Awhat can a person do without? A Netflix subscription? Eating out in the restaurant? Most would probably agree here. Food? an apartment? This is where it gets trickier. In the past few months, these goods have had one thing in common: their prices have risen. And not too little: the fear of inflation is spreading. According to a representative survey by the union-affiliated Hans Böckler Foundation, more and more people are worried about their own economic situation. Around a quarter of all respondents stated that their financial situation was “extremely” or “strongly” burdened, and 26 percent expressed “great concerns”. Some of them do without holidays, clothes or even food.
This is not surprising in view of inflation of 7.9 percent in May compared to the same month last year. Food prices rose 11 percent and energy prices rose 38 percent. The last time there was such a sharp increase in consumer prices was at the time of reunification. Because wages have not risen to the same extent, people are actually getting less for their money than they were a year ago, and their purchasing power is suffering.
How do people with different incomes deal with this?
Phonevilay, 41 years old, lives in a small rented apartment in Frankfurt. She gets about 1300 euros net.
I’ve been living in Germany for 20 years, but I’m originally from Laos. The people there are very poor, but the family sticks together. Food is expensive in Laos too, people don’t earn enough, but we share everything with each other.
In Germany I am alone. Nobody cares. My husband hit me then, now I’m alone, but it’s better that way.
I have four children, three live with me, my youngest child is three months old. That’s why I can’t work in the old people’s home as usual. But when my child is 1 or 2 years old, I will start working again. Also because I have to. I didn’t want to get pregnant, I’m 41 years old. This girl got me right. Nevertheless, I want to do everything right with her. I’ve internalized the German mentality, the culture, I’m on time, I pay for everything on time, whether it’s more expensive or not.
I get about 1300 euros from the job center, there is also maintenance and child benefit. Everything is expensive here. And sometimes I don’t even get the groceries I want. I went to Aldi because, you know, I love Aldi. But there was no rice. I thought, I can’t live in Germany like this anymore. Everyone laughs when I tell them that. Then I got no oil, then no flour. What’s going on here? I have to go shopping every day to end up getting all the groceries I want. I would so love to see more of Germany. But vacation? O my God. A vacation rental is so expensive. I will never be able to vacation here.
