Multi-currency advice

[Cory Helfrich]

Hello,

I have been using gnucash for a couple of weeks now. I really like  
the software as I find it much better than Quicken.

Now, to my question. I am an expatriate, so I get paid in CAD. All of  
my credit cards and investments are in CAD. However, most of my  
expenses are paid in cash in two different currencies. What is the  
best way to represent this is gnucash? I presently have accounts  
Expense:Food:Groceries (with currency CAD),  
Expense:Food:Groceries:Curr2 and Expense:Food:Groceries:Curr3. This  
makes data entry (and import from Quicken) simple (no exchange rate  
for every transaction), but the totals from the Curr2 and Curr3  
accounts are rolled up at the present exchange rate, which is not  
really correct. Note that this is the way Quicken handles these  
expenses. Also, this method greatly increases the number of accounts  
within gnucash. The expenses should really be rolled up at the  
exchange rate that I paid for the Curr2 and Curr3 cash, correct? Can  
anyone give me some advice as the the best way to set up my chart of  
accounts?

Thanks,
Cory Helfrich
coryhelfrich at yahoo.ca