in real life , why don't we exchange POINTS instead of money?
436343
There are lots of local groups in the UK that swap skills and services based on a points system.\n\nPeople swap, say, French lessons for ironing\n\nA unit of value is agreed between the individuals concerned
919435
Transfering money from anywhere is not a problem.  You can physically send the currency, get a cashiers check or money order, or electronically wire from one account to another.  You could even purchase some goods like gold/jewels and send those (with shipping insurance!) Credit cards have nothing to do with transferring money - unless you use them to get a cash advance (which some lines of credit allow).
585689
yes;in new york you can allready go in some clubs and put money credit on the chip which is inplanted under your skin so you do not have to use money;just wait and our crazy governments will want to have us counted as sheep;ole
260565
i just want to earn points....\nso...\nno need to read this answer...\nHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
14373
Yes.  Why the heck would I want to pay into a system that won't even have enough money to buy stamps when I retire?
1104076
why don't you take your money and go there?
342566
I'm middle class. I guess in a way it can be frustrating because it's a long way up (or what to me seems a way up), but it's also motivating because you get to bring progress. It's important to not be tempted by the illusion of credit cards (it created poverty) and the impatience of wanting modern conveniences. One must exercise a lot of self-control to no waste money buying "passing fancies" (mp3, xbox, cell phone, car, computer, camera, games, cd's, alcohol, parties, etc). One can waste so much money that you may never get ahead.
116385
Actually they're both different transactions. It's all part of a negotiation tactic. One usually tries to get the most value up front, so we try to get two cents out of them. When they feel reluctant to put their two cents in, we can take the next step and make a deal they can't refuse: we'll pay them to tell us their thoughts. But notice that it's not two pennies for your thoughts. That would create a negative cash flow. It's all written off as a marketing expense anyway.
164817
The role and function of the money in europe is no different then then the role and function of money elsewhere in the world. Its not because there are differnet currencies that the purpose of it is different. Ofcourse the value of it may vary to differnt standards of living.\nRoles of banks, and other financial facilities are the same as everywhere else in the world.
287135
Well I know in CHina instead of alloweing a Foreigner to use regular Chinese money the Foreigners are given Foreign exchange currency to use but if a business does not have enough of the foreign exchange currency in change then they can give regular change to the Foreign Tourist.
469460
You use a color printer and color copier and then you go to a foriegn country and find some hapless victem (because they are unlikely to know what the real currency looks like)to exchange your fake money with real money.  Then you go to the bank and exchange the money you have with the money you want.  For instance, you don't want to counterfiet dollars. You want to counterfiet yens, yauns and pesos for example.
676062
There are several reasons.  One reason - local interest rates.  If you can earn 10% on US dollars at a US bank, but only 5% in Germany, it may make sense to convert DM to USD and earn the higher rate, then convert back.  There are transaction costs to think of.  Large banks also consider political stability, and economic oppportunities.
718381
there isn't...everyone will just try to take your money =o(
416168
Humans are just competitive, that's all. The point system is just provided as another way to beat the pants off everyone else. Some people wouldn't bother going out of their way to help strangers unless they know they're getting something out of it, so points make people feel like they haven't helped someone for free.
441013
There would be two problems - getting readers that count the foreign currency, and getting up-to-date conversion rates sent to it, so that you con't get cheated by currency rates changing.\n\nYou'd have to set it up so that it either gets an update once per day, say, or like an ATM, it would 'phone home' for every transaction to verify rates.  A daily update would be more efficient.\n\nAnother problem would be displaying the prices.  You'd need a touch-screen with a menu system, first showing a menu of currencies accepted, and then the items for sale (so that you can display the menu in the currency of choice)  If the item menu displays the prices in several different currencies at once, it would be too cumbersome.\n\nHer's another option - say you are returning from Europe with a few Euros here, a few pounds there, some Rials, and a few Rands.  It would be cool to select an item and just start feeding in all those different currencies until the item is paid for, and it spits out change in Dollars or something.  This would make displaying prices difficult, since you are using several currencies to pay for an item, but this would be a valuable thing to have in airports around the world.\n\nInteresting idea.
1048552
I doubt that the ACAT system of transferring money exists in other countries. Your broker's assistant probably sent it to you, which is routine. Contact your broker for clarification.
121884
Absolutely NOT! If you do, there will simply be an alternative to how businesses reward loyal behavior. Best left alone. \n\nHere's the problem - loyalty and reward programs are growing. Most credit cards and other retail programs (pharmacy, grocery chain rewards, etc.) are now competing on the value of their rewards programs. Now banks are adding rewards to debit cards too.\n\nImagine 10 years from now when every dollar you spend has a reward component. There will be so many rewards points out there that it could almost be its own form of currency. How the govt get's its greedy paws on that currency will be very interesting.\n\nSo while I disagree that they should be included in income for tax purposes, it's only a matter of time before the govt figures out how big the opportunity has become - it will be too tempting NOT to tax.