Once again, we don’t need to talk about how people live in retirement. The situation that Russians find themselves in when they reach the age of incapacity cannot be called enviable. And it seems that the size of social benefits increases every year, but inflation also grows along with it, which literally eats up all the increases. Why, at the end of their days, are people forced to fight for existence and survive, having decades of work experience?

How to live on a pension if it is barely enough to feed you? Many older people, after retirement, find themselves practically below the poverty line. Old people who are helped financially by their children are in a more advantageous position. But what should single pensioners with a minimum payment do, how to live further?

Pension in our country

The size of the minimum old-age payments in the regions of Russia is just over 8,700 rubles. In Moscow, this figure is slightly higher and reaches almost 12 thousand rubles. Due to their length of service and work experience, many receive an amount exceeding the so-called minimum wage. Their monthly pension can reach 10-15 thousand rubles. But be that as it may, for most people, retirement seems like a terrible nightmare. How to live so that this money is enough until the next payment?

The current generation of pensioners is significantly different from the people hardened by Soviet communism. And although even today one can hear lamentations about how good life was in the USSR, it is no secret to anyone that in those conditions, when one retired, one also had to learn the basics of survival. Modern Russian pensioners have Soviet roots, which only means that they did not grow up in “greenhouse” conditions and led an active lifestyle. Thanks to constant work, aspirations and perseverance, they acquired the ability to survive in not the most favorable conditions. The love of life shown by representatives of that generation can be the envy of today's youth.

So, how to live on a pension if it is within the subsistence level? With this amount it is quite difficult to satisfy even the most necessary, vital needs of any person. Because of poverty, some begin to drink alcohol more often and get sick more often, which only aggravates an already difficult situation. And besides, there is a type of people who, no matter how much they pay, they still won’t have enough. As you know, there is never too much money. Therefore, first of all, you need to pull yourself together and do everything not to break down psychologically. Experts urge you to give yourself positive attitudes in order to try to change the circumstances that have arisen for the better or adapt to them. There is no other way out.

Benefits and subsidies

Instead of oohing and aahing, endlessly asking yourself the question of how to live on a small pension, you will have to be optimistic and be active. In the end, psychologists always advise to rejoice at a glass that is only half full, rather than look at it with despondency and melancholy, considering it half empty. You need to take the positives out of everything and not give up.

Local authorities are striving to implement regional projects, the ultimate goal of which is to improve the standard of living of people of disabled age. If the funds provided by the state are barely enough to survive, the pensioner must:

• find addresses and contacts of social protection services on the websites of local administrations;
• find out about existing and planned social programs, the provision of humanitarian aid, holding events, processing one-time payments, usually timed to coincide with public holidays;
• obtain complete information about the conditions for applying for a subsidy for utility bills;
• make sure that all merits and awards that qualify for benefits are taken into account.

Thus, the right to obtain a “Veteran of Labor” certificate, which gives good privileges to pensioners, arises for citizens with a certain length of work experience, as well as for those who began working as a minor during the Second World War. Some retirees continue to work to gain the missing years of professional experience required to receive a preferential title. Here you need to be persistent and curious: rewards and additional payments will not appear on their own.

In addition to municipal authorities, the Red Cross charity organization provides support to the elderly. The workers of this society know how retired people live. For people in distress, the Red Cross not only helps morally, but also assists those in need in obtaining expensive medical care, medicines, basic necessities, and food packages.

Profitable change of living space

Since the most significant expense item for today's retirees is paying utility bills, it may be worth considering changing your place of residence. Many people solve their financial problems in this way. There are several options, and each of them is possible in a specific situation.

The easiest way is to sell your home and buy a smaller living space, and put the rest in a bank deposit. This will allow you to receive double benefits every month: on the one hand, the pensioner will have an increase in income due to interest on a bank deposit, and on the other hand, the cost of paying for utilities will be reduced. Thus, a one-room apartment is much more economical in terms of maintenance than a two- or three-room apartment.

The second solution is to move from your own apartment or private house to a rented apartment with a smaller area. At the same time, you will also have to rent out your property to tenants. The profit is obvious, but it is worth considering all sorts of risks. It is possible that after the tenants will have to make repairs. In this case, all proceeds will be spent on restoring a comfortable environment. The tenant can protect himself and rent out housing with the requirement to maintain the safety and integrity of the property by concluding an agreement and receiving a security deposit. If the condition of the home at the end of the lease is unsatisfactory, the deposit is not returned to the tenants. In addition, when deciding to rent out your own apartment, you need to find out as much as possible about the potential tenant.

“I may just be starting to live, I’m moving on to retirement...” - who doesn’t remember this phrase from Pechkin from probably everyone’s favorite cartoon? And this is exactly what most older people think, because having escaped the vicious circle of “home-work”, they finally have the opportunity to devote more time to their family, grandchildren, and household chores. The only thing that darkens the idyll is the lack of finances. What to live on after retirement? This question pushes retirees to decide to rent out one of the rooms in their home. This option is suitable for those who have no particular desire to settle in a new place. However, this case also has its significant disadvantages:

• Moral discomfort. Many older people find it difficult to put up with the presence of strangers in their own apartment, so you should think in advance whether you are ready to take such a step.
• There are no guarantees about the integrity of the tenant. This issue requires careful consideration: letting the first person you meet into your house is not a good idea. Ideally, the tenant turns out to be a good friend.

If permanent cohabitation with a stranger is not possible, you can try renting out a room by the day (for example, for people on a business trip). Many retirees have found this method of generating income suitable for them.

Other budget accommodation options

Very often, for older people, the pressing question is not where it is better to live in retirement, but with whom. It's no secret that surviving together is much easier than surviving alone. Consequently, many come to the conclusion that it is necessary to create a profitable union on a semi-commercial basis. Older people often find kindred spirits and decide to live together. This allows you to combine pensions and receive income when renting out a vacant apartment.

Retiring in the city is difficult due to high food prices. It’s different in the countryside: in rural conditions you can buy food at a relatively low cost or grow vegetables and fruits yourself. Don't neglect the opportunity to go to live in the countryside for the summer. In retirement, you can pay more attention to your dacha garden and harvest in the fall.

Modest diet for a pensioner

Most old people see the only way out for themselves - saving on food. Russian pensioners are alien to waste. However, a limited diet is not only a way to save money, but also one of the secrets of taking care of your health in old age. When forming a daily grocery basket, it is important to take into account the needs of the body. It is advisable for pensioners not to overdo it with sweets, eating fatty, smoked foods, mayonnaise, etc. To live longer and get sick less, it is better to focus on natural, healthy and light foods.

Example menu

One of the daily menu options will help you understand how pensioners live on their pensions and at the same time lead a healthy lifestyle:

• Breakfast. Rice or oatmeal porridge in water, seasoned with a spoon of butter. In the absence of the latter, plant-based is quite suitable. Black, green or herbal tea. Loose is cheaper, but before use it must always be doused with boiling water.
• Lunch. You can eat a banana or drink a glass of low-fat kefir. It is better to completely avoid flour products, but if you really want sweets, it is better to eat a piece of dark chocolate. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford good coffee, but there are good budget varieties of this drink.
• Dinner. A simple and inexpensive soup made from chicken by-products (muscle stomachs, hearts, liver, necks). To create a rich broth, meat ingredients can be used separately or all together. First, the giblets are boiled, after which the water is drained and the broth is boiled again. Before adding potatoes, the offal must be thoroughly chopped or minced. Then finish cooking the soup as usual, adding rice, cabbage, other vegetables, and dressing.
• Dinner. Potatoes, beans or peas, lentils, rice or buckwheat porridge, durum wheat pasta are suitable as a side dish. Any vegetables, as well as baked or stewed meat and fish go well with the side dish. However, you should not combine legumes with meat dishes - an excess of proteins does not have the best effect on the health of older people.

How and where to buy food cheaply

A great way to constantly save on food is to periodically monitor prices and follow promotions held in supermarkets, which are accompanied by advantageous offers on certain categories of goods. By purchasing products during promotional periods, you can save up to 50% of your budget. Most chain stores constantly offer discounts. It is profitable to shop in large hypermarkets where “1+1” promotional programs operate: the buyer pays only for one product, and gets the second, identical product for free.

Many people appreciate the benefits of buying in bulk. Not everyone has the opportunity to immediately spend a significant amount on groceries. However, such purchases are more than worth it. In large cities, grocery stores and wholesale stores are within walking distance. If you purchase goods in such places, their cost is much cheaper.

For example, in a retail store a pack of tea will cost 50 rubles. The price is the same in wholesale, but if the buyer takes 3 packs at once, he will pay 120 rubles for them. Thus, one pack of tea at a wholesale price will no longer cost 50 rubles, but 10 rubles more. less. In addition, the quality of products at wholesale centers is in no way inferior to retail. Over time, people adapt to this type of shopping, choose the most suitable product items for themselves, and give preference to brands of individual manufacturers. The only drawback of purchasing in bulk in order to save money is that in a hypermarket it’s hard not to give in to temptation and buy too much.

Many pensioners advise shopping at the market. To ensure that every penny counts, you should record every expense you make. Even the purchase of cheap onions or beets must be recorded - this will allow you to track all the gaps in expenses. On the market you can find fairly affordable price tags, especially when it comes to spoiled fruits and vegetables. Thus, many sellers give away slightly frozen apples in winter almost for free, but they can make an excellent tea pie.

To live on a pension in Russia, you need to prepare for winter in advance. And again the market comes to the rescue: here older people often bring their own goods for sale at a low price. Experienced housewives know how to live on retirement. Women buy berries and vegetables at the market, freeze them, make jam, compotes, pickle them, and marinate them.

Is it possible to work in retirement?

Advantages go to those pensioners who, upon reaching the age of incapacity, still remain in service. If your health allows you to continue working in the same position, that’s great. The security of a pensioner’s job largely depends on the loyalty and understanding of the employer. Undoubtedly, the opportunity to continue working cannot be missed. But in no case should you work to the detriment of your health. In old age, stress on the body is much more dangerous than poverty.

How to live without a pension? This question does not concern a person who continues to work. But what should those who gave up their best years and health earning seniority, and now have to be content with an amount that barely reaches the subsistence level, do? Even if you feel like you don’t have the strength to work anymore, don’t throw away the idea of ​​working at home.

Some people don’t even think about how to live without a pension. With proper activity, you can always find a way to improve your financial situation. In addition, these days there are many directions for self-realization, so you need not to give up and take on board the following tips.

Earning money from home

Is it possible to live on a pension without additional income? Today, old people have a lot of opportunities to get a good raise without even leaving their apartment. We invite you to familiarize yourself with several options for part-time work and choose the one that suits your capabilities:

• Earning money on the Internet. People who have minimal computer and typing skills can earn extra money by creating custom articles. To understand whether the work of a copywriter is right for you or not, it is enough to remember whether you encountered any difficulties when writing school essays. Today you can earn good money from this.
• Call center operator, taxi dispatcher. These are in-demand jobs. The work is carried out remotely, that is, at home. The employee's job is to answer telephone calls.
• Network marketing. Distributors are individuals who distribute the company's products and receive a percentage of sales. This type of work is suitable for people with experience in trading. It is important not to let your guard down, since in the field of network marketing it is easy to fall for the bait of scammers who profit from gullible pensioners.
• Floriculture. Propagating indoor plants and growing seedlings during the planting season can provide a decent income. The goods can be given to flower shops and greenhouses for sale. This option for part-time work is suitable for retirees living in a private house.
• Homemade baking. The products of good chefs are always in demand. Pies, all kinds of pretzels, buns, cheesecakes - every housewife can do this. Why not make money from this?
• Minor clothing repairs at home (sew on a button, hem or shorten trousers, alter a dress, iron a shirt, etc.). The main thing is to do the work efficiently so that demand does not keep you waiting.

Farming

It is impossible to predict how much time each of us will have. But regardless of how long people live in retirement, everyone tries to spend their final stage of life in prosperity, doing what they love. It is not surprising that for some, the onset of disability marks the beginning of a new life - quiet, measured and calm. After retirement, many pensioners begin farming, raising ducks, chickens, pigs, cows and other livestock. Keeping livestock requires a lot of effort and time, but even the smallest farm will provide pensioners with year-round natural products: eggs, milk, cottage cheese, butter, meat, etc.

Household staff

A good option for older people is informal part-time work for hire. In the “domestic staff” category, vacancies are always in demand. How pensioners live on pensions without any additional income is unclear, but one thing is clear: by getting a job as a nanny, housekeeper, governess, watchman or gardener, a person loses nothing:

• Firstly, such work differs little from running a regular household, and therefore no special skills are required for employment (with the exception of nanny work - employers give preference to applicants with a pedagogical education).
• Secondly, employers often allow service personnel to live on the premises of their home and provide workers with food. Thus, the pensioner not only maintains his salary and pension, but also saves on paying for utilities, buying groceries, etc.

Internal migration

How to live on a pension, which is about 25 thousand rubles? One answer suggests itself: without any particular difficulties. This amount seems substantial, especially for residents of the European part of Russia. But in Siberia and the Far East it is absolutely impossible to live on this money. The thing is that prices for products in stores are extremely high due to the expensive transportation of goods - they are delivered only by plane. In addition, the majority of the land in these territories is unsuitable for subsidiary farming. Utility payments account for a large portion of the pension benefit. How to live on retirement with such prices? Therefore, northerners either continue to work after reaching the age limit, or leave for the regions of Central Russia. There you can live quite comfortably on their pension, without denying yourself almost anything.

Learning to plan expenses correctly

There really is no one-size-fits-all way to live on retirement. No matter what country a person lives in, no matter what his income, he will always have difficulties with income due to the inability to plan a budget.

It is advisable to detail upcoming expenses before each month. Set aside part for food, the other part for medicine, for rent, for clothes, for gifts for grandchildren, for a “rainy day”, etc. When making purchases in a supermarket, you must always recalculate the amount in advance - this rule will help protect against dishonesty of sellers.

Since older people often get sick, it is important to learn how to save on medications. And we are not talking about refusing treatment. Some pensioners have found a simple way not to overpay for foreign medications: they purchased a pharmaceutical reference book, which lists analogues of modern medications. The same drug with the same active ingredient can cost several times less simply because it has a different name and is produced at a domestic pharmaceutical enterprise. Why overpay for advertising and branding?

It’s not easy to live on, but those who plan their expenses wisely manage to save and even make a profit by creating deposits in the bank. If you want, even with a minimum pension you can provide yourself with cultural leisure, periodically visit theaters, museums, philharmonic societies and lead a rich social life. Despite the high cost of tickets, some manage to purchase them at a low price with the help of friends, while others attend performances and exhibitions with free invitations and counterfeits.

A huge role in the well-being of pensioners is played by their own adult children, who either show active participation in the lives of their parents and help them financially, or, conversely, are indifferent and indifferent to the problems of their fathers and mothers. Don’t forget about your parents for a minute, take care of them while they are around...

72-year-old Alexandra Vitalievna, it seems, time has no power over her. Youthful, elegant, always tastefully dressed, a cheerful pensioner looks 10 years younger. She is a former doctor and is used to always being in shape.

Alexandra Vitalievna, on the pages of one of the online publications, shared her experience of how she manages to look so beautiful, and most importantly, how she manages to live on her pension.

After the last indexation, her pension is just over 13 thousand rubles. This money is enough for her to live comfortably and even for entertainment. A pensioner, she even allows herself to go to the theater or museum twice a month. And all this thanks to the rational use of your budget.

She divides her pension into four parts. The first is mandatory expenses, which include utilities and internet. This costs 5 thousand rubles. Tries to save on electricity and water.

Pensioners should under no circumstances have debts for services to utility companies. If you are late for one month, you will have to pay for two the next month. And this will take your entire pension!

The second part is intended for the purchase of non-perishable products and sanitary and hygiene products. With each pension, he replenishes his supply of cereals, sugar, canned food, vegetable oils, cleaning and detergents. Minus one and a half thousand rubles from the budget.

She leaves four thousand rubles for her current expenses: the purchase of meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits for tea.

All that remains, in her words, is money for her own joy. New things and entertainment. True, in order to treat yourself to a new blouse or dress, you have to save money for several months. He buys tickets to the theater through promotions, for 300-400 rubles. And going to museums costs 100 rubles, fortunately the fee for this category of visitors is purely symbolic.

It is probably difficult to imagine how one can get by with four thousand in operating expenses per month, but Alexandra Vitalievna manages to fit into this part of her budget. Thanks to little tricks.

Firstly, he doesn’t go to the store every day, but every other day or two, and less often if possible. Secondly, with a list of necessary products. This insures her against unnecessary and useless purchases. Thirdly, he takes with him a limited amount, no more than 400 rubles. He tries to buy groceries in stores that offer social discounts for pensioners. In addition, retail chains often hold various promotions, which she actively uses.

Alexandra Vitalievna even has her own emergency reserve. She puts aside more than a thousand rubles on her card every month, which the state returns to her as compensation for utilities (if utility bills make up 22% of income, the pensioner is entitled to a subsidy). This is money for unexpected expenses - medicines, gifts for friends or relatives.
She can't afford big purchases. And there is no need for them. Alexandra Vitalievna prepared for the moment when she will not work. I updated all the equipment, made renovations in the apartment, and purchased bedding. He advises future retirees to do the same. People of pre-retirement age need to know that pensions are only enough for the most minimal needs of a person!

I'll start with a family anecdote. When my daughter was in kindergarten age, she passionately dreamed of becoming... a pensioner, so as not to have to go anywhere and sit at home to her heart’s content. Of course, retirement has its positive aspects. Its arrival can be a joy: how many unfulfilled plans are there, put off until better times! And now you have so much free time, isn’t it time to do it? But the new life pleases few.

My friend Lyudmila liked to admit that only in retirement was she able to live a full life. She started traveling and was able to help children more. Lyudmila continued to work. Therefore, pension payments have become simply a “bonus” based on age.

Melanya Andreevna and Anna Andreevna, our regular readers, began to live together. Both sisters are over 70, they are very hardworking, thrifty and easy-going. Together it’s easier for them to cultivate the garden, it’s more fun to dig potatoes together (yes, they do it all themselves!) and watch TV series in the evenings. The city apartment was rented out to one of the sisters. They say they live wonderfully. But without a garden we would be hungrier.

As you know, the well-fed cannot understand the hungry. It’s hard to think about your life in old age when you’re still a couple of decades away. Therefore, to the report about how the largest part of the population of Gelendzhik lives, we decided to add an experiment “on ourselves”. I asked a pensioner with an income of 10 thousand rubles to describe a month of her life with purchases, unexpected expenses, life tricks and survival tips. Oh, to save your budget. Zoya Mikhailovna Storina came to help us.

“We must learn to live on what we have, child,” the 76-year-old interlocutor began to teach me with enthusiasm. — We receive our pension on the 5th, we immediately deduct half: utilities. We divide the remaining five thousand into 4 weeks, one thousand in reserve. I would like to say that my income couldn’t be funnier. But, unfortunately, it happens.

Grandma is not complaining at all. With her modest finances, she bought a washing machine on credit (she is still paying) and regularly helps her son. The recipe for frugal living is simple. That's what she says. Be silent and save. And don’t deny yourself anything.

Live on a thousand a week? Yes Easy!

On the advice of Zoya Mikhailovna, for a week we buy a set for broth from chicken ridges for 66 rubles per kg, two keg of potatoes, a pack of pasta, cabbage, bread. In this situation, there is only cucumber and greens left. Let's go further: take another carton of milk and a pack of cottage cheese. To sweeten your life - “Cancer Cervix” candies. I climbed out of the first week’s limit instantly, getting “excessive amounts” of sour cream for borscht, and I’m afraid to even talk about a piece of pork on the bone.

Since I have put the burden of life on my shoulders, then, in theory, I can now buy fewer things. Where should we go? To the market and to the clinic. But you can go to the dacha in an old one. “There will still be enough outerwear for several seasons,” my volunteer assistant Zoya Mikhailovna thinks for me.

What if you (that is, I) are still a young pensioner? I want to wear something new. I understand that it is impossible to buy. It’s more difficult with shoes: they somehow wear out quickly. But you can go to the dacha in the sneakers that your grandson gave away. You can’t buy furniture with that kind of pension, as long as the sofa doesn’t fall apart and the TV doesn’t let you down. Household utensils will last a long time. There are plenty of different dishes, pots and pans. It doesn't seem that difficult. Most people in our country live quite modestly; sometimes there is not enough money even for the most basic necessities, regardless of whether there is a crisis now or not.

“It will be good if you write in the newspaper where you can buy things cheaper,” advises Zoya Mikhailovna. — What kind of help will this be for pensioners! I'll be the first to start. Look: we go to Parus for meat, potatoes, carrots and eggs. Just above the Ryabinushka kindergarten there is a store called “General Store” in a two-story house among high-rise buildings. Previously, I would have sent you there to buy apples, but now they have become more expensive and are on par with market prices. I buy cheaper milk (33 rubles) and natural sour cream - not a sour cream product - at Yulia, which is near the Field Market, on the corner next to the pharmacy. I would be glad to know the addresses of “healthy” stores with other products. A pensioner's feet feed him.

Second week of my “retirement” life

First: I go to the grocery store every other day. Second: I take with me only the amount that I can spend, which is 300 rubles. This amount includes payment for groceries, small household purchases: soap, washing powder, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. Before going to the store, I plan in advance what I will cook on these days, how many products I need to purchase. I put aside one thousand for unexpected expenses - for medicines, travel expenses, shoe repairs and something like that.

We still remember that I am temporarily retired, and not a mother of two children. Therefore, I write down the purchase of children’s tights, a winter hat to replace the one lost at school, 700 rubles for a birthday present for my daughter’s friend (and this is only during the first week!), but do not take them into account in the expense item.

— Can I influence the dollar exchange rate? Therefore, I live in peace, I don’t spoil my nerves with this knowledge,” another pensioner acquaintance, Anna Nikolaevna, brushes aside what she considers a far-fetched problem. She has long found her niche for herself: she grows flowers on the plot and sells them. The “business” is not rich, the old woman is embarrassed to trade, so she distributes bouquets only among neighbors and acquaintances, almost for nothing. But this money is also very helpful.

Baba Anya doesn’t follow the course, but the news on websites where craftswomen offer crafts for sale. She has already sent customers knitted napkins and tablecloths, woolen socks and self-knitted clothes via the Internet.

I really tried to persuade Anna Nikolaevna to take a photo for the newspaper with her unusual napkins. Not at all. “What’s happening, the neighbors will think that I can’t live on my pension alone?!” - is indignant. That's how she is, like everyone else. Lives. Knitting. Doesn't complain.

Third week. Cucumber for 3 days

I met a wonderful woman. Such, you know, a Russian beauty. She worked in a design bureau, and even earlier as a cook at the Gelendzhik restaurant. Valentina Nikolaevna Gateryuk is 85 years old (pictured).

We talked from the heart, the topic is the most pressing! The lion's share of the “income” is consumed by the communal apartment, that’s 4-5 thousand. But in the last five years, life has become more pleasant, since upon reaching the age of 80 the state added 3 thousand. Valentina Nikolaevna, like all representatives of her generation, was not used to luxury from her youth. Believes that money should be treated wisely. She was the one who helped me best with the editorial task, sorting out every penny.

So, food. Porridge in the morning. Healthy, nutritious, satisfying, tasty. For lunch, soups, a piece of meat, plus always a salad from what you have. In the evening, stewed potatoes with fish and another salad. It is clear that the menu varies, but greens and vegetables should always be present on the table.

Every day, the Gelendzhi resident takes walks in the fresh air. This is a prerequisite and the main recipe for good health. Therefore, it was wonderfully preserved for its age. But he is afraid to go to doctors. To avoid exorbitant expenses on medicines. And he’s afraid that the medicines won’t help. In the “Entertainment” sub-item we included forced marches on foot. Previously, a good friend of mine walked along the embankment and worked out at the Harmony club, which is located in Parus, but now it’s hard to get that far.

We are looking for a penny

Vasil Vasilich, a regular reader of our publication, is a pensioner with 25 years of work experience, and lives not alone, but with his wife. He has 9,500 rubles, she has 6,500 rubles. Utility costs 6 thousand rubles in winter, 3 thousand in summer. They don't plan their budget. They look for the cheapest food. They do not allow themselves any other expenses. One joy is that my daughter helps, sends clothes, shoes, bags. “But this is not typical for families our age. I must admit that more often than not, children and grandchildren ask their grandparents, rather than give them,” Vasil Vasilich leads me into an honest conversation. “It’s good that pensioners in coastal cities have the opportunity to live better than their neighbors.”

The spouses purchase products at weekend fairs. “For my wife, her friends and generally everyone I know, the fair is an event, an occasion for meeting and talking. And, of course, this is the only place where you can buy quality products at good prices.”

To buy medicine, you have to go to pharmacies. And even in those pensioners they only take cheap analogues for coughs, headaches, and blood pressure.

Week four

The wallet is empty. Somehow I didn’t notice what needs my last saved thousand was spent on... I failed the experiment. I didn’t manage to live on my pension for a month. And this despite the fact that February is a short month.

How to live?

Under this heading I would like to give advice that will certainly help to relax the tight belts of pensioners at least a little.

Don't delay paying utility bills. Remember: if you don’t pay now, it will be unrealistic to pay the “double tariff” on bills next month, and debts have the unpleasant property of accumulating.

It’s best to stock up on potatoes and vegetables in the fall, buy flour at wholesale warehouses and bake your own bread - it’s much cheaper than store-bought bread. Yes, you have to spend more time in the kitchen than other housewives, but it’s worth it!

Do not buy food randomly, but according to a list of planned dishes.

Make the most of your freezer. It can be a good helper during the season of cheap vegetables and fruits.

Include beans in your diet! This is one of the most useful products.

In order not to get sick, not to be depressed and to feel needed, come up with something to do. Knit, conquer the embankment, join a choir, go for walks with your grandchildren (you can rent your neighbors’ ones)… The less unoccupied time you have, the better - there is no time to think about illnesses and the modern economy.

Dear readers!

Olga Kostromina.

Honestly, our retired grandmothers sometimes simply amaze me. Not only do they manage to live on, to put it mildly, a small pension that the state pays them, they also try to help us, our grandchildren!

Modern pensioners are simply the standard of frugality and thrift. Of course, they are clearly not luxurious, but, as a rule, they live quite tolerably: they have enough money for food, they periodically buy new clothes, and they also help their grandchildren.

True, not all pensioners manage to lead a comfortable existence. Actually, today’s article will be about how to live on a small pension, including some practical tips.

The smaller the pension, the better it should be considered

First. Start by carefully counting all your expenses. Get yourself a small notebook and write down absolutely all your payments there. Even if you bought an inexpensive pen, the amount you spent on it must be written down in a notebook.
Constantly maintaining such a notebook allows you to understand where your pension is going and see where you can save and what expenses can be reduced.

Of course, you can already tell me where you spend your money. And I even know what you will answer me! These are payments for apartments, food and medicine.

Agree. An elderly, and sometimes not very healthy, person spends a lot of money on medications. And utility bills and buying groceries are the biggest expenses for any family.

At the same time, I’m almost sure that as soon as you start a notebook for yourself in which you write down all your expenses, you will understand that money is often spent just like that, on all sorts of unnecessary things. For example, to buy some kind of miracle - a remedy that helps both against hypertension and hemorrhoids. More on this a little later...

Second. Don’t be shy, without leaving the cash register in a store or pharmacy, check both the amount of the receipt and the change that was given to you.

I don't want to say that the saleswoman wants to deceive you. But she's at work all day, and she might just make a mistake when giving you change, or make a mistake when returning a check for groceries or medicine.

Third. When paying utility bills, check your management company at least once a year to see how it calculates payments to you.
To do this, you need to find out what tariffs apply in your locality, and just check whether the calculation is correct. If you can’t do it yourself, ask younger relatives about it. I think you will not be denied this.

In this article we will tell you what the average pensioner looks like through the eyes of statistics.

Sergey Antonov

loves statistics

Who are considered pensioners in Russia?

According to Rosstat, there are 46 million pensioners in the country - that's every third Russian. But not all of them are elderly.

For example, more than two million people receive a disability pension, and one and a half million - due to the loss of a breadwinner. 2.2 million Russians have retired due to length of service: these are military personnel, police officers, judges, prosecutors, and residents of the northern regions. But the majority - 36 million people - receive an old-age pension, that is, those who have reached a certain age. Before January 1, 2019, women retired at 55, and men at 60.

How old and what is your name

In fact, the average pensioner is a pensioner. There are twice as many elderly women as men: 29 million people versus 14.4 million. The typical Russian pensioner is 58 years old: among Russian women over 55 years old, the majority of women are of this age.

The average pensioner's name is Elena Vladimirovna. Elena is the most popular female name in Russia from the fifties to the late nineties. Boys in the twenties and thirties were most often called Vladimir - most likely, this is the name of our Elena’s father.

In the early sixties, boys were called Sasha. If Elena Vladimirovna has a husband of the same age, then his name is Alexander Vladimirovich.

Elena Vladimirovna will live another 14 years: the predicted life expectancy of Russian women born in the sixties is 72.4 years. A man of this age, according to statistics, will die before reaching 64 years of age. The most common cause of death in the country is heart attack. To live longer, Elena Vladimirovna needs to walk more, eat right and visit a cardiologist twice a year.

Where does he live?

Russians over working age make up approximately a quarter of the country's population. According to Rosstat, in both cities and villages, every fourth person is a pensioner. But there are 27 million retired urban residents in the country, and 9.8 million elderly residents of rural areas.

As for living conditions, according to statisticians, per pensioner in Russia there are on average two rooms with a total area of ​​24 square meters. Most likely, this is a small house in the city’s private sector or a two-room apartment in a Khrushchev-era building. If you believe Rosstat surveys, the majority of Russian pensioners claim that they do not feel cramped and are generally satisfied with their housing conditions.

How much does he get

The average pension in Russia in 2018 was 14.1 thousand rubles. But the pension is not Elena Vladimirovna’s only source of income. She also receives 1,854 rubles in the form of various social payments - benefits, compensation and other benefits.

RUB 14,151

average pension in Russia in 2018

Elena Vladimirovna, despite her age, continues to work, like a quarter of all older people in the country. Most often, pensioners work in jobs that do not require any special qualifications, for example, as cleaners. In second place in popularity are leadership positions. Also, if you believe the statistics, there are many retirees among librarians, teachers and officials. Moreover, there are approximately equal numbers of working men and older women.

Elena Vladimirovna’s salary is less than her pension: according to Rosstat, on average working pensioners receive a little more than 10 thousand rubles. But she has enough desire and strength to work for another seven years: in Russia, about half of all employees of retirement age quit their jobs at 65.

Does it feel lonely

Elena Vladimirovna, despite doctors’ recommendations, does not lead an active lifestyle: according to statistics, only 7.3% of older Russians go in for sports. Despite this, she manages to cope with everyday life without outside help: according to Rosstat, only 2.4% of older people are registered with social security as needing care. Although, according to polls by sociologists, the majority of older Russians believe that the state should take care of them in old age. But young people think that this is the task of relatives.

Russian pensioners do not devote all their free time to raising the younger generation: only 22% of women and 13% of older men sit with their grandchildren every day.

Elena Vladimirovna is far from the Internet: according to statistics, only 8% of older people use the Internet. Moreover, there are more of these in the countryside than in the city. Nevertheless, Elena Vladimirovna does not feel lonely at all. Like 90% of pensioners, she has friends and acquaintances with whom she can always talk.