diff --git a/lib/king_dta/booking.rb b/lib/king_dta/booking.rb
index b6bfcea..9e91f67 100644
--- a/lib/king_dta/booking.rb
+++ b/lib/king_dta/booking.rb
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ def initialize( account, value, text=nil, account_key=nil, currency="EUR" )
       end
       @currency = currency
       if value.is_a?(String)
-        value = BigDecimal.new value.sub(',', '.')
+        value = big_decimal value.sub(',', '.')
       elsif value.is_a?(Numeric)
-        value = BigDecimal.new value.to_s
+        value = big_decimal value.to_s
       else
         raise Exception.new("Gimme a value as a String or Numeric. You gave me a #{value.class}")
       end
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ def text=(text)
        @text = convert_text( text )
     end
 
+    def big_decimal(val)
+      BigDecimal.try(:new, val) || BigDecimal(val)
+    end
+
     def pos?; @pos end
 
   end  #class Buchung