Money - a taboo subject in Poland

Whilst Poles are well placed in the hard dash for the cash I find it strangely ironic that its rude to ask certain money related questions.

Example:
How much did you pay for that car?
How much rent do you pay?
What do you earn a month?

Although ive always known this fact it was brought to my immediate attention today in a pet shop. My wife and I were buying "frontline" flea and tick prevention for our pets and when i was furnished with the price I voiced my concern at the expense, with something like Matko thats expensive. My wife turned red in front of the receptionist. Fair game in my opinion its more expensive here than in the UK which was why I voiced my opinion. She gave me hell afterwards and said dont you ever do that to me again, im like what's the problem?

Everybody here talks about money on the street, in the pub everywhere, however question a price or accuse them of short changing you and your for the chopping block WTF.

Poles are short on cash in most aspects of life but rather than question a bill/payment when it comes to parting with the dollar they'll just pay it to avoid being labelled as tight.

Dare I ask this ... but ... how much did they charge you for the frontline flea and tick prevention?

Fot our little Shitzu it was 23 PLN for one sachet, so £5.64, and for the cat 21 PLN £5.15.

WB, even your wife thinks that sometimes you should just shut it....
;)

hmmm... that's strange as that's exactly the opposite of the way it used to be where i lived. if i was there right now, i wouldn't have any quams about expressing my opinion. eff that sh.t. if you're gonna rape me, at least you'll have to hear me scream.

Depends how you buy it. I paid about 80zl for the 250ml spray. (last year)

Yeh we bought that as well, firstly it scared the crap out of the cat and secondly he had ticks within a couple of weeks. Removing those little fcukers turns my guts.

Nice one TX im liking that comment actually.

Poles are simply tactful. They also do not talk about farts and staff.

What are you on about?

frontline is supposed to kill of fleas and ticks or maybe it's the other one.. hmmm

You can ask your close friend about it.

In case of complaining that something is expensive, I think that many people are ashamed of not being able to afford something. Many people buy brand clothes to seem richer than they are, many kids think calling their parents poor is the worst insult of all. If you complain about the price, it means that the price is a problem to you, therefore you've got no money.

It's silly, because most people in Poland do in fact earn very little, including well-educted ones.

It's funny, when I go to a shop and I say: "I'd like the cheapest mineral water that you have, please.", the seller usually looks at me as if I were an idiot or some kind of tramp.

Most people are feeling the pressure of the cost of living these days - whether they admit it or not. There is no shame in not having a lot of money. My answer to it is Psalm 37 v.16 :- A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Blimey, that's really me. I guess you can say that I try to avoid being called tight, but I like southerns explanation better. ;)

The money hang-up is a cultural thing with Poles. For instance you never want to tell'em how much you make, because if you make more then they do, they will hate you forever. That's why they don't like Westerners. They'll hate you because you may have something they want to have, but can't afford; a car, a house etc. Best way to go around it is to avoid those kinds of subjects in general.

Just look at this forum. Every time there is a story in the press that say the average income in Poland is $7000/year, (that's an example, I don't know the factual figure), there is dozens of Poles here screaming that's not true, because in Warsaw you can get a job for $3 or $5/hour etc etc. Like I said, best thing is to avoid those subjects altogether.

Yes, the one thing why I don't like westerners is that they earn more than me. The other thing is that they fart in ladies company. Barbarians. ;)

We just have a more developed sense of humour than you ;)

If you explain it to young Polish kids who mock other kids for not having brand clothes, you're my idol.
Most people who lack money, don't admit it. When I worked in a clothes factory, my work-mates (poor manual workers' marriage, mind you) were discussing buying home cinema but they planned to go for one week's camping for holidays - because having expensive stuff to show your guests is more important than having good time. Knowing them a little, I'm sure that was their intention.

ive been suprised by how much money people have actually got. its like 'where did you get that money from coz i know you didnt earn it?'

Ok, granted that the first question is the exception but in Ireland it is also considered rude.
Wroclaw Boy, how much rent do you pay, or monthly mortgage or did you pay for your house/flat?
How much do you earn a year?

I am really only asking because it is the subject of your thread and I would never ask normally and think it strange if anyone but a very close friend did and I would probably lie.

But the charging thing, Ppppfff, shout and roar, day light robbery.

I dont have a mortgage or pay rent.

Yearly earnings are in direct association with the Polish property market a little like youself i would say.

On that subject. How is the developing company going? Are you finding it easier to sell houses than apartments? How much are you asking per m2? where in Krakow is your development located?

I know in Asia it is the most normal question in the world.
When you meet someone for the first time "Hello, what is your name, what is your job and how much do you earn" but I thought in Europe it was impolite to ask how much money someone has or asking a lady her age, no?

Companies are a waste of time, money and effort in my book but sometimes you need them. The Company is fine, (spolka Zo.o) I am never sure how much info to put on the net...

Yes I am tied in to the property market too.
I also work in Lithuania, I am driving there tomorrow, it's a 13 hour drive. The market is not doing too well there at the moment (Sunday is the best time to drive).

I am involved in building 3 low rise luxurious apartments in Vilnius. A few bits and pieces here and there, you know your self and I am building semi detached houses in Niepolomice, the emphasis is on affordable, there are a load of new factories in that town (Cokecola, Man trucks etc) and where there is work people need housing.

Yes prices.... I do not actually know, we will not be ready to build until December and if it is cold it will have to be put off till later, not really a bad thing as they are building a motorway and it should be finished in April and then it will only be a 15 minute drive from Krakow to Niepolomice, so I hope people will be looking.

When I was living in Hong Kong I went out to dinner with some chinese people who I knew through a friend of a friend - ( I only went to be polite really). They immediately enquired how much I was earning as a personal secretary (to a wealthy business man). I politely answered and told the truth. I would never do it again. They were obviously put out by the amount I was earning and it was very awkward for the rest of the meal. One of them said he was furious that he had been to university and done much training to do his job and I earned more than him to 'make tea and type'. Actually I worked very hard at my job and took a lot of responsibility as my boss was out of the country a lot and left me to run things. But I wouldn't argue about it, especially not to strangers and I NEVER tell people my private business now. It's private. I would add that I have a lot of really nice Chinese friends who are not like that. :-)

I wonder how much the Chinese pay for it? I heard it's free there.
They keep it on the table in resaurants as a condiment.

Dupek,

Nice of you to rearrange my words. It simply makes you look more of a twat than you did before.

Of course I don't expect anyone to do anything about it. Freedom of speech, and all that shite.

Yes, it is a normal thing to do. I think it is to check your status, are you below or above them but I do not know for certain.

It is annoying as well that a secretary 'make tea and type', you should have called yourself a P.A. or whatever the funny title people use these days.

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Actually, just a thought, There is a massive thing in Lithuania about position, if you are a director of a company, you are up there with God herself.

And all you have to do is have 3000 euro in the bank for half an hour.

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Just on the topic of how different cultures have different emphases on different things, I have met quite a few people that did not know their age, in Nepal and Africa. It struck me because we Europeans and Americans put so much emphases on age. So now I do not really care about aging, I just think of the people whom I have met, that could not care less and why would they.

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Ha ha ha ha, that made me laugh