For example, syktywkar: this is how average russians live on their incomes – and without savings
How do they do it, the russians?? Earn comparatively little money and still lead a relatively "european" life. Maybe you have asked yourself the same question. The MDZ puts me to the test. We asked russians in syktyvkar, a typical russian provincial town, to disclose their finances.
At the end of march, the romir opinion research institute in moscow reported that 61 percent of russians have no savings at all. This is the highest figure in more than ten years. Another twelve percent stated that they had just used up their last reserves.
In other words: a large majority of russians live from hand to mouth. How to cope with everyday life? In syktyvkar, a town of just under 250.With a population of around 1000 kilometers northeast of moscow, capital of the komi republic on the urals, MDZ spoke to local residents and asked them about their income and expenditure. A financial portrait of russia, broken down to private living conditions.
A branch of sberbank: small savers are rather the exception here. / RIA novosti
Only the son was at the seaside: elisaweta popovichenko, 31, employee in a stomatology department
In syktyvkar, the opportunities for earning money are very limited, especially in the private sector, as in my case. The state pays better, but to get a job there you have to have relationships. I do not have them.
In general, the job situation is not rosy. There is little industry left here, and unemployment continues to spread. I'm just catching up on my higher education, and hopefully I'll find a more lucrative job after that.
We get by on our family budget, don't pay much attention to money when we buy groceries, and don't save any money from our mouths. But we are also very lucky, we live in an inherited three-room apartment. I do not know what else would become. We couldn't afford to take out a mortgage, and we couldn't afford to pay rent, because we'd have to live in an apartment of the same size with a rent of 15.000 to 20.000 rubles. For taking care of my husband's father, he pays us a household allowance. This is also a big help.
Sometimes we go to the cinema, go bowling or skiing, that's all we can afford. We don't have a car, we spend our vacations in the village with our parents. I've never been to the sea! Of course I wouldn't say no to that, but I see it soberly. There are more important things. And if we have any money left over, then our son should benefit from it so that he can travel with his soccer team. Last summer at least he was on the black sea.
We have no savings. And if I look around and judge by the people I know, 80 percent of the people here live about the same as we do.
From taxpayers' money through europe: yaroslav popov, 27, trainer in a soccer school for children
I never got around to saving. The money barely lasts until the end of the month. I keep my head above water only thanks to the credits and the credit card. And I can forget about improving myself financially.
Last year, I bought a semi-professional SLR camera worth 100 euros.000 rubles. But that was only possible because I had previously sold my share in a condominium. From the proceeds I could also reduce the mortgage rate by more than half.
Last summer my wife and i went on a bus trip through europe. We were able to finance this through tax refunds that we are entitled to as buyers of a condominium. The rest we had to borrow together.
Neither rich nor poor: tamara shujskaja, 65, pensioner
My husband died early, and I have been alone for twelve years. Our four children have long since left home, of course, but they visit me frequently. My parents once left us an apartment of 78 square meters, which I now have all to myself. But i often stay for a longer time on our datscha 20 kilometers outside the city. We grow potatoes, carrots and other vegetables there, so i practically don't have to buy any of them from the store. I also keep a goat, so milk is also provided for.
The 22.000 rubles transferred to me monthly is considered a good pension in our country. I used to be a civil servant, I worked in the regional ministry of social affairs. I am a teacher by profession. I have practically no fixed monthly expenses, except for the expenses for our apartment, although as a pensioner I have to pay for half of the 18 square meters of the apartment. Even if I help the children financially, at the end of the month I have on average about 6000 rubles left, which I put aside for the case of need.
We do not live on a large scale, but also not in poverty, everything is quite normal. I do not take out loans on principle, I do not feed on delicatessen, the internet leaves me cold. From time to time I spoil myself by buying special fruit. I also like to go to the theater. For that I have something nice to wear, that's enough for me.
I am not dependent on medicines so far – good luck!. I have learned to deal with my aches and pains. When they call, I need above all rest. Otherwise I am doing well. I know that medicine is a big financial burden for most retirees, many spend half of their pension on it. We used to get the medicines for free. Today you have to pay for everything.
Written by tino kunzel
Monthly fixed sums in our three example cases (without variable costs like food)
Family popovichenko: konstantin, sawelij, elisaweta
46.000 ruble salary (ca. 615 euro) – 23 each.000 rubles per spouse
5000 rubles care money from the father of the husband (ca. 65 euro)
Total: 51.000 rubles (ca. 680 euro)
8000 rubles incidental expenses (ca. 105 euro)
8000 rubel home improvement loan (ca. 105 euro)
4000 ruble public transport (ca. 55 euro)
400 ruble telephone and internet (ca. 5 euro)
Total: 20.400 ruble (ca. 272 euro)
Family popov: nastja, jaroslaw
52.900 ruble salary (ca. 705 euro) – 22.000 rubles (nastja) + 30.900 rubles (jaroslaw)
13.884 ruble mortgage (ca. 185 euro)
3000 ruble additional costs (ca. 40 euro)
7721 rubles car loan (ca. 103 euro)
2000 rubles gasoline (ca. 27 euro)
2000 rubel phone credit (ca. 27 euro)
5000 rubles professional training (ca. 65 euro)
2100 rubel english lessons (ca. 28 euro)
1800 rubel gym (ca. 24 euro)
1100 rubel telephone and internet (ca. 15 euros)
Total: 38.605 rubles (ca. 515 euro)