- sometimes when I'd buy something at the chino (corner store run by Chinese immigrants), I'd get candy instead of my change back, due to the coin shortage. No arguing with them about that.
- I would get empanadas down the street at a bakery almost every day, and the woman who owned it would complain and almost start crying if I brought a bill that was too big (like a 100-peso note). I would occasionally buy fewer items than I wanted because I had smaller bills. I think she was happier that way.
- the best exchange rate for American dollars was the downtown grey market on Avenida Florida, where tourists would frequent. I would just walk down and guys would notice me as a tourist, and say "cambio allá" and point me around a corner, where I could trade American dollars for whatever the rate in pesos was that week. There was an official unofficial exchange rate, better than the official exchange rate.
- across the river, Uruguay just straight up abandoned their own peso and used American dollars instead. Same with Ecuador as I later found.
- when I got tired of wine, I'd get beer at this brewery in Palermo -- Orion, I think it was called. I can't remember. But I do remember in October 2012, beers cost about 24 pesos and were about 36 pesos by spring 2013. Cheaper for me since my wallet was backed by USD, but that just meant I drank more beer. :)
I really miss BA sometimes.