Saturday, December 01, 2007
International Finance
The American stock market is volatile. Interest rates are going up in both countries. The Aussie dollar has gained value, from 0.82 against the US dollar up to current 0.88 (giving me a nice raise this year). I don't pretend to understand it, but I did come literally face to face with it this morning in the shower.I am on my last razor blade.
So do I buy another pack here, or wait and try to scrinch by this week on the last blade?
I'm partial to the Gillette Fusion Power razors. Expensive, but a nice shave. I do think the vibrating razor is superior.
Here in Derby, a pack of 4 blades goes for the astonishing price of AU$ 27.00 at Woolies. Explains why there are so many bearded men in the 40 degree C. climate!
In the U.S., current price is $17.99 for a 4-pack (at the most- some places are cheaper).
This converts to $17.99 x 0.88 = AU$ 20.44.
An 8-pack in the U.S. goes for as low as $17 on Amazon.com, but usually about $25 in stores, or $25 x 0.88 = AU$ 28.00 /2 = AU$ 14 per 4 blades bought as an 8-pack.
Bottom line, razor blades are much cheaper in America, even factoring in the weak U.S. dollar....
EXCEPT, the last word comes from Vicki. She doesn't want me grizzly. So she'll buy the blades here. IF they have them in stock at Woolies, which is never a sure thing...
This is just a trivial decision, compared to trying to decide when to transfer my earnings internationally, what to do with my "Super" (retirement money) left here in Australia, etc. What a headache! Makes me glad I'm in Medicine and not in International Business.
