"Something went wrong." How a Belarusian woman bought dollars all year and how much she lost

Onliner.by reader Hanna bought dollars all last year and now decided to calculate what happened to her savings during this time.

Hanna says she buys dollars not out of great faith in the American currency, but because for her, it's the simplest option.

— From each salary, I try to put aside a small amount — probably a typical story, when it's a pity to spend the entire salary and you need to save a "safety cushion." Previously, I had experience with deposits, tried to delve into other investment opportunities, but globally my financial questions are covered, so I strive to earn more and live better, not struggle to save, — Hanna explains her logic.

Buying dollars is more a ritual and a backup than an attempt to earn, the woman says. But recently, out of curiosity, she decided to calculate how much she had saved over the year.

— I don't have any specific strategy for buying currency. I transferred $100 to my currency card, didn't really look at the rate, but tried not to buy dollars if there was a sharp jump; I waited at least a couple of days.

I saw that there were good interest rates on loans, but I didn't want to rush to the exchange office. My approach is rather conservative: it's better not to fuss and not to speculate on exchange rates. I was buying dollars, and the rate was falling — although I understood that something was going wrong, I didn't want to make drastic decisions.

How much she managed to save in a year and what happened to the money

Hanna shared screenshots from her internet banking and her calculations: since May 2025, she has bought $4500. The maximum purchase rate at which she transferred money was 3.1 rubles, the minimum was 2.852.

Over the past year, 13,236.8 rubles went into buying currency. If she were to sell the accumulated $4500 now, she would get 12,510 rubles (we are taking Hanna's bank rate on May 14). It turns out that on such an operation, she could have lost 726.8 rubles.

However, the woman says she is not going to exchange her stash right now. It would be a different matter if a big purchase was pending: then it would be a shame to sell currency and lose several hundred rubles.

Павялічыць

At the same time, the losses amounted to about 5% of the total savings — not a catastrophe, but a recorded unpleasant moment for someone who expected to keep money in dollars and not lose in rubles.

Against this background, a deposit strategy would look more advantageous, but such conclusions are easy to make in hindsight: a year ago, Hanna expected the dollar to rise, not fall.

How are things for others? "It's sad when your salary is in dollars"

Journalists asked readers to tell how the cheap dollar affected them and what they are doing with the currency now.

Those whose salaries are tied to the dollar exchange rate and who keep their savings in American currency perceive the situation particularly painfully. People write that they have effectively started earning less in terms of rubles, and their savings are melting away when converted at the current rate. Many are also upset that the rate is falling, but prices are not decreasing, although often price increases are explained by the rising cost of the dollar.

"I'm in complete shock. I work for the US market and get paid in dollars. Over the past year, I've lost 20% of my earnings. And prices in stores haven't dropped, despite the exchange rate."

"It's sad when your salary is in dollars. Before, $1000 was 3300 rubles, and now it's 2800. That's a 500 ruble difference for every thousand."

"I changed professions to earn in currency, but in the last year, incomes in my old profession have already become higher than in my current one."

"Apartment prices have become simply astronomical. A 2x increase in two years. But for the majority of Belarusians, of course, I'm happy: there's a feeling that things have never been as good in Belarus as they are now!"

"If all your savings, all your income, and even your Euroopt shopping account are in dollars, and you got involved in shared construction of an apartment, a falling dollar is very unpleasant... Simply a disaster."

"I react negatively, because it's disadvantageous for exporters, and for those who bought currency at 3.5 rubles."

"It's become very [bad]. I need to exchange currency for a ruble deposit for real estate. And exchanging now is unprofitable."

"It's become unprofitable to pay rent for an apartment. The contract is in Belarusian rubles."

"Goods on credit are increasing in price in dollar equivalent. I expected the opposite."

Павялічыць

At the same time, there is a group of confident people who continue to buy dollars and expect a reversal of the exchange rate.

"I only see positives. Now I'm buying [currency] with all my money: this gives an opportunity to earn a large percentage on the exchange rate soon."

"I'm not panicking. I'm waiting for its inevitable appreciation, as the real dollar rate can be calculated relative to price growth. A simple cheeseburger factor, which costs approximately $1: now it costs 4.2 rubles. That is the real dollar rate today."

However, the cheap dollar did not hit everyone. For some Belarusians, the current rate, on the contrary, became a rare opportunity to save money. Comments mention cheaper cars from the USA, rent, and wedding expenses.

"In the coming weeks, I will need to get a loan from the bank under the construction savings system. They are in rubles, but the price is in dollars. Accordingly, the strengthening of the ruble is very timely for me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a strong ruble for one to two weeks."

"I rent an apartment — our calculations, like many others, are tied to the dollar. We pay $550 for a two-room apartment at the National Bank rate, and the price no longer seems so high. So, in this regard, the cheap dollar is pleasing. It's also pleasant to convert salary into dollars: it seems that you earn more now. The financial cushion I saved last year had to be spent a few months ago. If not for that, it would be a shame: I was buying dollars precisely."

"Almost all contracts with contractors were tied to units of account, the wedding became cheaper — I'm very happy about that. And, of course, the vacation itself too."

"The cheaper the dollar, the cheaper a good (slightly damaged) car from the USA."

"It's easier to pay for a tour to Vietnam, as it's tied to the dollar."

Some readers admit that they simply don't understand what's happening, while others are absolutely indifferent to the topic.

"I react absolutely no way to the cheap dollar, because I don't use it for calculations anywhere. But I react with disdain to the crowd of people in queues at exchange offices who are buying this currency. They create queues. 'Belka' [Belarusian Ruble] — is our everything."

"Money is dust, it won't spoil my good mood in any way."

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