Multi-currency debts become confusing when every record is forced into one currency too early. A better approach is to keep the original currency on each record and use conversion only for summaries.
Keep the record currency
Record a USD debt as USD and an EUR receivable as EUR. This preserves the source of truth even when exchange rates move.
If you convert a 1,000 USD debt into your home currency today, you lose track of what you will actually have to pay on the due date.
Read net position by currency
Separate totals for each currency make the situation easier to understand. For example:
| Currency | Owed to you | You owe | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRY | 12,500 | 4,000 | +8,500 |
| USD | 300 | 1,000 | −700 |
| EUR | 0 | 250 | −250 |
The TRY side looks comfortable, but there is a gap in foreign currency. A single total would hide it.
Treat converted summaries as estimates
Exchange rates change daily, so converted summaries are useful for a quick look but should be treated as estimates. When deciding, look at the per-currency amounts.
Sudeb’s approach
Sudeb stores each debt or receivable in its own currency and shows an approximate net position in the list’s base currency for quick review. For the overall method, see how to track debts and receivables.