, you will have the option of changing your mind before you confirm the order.

This means that you can avoid paying the banks their extra charges and fees they always like to screw us for. You wont get the Interbank rate – but then the banks never give you that anyway – and then they add all the extra fees on top of a crap rate.

I’d use the Amazon converter on principle just to take the fees away from the banks.

It’s worth noting that all the items in your order have to be in stock and ready to ship to be able to use this service. If anything is out of stock or on a delay – you cant use it and have to pay in UK£.

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  1. You can now review Avalon’s Guide on Amazon.
  2. How much to spend at Christmas?
  3. Watching the exchange rates like a hawk.
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Comments

6 Comments on I really love Amazon.

  1. Domestic Executive on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 7:14 am

    2. Go Amazon, Marks & Spencer, Boden, Joules…..oh the list goes on. Making the most of the exchange rate at last gives an uplifting feeling. Makes present buying all that more fun.

  2. Juli Ryan on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 6:03 pm

    3. I don’t get screwed on bank charges, because my US bank has an agreement with Westpac. But I wish we had enough money to go travelling while the exchange rate is in our favour!

  3. Jessica on Tue, 3rd Nov 2009 11:44 pm

    4. The cost of living in New Zealand is horrendously expensive, and the tax is quite high. Salaries are low in 95% of all industries – these are the reasons why we moved to Sydney 10 years ago; it is so different over here, everything is so affordable, more free time, earn more, TONS of stuff you can do, and it’s a city with soul.

    From what I’ve been reading, it would appear that things aren’t really improving, sad to say. Nevertheless hubby and I have hope!

  4. WILLIAM on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 11:37 am

    5. And if you really want to go wild with taking the full advantages of the current exchange situation, try http://www.bookdepository.co.uk and pay with Paypal instead of credit card. I also would recommend betterworldbooks because eventually you can find very good second hand books for a very good price.

  5. Avalon on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 3:48 pm

    6. DE – after reading your comment – of course I had to take a look at M&S :) I tend to forget about it to be honest, but I really could do with some simple “singlets” and thieres last for years. Unfortuanatley they didnt have what I wanted – but its now on my list of “Online shopping sites” on my favorites bar.

    Julie – that is so cool! I wish one of the UK banks did the same – but as far as I know not even HSBC will do it fee free. And of course when we had to travel back to the UK last year – the rate was up at a reasonable level – isnt it always the way!

    Jessica – welcome :) I found sydney really expensive when i visted there earlyier this year – but on saying that I was in the harbour area and at the mercy of tourist rates.It certainly has soul though.

    Apparently wages have risen considerably in the last 10 years – but realistically we are finding pay rises dont exist unless you change jobs. Hubby hasnt had one in 3 years – since he last moved, and the only way we will have more income to balance the increasing cost of living over the years is if he gets a different job. Its really short sighted and annoying!

    William. -OH god – another book site. Im doomed :( Off to oggle and spend money :) Thank you – I think ;)

  6. Paola on Fri, 6th Nov 2009 8:27 am

    7. Whoohoo! Online shopping ahoy! Great tips, guys. My Mum has just arrived from the UK with a suitcase full of stuff for us, bless her (including Next undies for the Kiwi, I can’t get over how much a pair of mens undies costs here!). He loves Charles Tyrwhitt shirts and if you order them online they take off the VAT when sending to NZ so that pays for the shipping cost, according to my father-in-law – this time we just got Mum to bring them over.
    Although if you are trying to buy a house, the current exchange rate is big fat poopy pants! Good shopping, people.

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