diff --git a/lbrynet/core/utils.py b/lbrynet/core/utils.py
index 9491c26fa..85af1a7c4 100644
--- a/lbrynet/core/utils.py
+++ b/lbrynet/core/utils.py
@@ -11,12 +11,28 @@ import yaml
 from lbrynet.core.cryptoutils import get_lbry_hash_obj
 
 
-blobhash_length = get_lbry_hash_obj().digest_size * 2  # digest_size is in bytes, and blob hashes are hex encoded
+# digest_size is in bytes, and blob hashes are hex encoded
+blobhash_length = get_lbry_hash_obj().digest_size * 2
 
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# defining this here allows for easier overriding in testing
+def now():
+    return datetime.datetime.now()
+
+def utcnow():
+    return datetime.datetime.utcnow()
+
+def isonow():
+    """Return utc now in isoformat with timezone"""
+    return utcnow().isoformat() + 'Z'
+
+def today():
+    return datetime.datetime.today()
+
+
 def generate_id(num=None):
     h = get_lbry_hash_obj()
     if num is not None:
@@ -86,10 +102,6 @@ def save_settings(path, settings):
     f.close()
 
 
-def today():
-    return datetime.datetime.today()
-
-
 def check_connection(server="www.lbry.io", port=80):
     """Attempts to open a socket to server:port and returns True if successful."""
     try:
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/test_ExchangeRateManager.py b/tests/unit/core/test_ExchangeRateManager.py
index 96827c263..1cd24b700 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/test_ExchangeRateManager.py
+++ b/tests/unit/core/test_ExchangeRateManager.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-import mock
 from lbrynet.metadata import Fee
 from lbrynet.lbrynet_daemon import ExchangeRateManager
 
 from twisted.trial import unittest
 
+from tests import util
+
 
 class FeeFormatTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_fee_created_with_correct_inputs(self):
@@ -19,10 +20,7 @@ class FeeFormatTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class FeeTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        patcher = mock.patch('time.time')
-        self.time = patcher.start()
-        self.time.return_value = 0
-        self.addCleanup(patcher.stop)
+        util.resetTime(self)
 
     def test_fee_converts_to_lbc(self):
         fee_dict = {
@@ -31,6 +29,10 @@ class FeeTest(unittest.TestCase):
                 'address': "bRcHraa8bYJZL7vkh5sNmGwPDERFUjGPP9"
             }
         }
-        rates = {'BTCLBC': {'spot': 3.0, 'ts': 2}, 'USDBTC': {'spot': 2.0, 'ts': 3}}
+        rates = {
+            'BTCLBC': {'spot': 3.0, 'ts': util.DEFAULT_ISO_TIME + 1},
+            'USDBTC': {'spot': 2.0, 'ts': util.DEFAULT_ISO_TIME + 2}
+        }
         manager = ExchangeRateManager.DummyExchangeRateManager(rates)
-        self.assertEqual(60.0, manager.to_lbc(fee_dict).amount)
+        result = manager.to_lbc(fee_dict).amount
+        self.assertEqual(60.0, result)
diff --git a/tests/util.py b/tests/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34e644511
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import datetime
+import time
+
+import mock
+
+
+DEFAULT_TIMESTAMP = datetime.datetime(2016, 1, 1)
+DEFAULT_ISO_TIME = time.mktime(DEFAULT_TIMESTAMP.timetuple())
+
+
+def resetTime(test_case, timestamp=DEFAULT_TIMESTAMP):
+    iso_time = time.mktime(timestamp.timetuple())
+    patcher = mock.patch('time.time')
+    patcher.start().return_value = iso_time
+    test_case.addCleanup(patcher.stop)
+
+    patcher = mock.patch('lbrynet.core.utils.now')
+    patcher.start().return_value = timestamp
+    test_case.addCleanup(patcher.stop)
+
+    patcher = mock.patch('lbrynet.core.utils.utcnow')
+    patcher.start().return_value = timestamp
+    test_case.addCleanup(patcher.stop)