How to Survive on a Minimum Wage in Poland?

live in the dorm, ride your bicycle so u dont pay for transit, cook ur own food or get a job where food and drinks are free... spend less than you make is the equation basically

You can buy a cell phone for 1 zł in Poland, if you take advantage of one of many promotions, so it's not that expensive actually.

What is very obvious here in Warsaw, is how they trick the low-income people into getting loans for almost everything. Like, buying a mobile phone or MP3 player on monthly installments. Or how they almost push you in Carrefour, Tesco and others to get a credit card of their chain - giving the illusion that afterwards shopping is virtually for free.

What is also obvious is how the pigs, which the retail chains are, have to adjust to market reality. I remember a few years ago Carrefour paid their staff around 800 PLN per month. And they thought it was a great privilege you could have the honor to work there. These days for example Tesco is desperately looking for people willing to work there and they offer now 1.800 PLN (still way below the average Warsaw income which is around 2.700 PLN). amd medical care.

And still half of the check-out tills are empty because nobody wants to work there.
In fact I have a lot of schadenfreude about this. It hopefully teaches them a lesson.

And I agree with other posters that the Poles need to have the very latest in electronics. It is a question of prestige I guess.

My Kenwood hifi installation is 20 years old and still going strong. Why replace it?
It comes from an era - long time ago :) - they still made things to last.
But here in Warsaw that is an out-of-date mentality.
Buy the latest technology, get a credit and we will see...

sure I was amazed how they advertise the electronics not by full price but price per month. I was joking with my class of adults about taking my money out of the bank so I asked them what they should do and they all said they had no money only credits!

And I find it really funny when I see people showing off their expensive iPod models, but using them with standard earphones.

The quality of the sound would is much better with a cheap mp3 player and big, expensive headphones. But more people know what iPod is than what Sennheiser is...

Isn't that the German flue? :)

I agree, the sound is in the headphones.


This is it, we live in a disposable world.
Instead of buying a ipod/phone, I have gone the opposite direction and started back my record (vinyl) collection but yet have to get a record player.

that sir, was you owning the "correct" like a dog owns a bone, like a master owns a slave- very well said.

But an average Polish consumer doesn't care about the sound but about showing off the equipment. Or to be more general - not for the product quality but the brand prestige.

To be honest I also am considering buying an MP3 player, just to to ease my time in the Gymnasion fitness in Warsaw - they play such horrible music there, absolutely discourages you from any exercise :)

And as regarding taking credit... My parents gave me once a very sound advice: The only things you take a credit for is a car and a house. The rest? If yo cannot afford to buy a camera this year.... there will be always next year.

I had the same problem during my P.E. lessons. Luckily I don't have them anymore. But what makes me furious are dresiarze who play music loud on mobile phones on public transport. I can hear them even through my own music.

An mp3 player is a must for someone who uses public transport, goes to gyms or supermarkets and has any sense of music.

Aren't you impressed? most people are, even if they do not say so (I hate those idiots too).


I find a book a great one for that.


Definitely,


? not sure about that, I find that head phones isolate us. I was recently walking in Dublin and was looking for a particular town (Dundrum) which had been moved down the road about a mile (?) and everyone was in their own world with their headphones on. E.g., "excuse me?" no answer.... wave my hand in front of them (admittedly not much tack but I was going for a meeting)... not very nice.

Infact I generally think these new technologies alienate us but that is another topic.

A book won't stop you from hearing the other passengers' mobiles.


That's what they are for :)

I meant a big thick book to bash them over the head with.


Yeeeeah.... ok, as I said, it is probably another topic.

I just moved to Warsaw. I used to live in UK for 4 years and in France for 7 months. Came back to my own country with a hope that life here changed. I’m a young person with a good customer service experience with knowledge of two languages and with the University diploma. Can't fine a job with better salary then 2,000 zl per month after tax. Do I really want to stay here?

Obviously I can not answer that for you but we can talk about it.
If you take a job for 2000PLN are there job permotion opportunities?.
I think a young enthusiastic guy like yourself is exactly what Poland needs right now but I understand your dilemma.
I know this is not of much consequence to your story but is 2000PLN after taxes more than you would have got several years ago for doing the same job?

I hope that you find a way to create your life here in Poland and bring your experiences with you.
You have an advantage of experience that I am sure will help you do better than your competitors.