Inflation logs: “I’m living hand to mouth”

In my main job as a school secretary, I earn 1,300 euros. That’s just enough to cover the running costs, but not to live on. So I took on two more jobs to help my eleven-year-old daughter and I make ends meet.

With my part-time job in the supermarket, I benefit from the fact that I can take the special offers there directly with me. Nevertheless, I try to save 50 euros a month in case larger expenses arise. I’m not sure how much longer this will be possible.

Sometimes it makes me sad that I have so little time with my daughter because of all the work, because nobody gives us back the years.

I look forward to the coming winter with concern and wonder whether we will then have to freeze and whether a decent life will then be possible at all.

I mean, food prices have gone up by more than a third in the last few months. That’s why I’m now increasingly buying goods that are about to expire and are cheaper.

Regular expenses such as appointments with the hairdresser are now being postponed longer. We were on vacation in Leipzig this year and spent a total of 1,200 euros for six days.

When I think about the future and the energy crisis, my stomach hurts. A lack of raw materials could also lead to restrictions in production in the bakeries, so that we can only bake bread and rolls, for example.

However, the largest sales are generated by the café sales, and if that were to be lost, then my job would also be in jeopardy.

I used to go out to eat with my wife once a month, but that’s no longer possible. We always wait for the weekly magazines and then we tick what’s on sale and to buy.

We actually need a new sofa set because our current one gives my wife back pain, but we can’t afford that at the moment.

My wife and I have a total pension of around 1,600 euros and can only get by with it by living frugally. Our energy costs alone are currently over 250 euros per month. I expect that it will be significantly more.

Up until half a year ago I also had a part-time job, but I had to give it up for health reasons. We probably won’t be able to afford visits to the stadium or special excursions for a very long time.

I’m a real frostbite and I know I’ll dress thicker in the winter to save on heating bills. As a precaution, my wife has already bought two hot-water bottles so that we at least have warm feet in winter.

I’m afraid that I won’t be able to pay the next utility bill. I notice the increased prices clearly when shopping, but my rent has also increased this year.

I could not survive without my husband’s widow’s pension.

Many of my friends feel the same way and we help each other. We meet to cook and everyone brings something, which saves quite a bit.

Up until my illness I worked part-time as a kitchen hand and will then receive my pension from November, which will be less than my current disability pension. I don’t know how high that will be, but certainly less than now.

We are a family of six and it is difficult for us to get by with the money at the moment. My husband works as a parcel driver, I do the cleaning on the side.

Not only electricity and food, everything has become more expensive, but my husband doesn’t get any more money. There are also sometimes arguments among the children because every month I have to decide who gets money for bigger expenses like soccer shoes or a new game.

They are only allowed to bathe once a week, but they have to shower every day because the older boys also do a lot of sport and otherwise stink. It’s difficult at the moment and I hope life doesn’t get any more expensive.

* Name changed by editors.

In the last few months I have noticed the price increase extremely. Most of all, I try to limit driving.

Of course I need the car for work and doctor’s appointments, but I try to save on everything that means relaxation or pleasure. Excursions into nature or another city are no longer necessary.

My husband is looking for a job and doesn’t get any support, so we only live on my income, which is around 1,500 euros. Hardly anything remains of that at the moment.

My hope is that my husband will find work soon and that we will then be a little better off financially.

Since the spring, around 15 to 20 additional customers have come to our food distribution – but most of them are refugees from the Ukraine. A total of around 100 customers are now coming and we have a freeze on admissions.

Many goods last longer today and it is easier to calculate how much is sold. If the situation worsens in winter, we would like to help more people and will simply reduce the output quantities.

Nevertheless, I am optimistic about the future. We have had many crises and will survive these too, because somehow there is always a way.

Nadja Baran conducted the interviews.