No Euros in the UK
March 12, 2008 by Jean Mercedes
Filed under Business
I have gotten so used to the common European currency (Euro) that I often forget that the UK still uses the Pound. Okay, I don’t really forget that, but I do forget to pack my miscellaneous Pounds when I get ready to go to the airport. I usually don’t need any cash at all when on business trips, so that contributes to the low ranking of GB Pounds on my mental packing priority list.
My last trip to the UK a few months ago, however, is still fresh in my mind. Once again, I had forgotten my Sterling, but when I arrived at the hotel, I realized I needed to make a small purchase from one of the hotel vending machines. I wound up pleading with the hotel assistant for a few pound coins in return for her placing it on my bill. All in all embarassing enough that I won’t be forgetting Pounds on my next trips to the UK.
Do you think the UK should adopt the Euro? Why or why not?
Image from www.buyusa.gov.
mind you, not only UK has separate currency – Sweden, Denmark and Norway do insist to stay away from EU money market. My point it is a bit of inconvenience but in return it makes common market more stable. Like partitions on submarine, it saves as from risks of sunken economy – turn your head towards current US situation, and you see what might happen if our EU market had same over-waxed slippery floor of single-currency economy.
For me it’s all a matter of convenience, but I’d be very happy to see the UK adopt the Euro, particularly as it looks as though I’ll be there more often in the future. I have enough of a hard time keeping track of spare Euro, adding sterling to the mix just complicates things.
I spoke with a colleague from Sweden this week and I asked him when he thought Sweden would adapt the Euro. His response: “One year after the UK!”