Celebrating 10 years of the euro?

[Kmoppz]

Ten years on, its role as a global currency is secure, even if it hasn't achieved everything its founders hoped.

Wednesday (today) is the 10th anniversary of the agreement that launched the single currency.

However, residents of the first 12 EU states that adopted the euro didn't begin using euro banknotes and coins until 1 January, 2002.

Was it a good thing, should the uk have joined?

It would make my life easier if we had joined, but the bigger picture... I have no clue if we did the right or wrong thing by staying out.

[Don]

In my case the euro was a great thing. Before I carried loose change in at least 8 different currencies, spanish peseta, portuguese escudo, french franc, belgian franc, german mark, italian lire, us dollar and uk pound. Now 3 is all I need. However, would it have been good for the UK to join? That question is far more difficult to answer. Depends if you mean good for the UK, good for the rest of Europe, good for brits or good for ex-pat brits. For sure you can see from threads here how the fluctuating exchange rate is affecting ex-pat brits.

[swerve]

Is the peseta still legal tender IE can you still exchange it at the bank?.

Does any one know of villages say still using it.

The only reason i am asking is i was in a bar/restaurant in punte don manuel and i was sure i seen a local paying for a drink in pesetas.

Plus some estate agents still quote property prices in euro/pesetas.

[pete_l]

Jan 2002 £1 = 1.61
Jul 2002 1.52
Jan 2003 1.54
Jul 2003 1.46
Jan 2004 1.44
Jul 2004 1.50
Jan 2005 1.43
Jul 2005 1.46
Jan 2006 1.46
Jul 2006 1.44
Jan 2007 1.48
Jul 2007 1.47
Jan 2008 1.34
May 2008 1.27

Given Gordie Poo's record with selling the british gold reserves (at the
bottom of the market), he's probably waiting for the pound to drop even
further before committing.

[Retro P]

Is the peseta still legal tender IE can you still exchange it at the bank?.

Does any one know of villages say still using it.

The only reason i am asking is i was in a bar/restaurant in punte don manuel and i was sure i seen a local paying for a drink in pesetas.

Plus some estate agents still quote property prices in euro/pesetas.

You can still change pesetas at the Banco de Espanol, no problem.

[spanish_lad]

You can still change pesetas at the Banco de Espanol, no problem.

whats the rate? i can get 1000pts = 6 euro today

[alexander1]

I really do pity anyone who is in the process of buying a property at the moment. With such a difference in the Euro, budgeting must be horrendous.

[mirandamac]

Horrendous is an understatement! Get one quickly before it gets worse?? Hang on because it might get better?? Anyone got a crystal ball? (No mucky answers you lot please, I said crystal ball, singular)

[casita-bonita]

I really do pity anyone who is in the process of buying a property at the moment. With such a difference in the Euro, budgeting must be horrendous.

We bought our Cortijo in Jan 2007. Had we delayed a year, which we have previously done it would have cost us £30,000 more.. phew.

[peteroldracer]

some estate agents still quote property prices in euro/pesetas.

They will stop doing this about the same time that BBC and ITV weather-people stop giving out temperatures in Fahrenheit!