single currency alert - euros-r-us

Don't worry, this isn't a 'Keep our Pound' article - it's about not keeping your Francs, Schillings and Lire.

You probably know by now that the single currency (the Euro) has now taken over from the old currencies. We'll have to 'wait and see' whether the pound joins them, but until then you should be aware that any cash you have left has a limited shelf life.

What's a Euro worth?
Good question. The Sterling/Euro rate is variable, but one Euro is worth around 62p, or to put it another way, one Pound Sterling is worth about 1.6 Euros.

Depending on what works for you, you could say it's about the same rate as US Dollars, or it's also the same conversation rate as miles to kilometres!

Will Britain join the Euro?
(Very) debatable. But the nice part is that we will get to join in the debate and decide for ourselves. Watch out for a referendum in 2003. If the pundits are right, by 2005 Sterling will be history.

Can I still use my old currency?
Sadly not any more. In most countries, notes and coins were accepted in shops until March 2002, and If you payed with the old currency you got your change in Euros. Now you will need to find a large bank in the center of a major city of the specific denomination (ie if you have old French Francs try a bank in Paris) who should still change them for you. Otherwise why not give them to charity?

Final Dates for Old Currency

If you do have spare currency, don't forget that you can hand over the cash to charity. Barclays, Thomas Cook and Lloyds TSB all have schemes in place for this.