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How to live on a pension of 10,000. Social experiment or how I lived on pension (1 photo)

About how people live in retirement once again you don't have to talk. 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 do? minimum size payments, 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 terrible nightmare seems like retirement. 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, they lived active image life. 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 living wage? 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 giving yourself positive attitudes 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 current and planned social programs, provision of humanitarian aid, holding events, registration lump sum payments, usually confined to public holidays;
  • get full information about the conditions for obtaining a subsidy for payment utilities;
  • make sure that all merits and awards that qualify for benefits are taken into account.

Thus, the right to issue a “Veteran of Labor” certificate, which gives good privileges to pensioners, arises for citizens who have a certain seniority, as well as those who started labor activity 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 bodies, it is involved in supporting the elderly Charitable organization"Red Cross". 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, food sets.

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. So, studio 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 restoration 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 from vicious circle“home-work”, they finally get the opportunity to devote more time to 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 question requires careful consideration: letting the first person you meet into your house is not the best 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. Men in old age often found soul mates and decide to live together. This allows you to combine pensions and receive income when renting out a vacant apartment.

Living in the city on retirement is difficult because high prices for food. 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 extravagance is alien. However limited diet- this is not only a way to save a budget, but also one of the secrets careful attitude to your health in old age. When forming everyday food 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

Understand how pensioners live on pensions and at the same time lead healthy image life, one of the daily menu options will help:

  • Breakfast. Rice or oatmeal on 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 low-fat kefir. From flour products It’s better to give it up completely, but if you really want sweets, it’s better to eat a piece of dark chocolate. Good coffee Unfortunately, not everyone can afford it, but there are good budget varieties of this drink.
  • Dinner. Simple and inexpensive soup 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, pasta made from durum wheat. Any vegetables, as well as baked or stewed meat and fish go well with the side dish. However, combine legumes with meat dishes not worth it - an excess of proteins is not the best in the best possible way affects the health of older people.

How and where to buy food cheaply

Great way constantly save on food - periodically monitor prices, follow promotions held in supermarkets, which are accompanied by advantageous offers for 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 big cities there are 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 in winter you need to prepare in advance. And again the market comes to the rescue: elderly people often bring goods here own production 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 theirs do? best years and health, earning experience, and now forced to be content with an amount that hardly reaches the subsistence level? 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 financial position. In addition, these days there are many directions for self-realization, so you need not to give up and take on board 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 suitable 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 life stage in abundance, doing what you 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 ordinary work household, and therefore no special skills are required for employment (with the exception of nanny work - employers give preference to applicants with teacher 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 special 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 bills account for the majority of pension benefit. How to live on retirement with such prices? Therefore, northerners either continue to work after reaching 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

Doesn't really exist universal method how 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 that lists analogues of modern medications. The same drug with the same active substance may cost several times cheaper only because it has a different name and is produced at a domestic pharmaceutical enterprise. Why overpay for advertising and branding?

Living on a pension in Russia is not easy, but those who plan their expenses wisely manage to save and even make a profit by creating deposits in the bank. If you want, then even with minimum pension you can provide yourself with cultural leisure, periodically visit theaters, museums, philharmonic societies and have 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 at free invitations and countermarks.

A huge role in the well-being of pensioners is played by their own adult children, who show either Active participation in the lives of their parents and helping them financially, or, conversely, being 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...

Preface.

Everything written here is social experiment. The author (that is, I) does not set himself the task of in any way forcing readers to do this, the author does not draw conclusions (you can draw them yourself based on the contents of your skull, or you can just forget), the author simply describes how you can ( and is it possible) to live on the minimum state pension V Russian Federation. The experiment does NOT pretend to be maximally objective due to the fact that the author is not a pensioner and is somewhat unaware of all the nuances.
The totals given in the experiment will differ slightly from the final amounts and calculations due to the fact that not absolutely all expenses are indicated here (for example, the purchase of bread, salt, deductions for some “trips” to public transport, additional purchase of small things like 1 carrot for 5 rubles), and the subtotals and final figures are taken from a bank statement, therefore more accurate.

So, let's go!

Reading articles and comments about the condition pension payments, about our parents (many of them are already pensioners), stuck in my head intrusive thought- well, how can you live on these pennies?
Over time, the thought transformed into a clear understanding that a bad head does not give rest to one’s hands, and one needs to conduct an experiment - to live at least for a month on the money that the state pays to its citizens in the form of pensions.

Let me make a reservation right away - I am not a pensioner, I work, I earn good money, so I removed some types of payments from my experiment, due to the fact that I need these expenses to maintain my earnings (maintenance of cars, for example).

So, I started by calling the local Pension Fund and inquired about the size of pensions in our region. A sweet voice on the other side said that today minimum payout equal to 8,801 rubles, the average is 14,500 rubles, and the maximum reaches 42,000.
Well, what can I say, of course you can live on 42, but try living on 8.801!

I waited until the beginning of the month, emptied one of the cards, and transferred exactly 8,801 rubles to it. Now this is all my money for the month. Actually everything. You can start mowing like a pensioner.

First of all, we need to set aside money for our beloved bloodsuckers from the housing and communal services sector. It should be noted that in general they are not that bad. average cost services per month are approximately 2,700 rubles for a two-room apartment with 47 square meters (a little less in summer, a little more expensive in winter). The yard is swept, the light bulbs in the entrance are changed, the entrance itself is washed, and the garbage is taken out.

Well, after shedding a few tears, I paid for housing and communal services and uuuuppsss! They charged another 54 rubles as a “commission for translation services.” I didn’t even know there was such a thing before - everything was paid automatically. It seems like fifty dollars is nonsense, but money is already so little.

In general, I have as much as 6,047 rubles left (for mathematicians: 8,801 rubles - 2,700 rubles - 54 rubles = 6,047 rubles).
Inner voice obviously chuckled and suggested that we quickly finish with this nonsense and go to a tavern to eat steaks.

Ha! Russians don't give up! - I retorted and began calculations.

It turned out that I had as much as 195.06 rubles available to spend per day. Holy shit, so many! An inner voice whinnied tactlessly near my right ear.

So, I saw 2 ways.
The first is to go to a wholesale store and buy a bunch of everything at once with all the money, and then try to survive on it for a month.
The second is to visit nearby large stores (supermarkets) and inspect them for any promotions or discounts.

The second method was chosen. Promotions are good, and somehow storing perishable food in the refrigerator for a month didn’t excite me.
At first there was an idea to collect receipts and photograph them, but after I habitually threw a couple of receipts into the trash right in the store, the technique broke down. Therefore, some are from memory, some are based on bank card statements, some are based on preserved receipts.

There are 2 supermarkets within walking distance from me - one from the largest chain and also the most expensive, and a “supermarket for the poor” - the cheapest (if you take average prices). You can also get to the federal one by public transport, the prices there are so-so, but often there are promotions like 20-30-50% discounts, plus their own line of products “for the poor.”

Therefore, it was decided to graze these particular supermarkets, and for a trip to a “distant” (federal) market, it was decided to deduct 24 rubles from oneself (a trip on a municipal bus in both directions).

The first day of the experiment fell on Friday, so the first thing I did was stop at a distant supermarket to fish out good discounts(they are there every day for different products, but on Fridays it is especially busy).

My instinct didn’t let me down and the market was full of signs with “20% discount”, but only for kebabs. However, what was interesting to me was that there was a discount of the day on chicken schnitzel. Only 202 rub. for 1 kg of this wonderful product. (Represents a broken chicken breast, rolled in breadcrumbs).

It was packed with 3 small schnitzels (costed 128.6 rubles), bread (I generally only snore Rye bread, but 33.80 for a “Darnitsky” flatbread is a little expensive for me now, so I took the cheapest bread, for 16.90), the cheapest pasta (26.90 for 500 g), 2 tomatoes (Chinese for 69.90 per kg, pulled by 28.40) and 1 cucumber (local) at 39.90 per kg, which pulled by 14.6 rubles.
Double the bank tomato paste“Kubanochka” for 29.90 and a packet of some mayonnaise-type sauce for 24 rubles.
At the checkout, I was upset that I had gone beyond the daily amount - as much as 269.3, plus 24 rubles for travel, but the snack should have been enough for a couple of days.

In total, at the end of the first day of my retirement life, I spent almost 300 rubles (293.3 to be exact) out of 195 available.

At home, I fried schnitzels, cooked pasta (as long as you eat it hot, you can eat it, but if it’s cooled down, it won’t look very good) and found out that the schnitzel is quite large, it can be divided into 2 times, and in the end you will get 6 servings, which is 3 times a day. nutrition fits into 2 days. And for 2 days, I can spend as much as 390.12 rubles, but I spent only 293.3, the profit is as much as 96.82! It just made me proud how thrifty I am [<- это был сарказм].

I spent the entire next week in the “supermarket for the poor,” which turned out to be greedy with discounts, but it had the cheapest promotional rice, at 29.90 per kilogram. Having suppressed the attack of the toad, I immediately packed a bag for a little over 4 kilograms (the local packaging is like this, apparently they pour it by eye and then weigh it), paying 129 rubles. Rice is a fairly economical thing; you throw in a glass, and what comes out is a small saucepan. True, eat it every day...
But there is also buckwheat and peas! And even oatmeal, which is “rolled oatmeal”, costs 19 rubles! In general, cereals are all our pension money, yes! It’s much more difficult with meat, but with chicken or fish there are no special problems - I came across a sale of chicken nuggets at 179 per kilogram, and immediately stocked up on two. There is even a whole chicken for 89.90 per kg, but I was careful not to take it (later it turned out that I did the right thing). Flounder for 79, pollock for 80, and pink salmon (on sale) for only 149 rubles per kilogram.

After 10 days, I recalculated the balance, checked the card and received a balance of 4,651 rubles. Holy shit! I didn’t even know that you could live for 10 days on less than fifteen hundred!
I decided to indulge myself and bought a whole kilogram of wonderful pork tenderloin - 380 rubles per kilogram. I ate for 4 days (fried, chop), saving and smacking my lips, snacking on rice and pasta (pasta at 35 rubles per kg - disgusting!).
I didn’t want to buy the “loin” part at 290 - a lot of fat, skin, bones. The 320 beef was also cut so skillfully that in any piece the bone occupied at least 30% of the volume, there is nothing to say about cartilage.

I bought a kilogram of bones for 60 rubles and cooked borscht. Cabbage - 15 rubles per kilogram, onions - 19, carrots - as much as 24 (Chinese, I couldn’t find it cheaper), beets - 19, potatoes - 16.90.
I thought about it and bought another jar of sour cream. 39 rubles for 200 grams. We, pensioners, love sour cream!
The 5 liter pan ran out in 3 days. I'll tell you - borscht without savory pieces of meat is so-so in terms of satiety. I ate a healthy plate, and 2 hours later I want it again.

On the 18th day the next recalculation is 4.012 balance. Not bad.

I bought 221 grams of smoked loin for 79.56, 800 grams of peas for 34 rubles, and started enjoying the soup. It would be nice to have more Koreans, but oh well, you won’t be able to run away much from retirement. Ate for 2 days.

I remembered that I didn’t buy vegetable oil for all 20 days - I used old leftovers. He immediately inspected the stores and, without flinching, laid out 220 rubles for a 3-liter jar of oil “for everyone.” The oil is so-so, but if you don’t overheat it in a frying pan, it will do.

On the 20th day, I bought myself a whole pink salmon, with the head on, but without the giblets. Rybina pulled out 190 rubles. I cut off the head, fins, tail and abdomen and put it in the refrigerator. I fried the fish in small steaks, it was quite good with mayanesique and rice. It was difficult to stretch it out for 2 days.

Day 22 - I have an earache! Yes, yes, from the same thing - head, fins, tail. I had to buy more potatoes and carrots. I'll tell you that the fish soup from all this, without the fish itself, is just so-so. I used up a three-liter saucepan in a day.

Day 23 is fishy again. I bought 1.5 kg of flounder and paid 117 rubles. A tasty piece of butter for 63 and a couple of kilograms of potatoes for 42. I had to buy a bag of flour. 0.5 kg for 23 rubles. More is cheaper, but I don't need more.
I ate fried flounder with potatoes for two days. It's tasty, but the flounder runs out faster.

Day 25 - another revision. 2968 on the map, there is some rice left, half a pack of peas, a lot of butter and vegetable oil, 2 carrots.

There is exactly a week left until the end of the experiment, and the money is almost 3 thousand!

I bought a kilogram of “homemade” minced meat (299 rubles per kg, cost 302 rubles) and a kilogram of chicken (220 per kg, cost 231 rubles). I bought some “fashionable” pasta (54 rubles/500g). I made meatballs, cooked rice - made meatballs, bought a loaf (6.90 for a small one) - made cutlets.

I ate for 4 days. On the 3rd day I ran out of pasta, so I bought more potatoes (39 rubles).

Day 29 2275 rubles on the card. The soap and snout accessories purchased before the experiment ran out, and I did not take them into account in my calculations.

Having cried, I inspected the markets, and it turned out:

259 rubles for 4 kg of the cheapest powder on sale
69 rubles for a hefty tube of the cheapest toothpaste
79 rubles per liter jar of liquid soap
2x18 rubles for laundry soap
89 rubles for a liter jug ​​of dishwashing liquid.
199 rubles on sale for half a liter of shampoo is more or less normal. Although you could save money and get a liter of some chamomile for 99.

Out of anger, I bought 374 grams of smoked ham for 120 rubles, 10 eggs in a paper cell (saving 5.99 compared to a plastic one) for 41.90, took 910g of rice (market packaging), already at 39, it came out to 35.5, a pack of normal spaghetti for 69 rubles, 400g of chopped and packaged normal cheese for 199 rubles (cheese in a supermarket for the poor can be found for 220-260 per KILOGRAM, but there is such cheese... I, as a newly minted pensioner, am not yet used to this), 2 schnitzels and 3 chicken cutlets ( schnitzel without a promotion is already at 260, cutlets at 220, pulled up to 133 and 101 rubles, respectively).

Now it’s all over anyway! There should be more than enough munchies for the remaining 3 days; you can invite your grandchildren to the feast. 3 times haha.

30th day. I grate the schnitzel and cutlet, pouring melted butter over them and snacking on sandwiches with cheese and ham. Yes, that’s the kind of gentleman I am!

31st day. I saw a version of carbonara on the chips - I immediately kneaded the eggs and cheese, trimmed the remaining ham, and went to the store for green onions (-14 rubles). But I’m not a fan of raw eggs, so I fried everything thoroughly.

I remembered that I didn’t buy sugar and tea - I drink all the old supplies. I drove it to the store again. 5 kg of sugar - 249 rubles, 100 bags (may tea lovers forgive me, I'm a pensioner) of not very disgusting green tea - on sale 149 rubles.

In total, the balance is 381 rubles, 1 chicken cutlet, 6 eggs, 2 slices of cheese, a ton of sunflower oil and a full frying pan of carbonara and the last day of my experiment.

In the evening, the electronic idiot (who is a smartphone) said that it would be nice to pay for the light. In! Exactly! Electricity. 331 kW for 97 (already 97!!!) kopecks = 321.07 rubles:(

First of August. I devoured the remains of the carbonara (delicious, by the way, I recommend it), and I’m writing a “report” on the work done.
60.53 rubles on the card, 1 cutlet in the refrigerator.

As can be seen from the above, a pensioner can live on the minimum wage without starving and eating quite normally. BUT! In my case, this does not include medications (!), and this is a very important component for older people.
A single pensioner with a minimum pension will not be able to afford to buy things without austerity. Banal shoes, trousers or a whole coat at once - for this you will have to squeeze in food (giving up all “expensive” products - meat, cheese, switching to cheap cereals and, as a delicacy, fish) and saving, saving, saving...
Pensioners have some benefits, but I didn’t bother to understand them - who is entitled to what and by whom, how much can be saved on this - I don’t know.

Well, for those who read to the end, but have already forgotten what is written at the top, let me remind you. The author (i.e., I) did not set myself the task of assessing or analyzing the condition of pensioners in the Russian Federation. The author does not know how many pensioners receive the minimum pension (he also does not know how many receive the maximum or average pension). The author does not draw any conclusions from the experiment, except for the obvious - it is quite possible to live on a minimum wage, but not a coat (which is generally obvious to any adult).

Based on everything, take care of your relatives in retirement (especially at minimum), do for them at least a little more than the state machine does, because for you they are a loved one. Let him be pleased.

I have been a pensioner for 4 years now. My pension is not the minimum, but it’s simply unthinkable to live on it. About one third of it goes to communal services. Of course, you can live on the rest, but you will save on everything. A lot is spent on medicine and food. Buying clothes is simply not possible. That's why we have to work. After all, after you retire, you still have the need to dress, get treatment in a sanatorium, and give gifts to your children, grandchildren, and friends. And many other joys are left behind. Of course you can save money. For example, have a large freezer and freeze vegetables and fruits (more, of course, berries). Buy meat in bulk, make preparations such as frozen cutlets, stuffed peppers, dumplings, stews. Where to go? Natural farming helps a lot. Breeding cattle, chickens, rabbits. And of course, a vegetable garden is a good help. Our own potatoes, carrots, beets, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers.

If you live in a private house, this will solve all your problems. After all, a garden can give you a lot. Plant a little bit of everything and you don’t have to buy vegetables and fruits at the market. And this is a huge saving of money. You can also have livestock in a private home. For example chickens. It will be both eggs and meat! Which is also very good. Considering that these products are now very expensive. If you live in an apartment, it’s more difficult. But on the balcony you can grow greens, for example, or the same tomatoes. A little bit at a time, but enough to eat for a change. You also need to prepare something of your own. That is, do not buy ready-made products, but cook yourself! This saves a lot of money. We bought a piece of meat. We made the broth and prepared the first course. And for the second we did something with meat. I've been eating for a few days now. Also make a list of products. Calculate what you need for the month and buy it at the store or supermarket. This way you can live peacefully all month and know that there is always food available. You can look for additional income. The same Internet. There is a lot of time, you can earn money on different forums. If you know how to knit, for example, you can do it to order. In general, there is always a way out, the main thing is to look around and a lot of opportunities will appear instantly!

As a rule, retirement age implies the presence of any deviations in a person’s health. And a lot of money is spent on medicines. Therefore, I would advise you to learn to do without a pharmacy and a hospital. This means that it’s time (if you haven’t already started) to lead a healthy lifestyle: walking in the fresh air, morning exercises, drinking regime (pure spring water up to 2 liters per day), healthy eating (no sugar and sweets, tea, coffee, fried, fatty, flour, sausage, smoked meats) plus a positive attitude, plus spiritual development, so as not to become attached to the material in this world. Believe me, a person needs very little to live. Talented is the one who knows how to get by with little. You also need to tune your mind to the fact that you live normally, and not have complexes, and not worry about a small pension. Thank God for everything you have, enjoy life not materially, but simply human communication, the beauty of nature, do some kind of creative activity. A person will never have enough if he focuses on money. Try to find additional income as a last resort. Don't turn on the TV (it consumes a lot of electricity) - better go for a walk or read.

Of course, it’s hard for a pensioner to live on one pension, so many, after retiring, also earn extra money. If you do not have the strength and health to do this, then you will have to save on clothes, shoes (you can buy this at second-hand stores), on medicines, buying cheaper analogues, and on food. If you eat cereals, pasta, and replace butter with margarine and vegetable oil, then the food will be inexpensive. You can plant herbs and even tomatoes and cucumbers on the windowsill or balcony. Do not forget to salt white cabbage, it is not so expensive, and it contains a lot of vitamins. Buy carrots and beets. Beans will be used instead of meat.

I can answer the question using the example of my mother. She receives the most ordinary pension - 9000. Apart from this, there is no help. She lives on her own with this money and helps her youngest daughter, since her daughter works and her mother has to babysit her young children. When daughters are late in salary, the mother has to feed her grandchildren and pay for their school lunches using her pension. Of course, she doesn’t buy vegetables and fruits, because she grows them herself in the summer in the garden, and then cans them, salts them, and makes them fermented. cooks them for the winter. Clothes and shoes are only necessary and all other expenses are kept to a minimum. Mom just knows how to save money.

Well, now let's try to figure it out little by little.

Nutrition:
Firstly, it all depends on where you live. As the author of the answer already said before me, you can, for example, try farming in a private house. Get chickens and ducks. They will give you meat, and chickens eggs, and consistently. You won't die of hunger anymore. But food for animals is like that. Let’s say you’ve removed corn from the field, go ahead and collect the remains if it’s really that tight. Chickens are just the most profitable animals. And the food will quickly pay for itself.
If you live in an apartment, then there is also an opportunity to save money. Try growing onions and other greens. Of course, in order to save money normally and eat only those greens, you need to grow greens in large quantities and on a large scale. In my opinion, it’s not worth it, but for a pensioner... For example, my mother-in-law keeps chickens under a lamp...

Cloth:
I think that an ordinary pensioner will not be able to go wild in choosing clothes. But even this can save money. Try to limit yourself to buying cool things if you are prone to shopping.

Treatment: Can't argue with that. The author also wrote that exercise and a healthy lifestyle can help save on medications. But in part this is not true. This is already a pensioner, and even a healthy lifestyle will not return the lost health and strength, understand this...

Gifts: Do you give expensive gifts to your loved ones? For example, grandchildren? I don’t think it’s worth pampering them at all. Let them feel sorry for their grandparents, otherwise they will get used to it. Well, you shouldn’t forget about them.

Earnings: I think the best way to earn money for a pensioner is the Internet. A retired man can try to get a job as a watchman. There will be no income, believe me)

Budget revision

Alexander, Saratov, 65 years old: My wife and I have pensions of 10 thousand each. She moonlights as a cleaner, earning the same amount. Relatives who have their own house outside the city help - there are chickens, eggs, meat (pork). We constantly review the budget, recently abandoned "Tricolor" - saved a thousand rubles. Sometimes in the market you can buy spoiled fruits and vegetables- Frozen apples, for example, are given away almost for nothing, and you can make a good pie from them. We record all our expenses- even the purchase of a penny carrot is recorded, this makes it much easier to track gaps. We don’t carry anything for repairs - my wife sews very well(this, by the way, is another way to earn extra money - he will either sew someone’s trousers or iron a neighbor’s shirts), and, thank God, I can fix anything - from a fallen off shoe sole to plumbing fixtures.

Collective farm: collective and farm

Galina, Pestretsy (Tatarstan), 60 years old: I am a disabled person of the 3rd group, and my pension is almost 13 thousand. I’m lucky that I live with my husband: together we manage to live on one pension, and save the second, because we need to help the children! They are in Kazan, young, they have many needs! Our most important way to save money is purchasing goods at a discount: if there is some kind of promotion, for example on chicken, then we buy it and for the whole week we eat only chicken and derivative dishes. We can also put it in the freezer. The dacha really helps - We prepare all sorts of pickles, jams And so on. They used to grow potatoes, but now they have stopped - they are a hassle! Besides, sometimes they steal. Now we buy potatoes in the fall and in bags at once, we’re going to the village for this.

Emigration

Valentina, Udachny (Yakutia), 57 years old: My pension is 22 thousand rubles a month. It is absolutely impossible to live on this money in the Yakut region: prices in stores are incredible due to complex transportation (delivery only by plane), there are no farmsteads: there is semi-tundra all around. Is it only in the summer, at the risk of being devoured by midges and mosquitoes, that you can pick mushrooms and berries in the taiga. Utilities eat up most of your pension. Absolutely all pensioners work. At the age of 50–60, all people leave for the mainland, where you can live quite comfortably on a northern pension - that’s the main life hack.

Tinctures and housing rental

Alevtina, 64 years old, Kaliningrad: I get about 9 thousand, but my mother gets almost 40! Firstly, she is a hero of labor, secondly, a participant in the Second World War, and also a participant in the assault on Koenigsberg. But her 40 thousand is a unique case.

Previously, many lived by purchasing food in Poland. There was simplified entry for residents of Kaliningrad. Now visas have been introduced, but still a lot is purchased in Poland - from food to plumbing. Some even run a business organizing all kinds of shopping tours! Also, by the way, a way to break in.

Another way - production of homemade tinctures and liqueurs. Then you can use these bottles to pay plumbers and workers who can help in the garden. And some practice tutoring and apartment rental or rooms for rent on services like Airbnb.

Wholesale purchases

Irina, Novomoskovsk (Tula region), 60 years old: “Novomoskovskbytkhim” is a city-forming enterprise, the entire city is built around a chemical plant, and the careers of almost all residents are connected with it. And these are pensions (by the way, from the age of 45) with bonuses. Plus, in 1986, the townspeople were given the status of Chernobyl survivors - this is another increase. Most of my peers, even though they are already pensioners (I, for example, receive 15.5 thousand rubles), continue to work.

The savings are simple: within walking distance there are grocery stores and wholesale stores like "Metro". Accordingly, prices there are twice as low. But the quality is much higher than, for example, in Moscow - everything here is always fresh and tasty. Children bring both meat and fish home to Moscow! And almost everyone has a dacha - they were allocated in the 80s. Many people grow something there and close it for the winter. Grannies sell their harvests at the market, but this is more a way of life than a need. Still a profit though.

Maria, Krasnoyarsk, 81 years old: My pension is 20 thousand rubles. Enough! And all because I follow the budget very clearly. Every month I I outline upcoming expenses. 4 thousand for food (a thousand a week). The list most often includes chicken, cheese, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, bread, cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, beets, chocolate candies and marshmallows covered in chocolate (there is always this in the house!), and ice cream cake. 3.5 thousand is spent on medicines - I buy them at the cheapest pharmacy, where I go once a month. 2.3–2.5 thousand - for an apartment (utilities), 400 rubles - for light and repairs.

And there is also a “fund” - 5 thousand, which I can spend on delicacies and just what I want to buy - fruits, chicken roulade, smoked chum salmon. From the same “fund” I pay for rare taxi trips and buy something for the soul, albeit rarely. Or you can spend this money on entertainment: when your granddaughter comes from Moscow, we’ll go to the restaurant we went to for our son’s birthday. There's such a kitchen! And the girl and the guy sing very well! I’m crying, otherwise my granddaughter is already spending money on a ticket!

And there is still 5 thousand left from the pension - this is for celebrating holidays and for gifts for relatives’ birthdays. This money is not completely spent, I save it - in 2016 I saved up 50 thousand. Even though I’m over 80, I remember all the prices very well, down to the last penny, even for those goods that I haven’t bought for more than a year! And I always count the change that should be given to me in advance - in my head, right on the sales floor, when I have already decided on my purchases. And by the way, from time to time I catch sellers who accidentally or deliberately try to shortchange me - this is also a way to save money!

Diet food

Taisa, Rostov-on-Don, 62 years old: I get 11 thousand rubles. My most important survival secrets - discount shopping and summer preparations. Most chain stores, like Magnit and OK, constantly run all sorts of promotions like “buy two cans of peas and get the third one free” - so I buy it. Help out dietary lean soups: you add more inexpensive vegetables, do without meat, and your lunch for the week is ready. But meat is still full of cholesterol. Getting ready for winter in advance: I buy berries and vegetables at the market and freeze them, pickle them, make jam, marinate them - close them, in general.

Brand abandonment and bank deposits

Genrikh, Moscow, 79 years old: My wife and I are the same age, but our pensions are different. I have a long working experience - 50 years, and a pension of 17 thousand, my wife - 20 thousand (with an allowance for disability, for refusing medications and for work experience of 48 years). All our, as young people say, life hacks are on long walks: we go out in the morning and walk around the area for two hours, looking at shops - and such exercise is good for health, and we find cheap goods. When we choose something, we make sure to look at the ingredients so that it doesn’t contain any nastiness.

Another important way to save money is purchase of a pharmaceutical reference book. It lists analogues of all drugs. The doctor will prescribe something for us, we will look in the reference book and buy the same drug ten times cheaper - the active medicinal substance is the same, but the name is different and the manufacturer is simpler. We do not overpay for the brand.

We also have a 50% discount on rent. There are savings made during work that you have to dip into and which, alas, are not very replenished. Although we came up with the idea of ​​transferring this money to different banks at interest. The profit, of course, is ridiculous, but at least it’s something!

Not for service, but for friendship

Natalya, St. Petersburg, 83 years old: My pension is 13 thousand. Children help, who, however, live far away - in Moscow. They buy me expensive medicines and clothes. And I also cannot live without theaters - I have a very rich social life in St. Petersburg, which is why I do not move to Moscow. But it is completely unrealistic to buy tickets for a pensioner; numerous acquaintances help out - I have friends who work both in the largest theaters in the city and in smaller ones. Someone writes countermarks or invitations, and in some theaters they are quietly escorted through the service entrance. For some performances, several very cheap tickets are sold - you can buy one hundred rubles, and then, after the third bell, just change seats. I am an avid theatergoer, and this brings me great joy!

Optimism

Taisiya, Ladovskaya Balka (Stavropol Territory), 77 years old: I get 15 thousand rubles. I spend it mostly on food from the store. Previously, they grew all sorts of things in the garden, but most of them have stopped, since it is now easier to buy all this in the store. But still something for now We raise and still keep pigs, ducks and chickens, so that helps a lot. I won’t say that I have to save - it seems like I have enough for everything, and I’m also saving little by little for my grandson’s car. In general, I feel like a lady: all my life I did everything with my own hands, lived in a hut, and now I have a large brick house in the village, my own household, everything is at hand, there is running water and spacious refrigerators - what else do you need?

The number of people who reached retirement age in our country in 2018 exceeded 43 million people. The size of social security in Russia is such that the elderly have to use various tricks to survive. But with rational budget planning, you can live with dignity even on retirement.

The average pension in all of Russia is 8,500 rubles. It turns out that most older people live on such meager means. The amount of the accrued benefit depends on the following factors:

  • profession;
  • income level at last job;
  • length of work experience;
  • length of service;
  • location.

In addition, a similar social payment is provided for orphans left without a breadwinner, Chernobyl veterans, disabled people who have been assigned a pension due to schizophrenia or other diseases.

Of course, there are those who are luckier; for example, in Moscow the benefit reaches 14,500 rubles. This is due to the fact that in the capital the level of wages is higher than the national average, and there is also a wide range of additional benefits that a pensioner can receive. In other regions the situation is as follows:

Regardless of place of residence, the following receive an increased pension:

  • former public sector employees;
  • military personnel;
  • combat veterans;
  • citizens who worked in the Far North;
  • workers engaged in production with harmful and difficult working conditions.

Activities carried out by the state to support pensioners

Taking into account the miserable existence of Russian pensioners, President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin signed a law that, from January 1, 2016, provides for a reduction in utility costs for older people by exempting them from paying contributions for major repairs.

Also, after reaching retirement age, you can take advantage of the right to the following benefits, which are provided on the basis of current legislation:

  • exemption from property tax (house, apartment, dacha);
  • preferential transport taxation;
  • free gas connection at home without waiting in line;
  • compensation for costs of housing and communal services (if more than 22% of income is spent on their payment);
  • services in nursing homes for the elderly without charging a fee;
  • free treatment in boarding houses;
  • discounted travel on public transport.

At the regional level, their own methods of support are provided:

  • in the presence of special conditions, social protection authorities distribute the funds at their disposal for financial assistance to pensioners (possession of the title “Veteran of Labor”; persons with the status “Children of War”);
  • free medical care out of turn;
  • preferential purchase of prescription drugs.

The recently discussed bill developed by the Government of the Russian Federation on raising the retirement age represents a new social experiment.

The law provides for an increase in the retirement age for women from 55 to 63 years, for men from 60 to 65. It turns out that if the bill is approved, they will have to work 8 and 5 years more, respectively. In the context of constant reform of the Russian pension system, practical advice from people who have already retired will benefit future retirees.

Rethinking costs

Galina Semyonovna lives in the city of Kuznetsk. She retired in 2017. At first, the assigned old-age benefit of 8,000 rubles was enough, since there were still savings made during work. But after six months, the savings began to come to an end, the woman began to borrow money from friends and relatives. As a result, due to a constant lack of finances and a reluctance to change her usual lifestyle, the pensioner had to take out a bank loan in order to repay the borrowed funds.

By this time, Galina Semyonovna realized that she needed to rethink her monthly expenses and learn how to properly distribute her pension. The pensioner could no longer go to work again; her health was undermined by heavy physical labor. We also had to take into account acquired chronic diseases that affected overall well-being.

To create her new budget, the woman wrote down all her expenses:

Living in a private house helps Galina Semyonovna spend less on utility bills. Instead of chain stores, a woman purchases products at the market or wholesale stores. Having your own small farm also allows you to reduce food costs.

The list of products that Galina Semyonovna buys for the month:

Pensioners receive most of the necessary medications free of charge with a prescription. The woman saves the remaining thousand rubles for unexpected expenses.

  • Take advantage of the benefits provided by the state.
  • Optimize food costs.
  • Cut unnecessary costs.
  • Make preparations for the winter period if you have a summer house, vegetable garden or garden.
  • Work if your health allows.