The days are growing short for students preparing to travel abroad for the semester, and foreign economies aren’t doing much better than the United States’. The U.S. dollar has been weak for some time, but some other currencies are dropping in value even faster. For some students, that may be a good thing.

The Pound

The British Pound Sterling is notorious for retaining high value, but recently it has seen a decrease in value. As of Tuesday, the pound was worth approximately $1.49, but within the last year it reached $2.04. The euro was even valued higher than the pound briefly in December. The fluctuation has caused some to ask whether the British should adopt the euro instead, according to MarketWatch. For now, though, U.S. students studying in the U.K. have picked the best time in recent history to do so.

The Euro

The same doesn’t hold true for the euro. At .75 euros on the dollar, students will take a 25 percent hit when they make purchases in Europe. The good news is, England is just an underwater train-ride away from the continent, and with the “future of the pound look[ing] bleak,” according to the BBC, there may soon be some good shopping across the channel.

The Yen

For students traveling to Japan, the cost of living will seem a bit higher than it does at home. Ideally, $1 buys 100 yen, but commodities are more expensive. For instance, in Japan a 12 ounce can of Coca Cola costs about the equivalent of $1.30. In recent weeks, though, the yen has gained on the dollar. As of Tuesday $1 was only worth 94.38 yen.

Students studying abroad should keep in mind that a shaky economy at home means a shaky economy in most other countries too. Currencies will continue to fluctuate and the smart study abroad student will keep an eye on conversion rates during these unsteady times. No one wants to be stuck on a mountain top in Tibet with a pocketful of worthless Tibetan srangs.