Ok, ok……it is not quite as bad as it sounds, but it is absolutely true.
At least when we are talking about cash: I don’t have a single Swedish Kronar in my pocket and this is the case since my arrival in Sweden a month ago. I don’t even know how the local currency looks and feels like….
The reason for this is, that it is virtually impossible in some places to pay with cash and even where it is, people are not particularly happy with you if you try to do so. Even some larger shops like IKEA have gone completely cashless in some of their branches (tough luck if you have collected all your items for the last 2 hours and end up with only cash in your pocket at the till….)
Sweden , similar to some other Nordic countries, is – seemingly very successfully – trying to go cashless. Virtually everywhere and even for the smallest amounts you can pay with your credit card or with “Swish” , a local sort of debit card for which you need a Swedish bank account though (I think….).
Some Swedes have gone so far that they have been implanted with a microchip that enables them to make digital payments where ever they go. This – I would say – takes it a bit too far for me….
So, don’t rush to bail me out or to send me any food parcels – although I don’t have any coins or notes in my pocket, I am still doing fine.
However, I am not looking forward going through my credit card statement at the end of the month, especially as I am using a German credit card with the bank adding a foreign exchange fee to each transaction.
Well, this little chap has offered to help me….
The Blue Vet Diary 