Who is poor in Poland?

So how is it possible that British blue collar workers visits Spain frequently not to mention stag parties in Poland?


well of course isn't poor as the holidays by Polish seaside are often more expensive than those in Greece...


There was a guy like that?

hahah we are missing resources - you must be joking - this country is full of resources - only the fruit of that goes to just few pockets - ever heard what is the avarage rate farmers sell their milk (it's about 1 PLN a litre) and what you pay for it in you store??

edit: and the prices are quite good now - two years ago the price per litre was as low as 0,6 PLN

No Mark, with money earnt in Poland.

I know it's a difficult subject for you to appreciate, but in Poland, men generally do work rather than staying at home.

This is for example because you pay PLN11 per cigarette packet in Poland and PLN30 for same in UK. The price level and average income in given country have nothing to do with "poverty".

well that is just the same as the UK too....

What are you talking about. Unqualified blue collar worker in Poland barely can make his ends meet while blue collar workers in the UK don't have to worry about that and they even are able to save some money for e.g. holidays. And please don't say it isn't true... so many Poles have been in the UK and were shocked that even out of washing dishes one can collect some amount of money.

It depends on just who we're talking about - but for instance, you can go away now for 200 pounds for a week in some place, flights and food included.


Yeah, I'll try and find it for you.

The UK is actually much worse in Poland in some respects - it's impossible to find cheap food in cities, for instance.


What's worth pointing out is that many Poles weren't living a normal British life though - for instance, they frequently didn't bother to pay their council tax bills (which are huge - perhaps 1000 pounds a year per house?), or did a lot of work cash-in-hand. They were also taking flats that no-one wanted - such as in horrible depressing council estates. The councils were desperate to rent the places, so they were often ending up with 4 room flats for very, very little money.

Another thing to bear in mind - while no-one is bothered by three generations living under the same roof in Poland, or brothers/sisters sharing a room - in the UK, this is a total no-no. So - the blue collar worker in Poland can raise his children at granny's flat and they can share a room - in the UK, the children would suffer dreadful bullying because of this.

A lot of people on here have the 'imperialist' attitude,in their attitude,the Poles to them are second class citizens, and they should be happy that they are not starving like children in Africa.

Gumishu, you've apparently seen too little in your life to understand.

On my drinking bout in Cambridge (to which I set off in a modest suit, no neck-tie), I have been to six pubs and spoke with six groups of people, all of them being English teachers. I spent the longest time with four female teachers. Those ladies could not afford drinks at the pub, so being regular guests, they were buying some tonic water and they were adding own gin under the table. Of course I was buying ales at the bar and occasionally I bought drinks for my new friends. By chance, I had a bottle of Navy Rum in my bag, so I asked the ladies if they would like some. They said "No, thank you, you are a new person here, this is not OK".

After longer drinking, it got quite late and one of the teachers discovered she would have no transportation to her place. Calling a taxi company, she found out she would not be able to afford the taxi... and she started weeping...

On the same stay, the local host booked me some Indian-owned B&B in Cambridge. The "English breakfast" was shameful: some porridge, a toast and processed cheese. The owner asked me if I could send some Polish maid to work at his "hotel" (apparently for chicken money).

Now tell me about the poverty in Poland, mate...

P.S. My hotel in Wrocław charges GBP29 per night including "full Polish breakfast".

Does this happen in Poland? I've never seen it happen here, except once - when we did it to spite the landlord of the pub.

Are there so many princesses, princes, lords, duchess, etc in Buckingham? who they say the same for ordinary Brits that they should be happy if they are unable to eat the cake as they have the bread already. These royals make fun of ordinary Brits and you become milky and come here to make fun of Poles?

I do not know. I attend mostly Warsaw sailors' taverns. Some regulars bring their own drinks on very rare special occasions with the knowledge of the owner but it is very rare. Typically, the bouncers at clubs even inspect the bags of guests at gate to eliminate own alcohol.

One thing that has just come to my mind. There is a huge sailing people community in Poland. They can afford own boats, they can afford renting boats and they can afford sea voyages. I do not know how they can afford it, many of them being teachers or underpaid clerks?

so actually grannies and grandpas are keeping this country (I mean Poland) afloat

you lost me there man,sorry.


People I Know(Poles in Poland) only go to the pub once a month and they can afford maybe 2 or 3 beers.


and they go out 7 nights a week and get hammered.

Yes, because for example students drink a lot and beer at a shop is far cheaper ;-)

I don't know what is that supposed to prove: that there are less crooks in Poland that I envision? - or that a teacher who teaches smaller kids in Poland can afford a SUV (or any decent car for that matter)?

this proves nothing..

but they can affors two packs of cigarettes a day, huh?


Rather not. People drink before going to pubs in homes, parks or even by the way to a pub ;)

My question to Gumishu was if he expected teachers to drive SUVs.
I don't think so.

no I did not expect teachers to drive SUV's - who's driving them then? - your average farmer? - ever heard that most farms in Poland are desperate to make the ends meet

not the people I know...


same everywhere. In Ireald people on social welfare can drink 7 nights a week, "this way", and still go to Spain on their holidays and drive a car.

You described people driving SUVs as crooks. Have you ever thought that good education, skill and hard work plus a bit of luck earn you things?

You are so sorry for farmers. Are you a farmer? Describe your own experience and tell us what you are doing in life yourself, what your own expectations are and what you expect from your dream Government to secure you a SUV, foreign holidays and a mansion.

There are four type of people:
1. Ones who spend own money for own purposes. We call them capitalists.
2. Ones who spend own money for purposes of other people. We call them philanthropists.
3. Ones who spend money of other people for own purposes. We call them thieves.
4. Ones who spend money of other people for purposes of other people. we call them socialists.
/Janusz Korwin-Mikke/

What type of person are you, Gumishu?

Strange how the pubs in Lublin are always so busy at the weekends.

yes my only dream is that in Poland all should have a SUV :)


I don't fit in any of these categories - I hardly spend any money

my foremost expectation is crooks are eradicated and not embraced (like Mr Misiak who could have used the closure of the shipyards to his own benefit having written the special bill himself - and well - is it not just the tip of the iceberg)


maybe it is simply because pubs in Poland are actually sparse for the population even in the cities - not like in
England where every small town has like 4 - 5 pubs

I havent been in poland long enough to know, but it is my observation that here in australia things are getting worse. Try paying 45zl for a kilo of bananas, or even over 20zl for broccoli. Its cheaper to eat at fast food outlets than to buy fresh. Subjective opinion offcourse.

After reading your posts I am amazed by the lack of knowledge of polish reality .

Everybody who works here gets money under the table or works as a contract worker ( when ZUS burden is not as high as it is in a case concerning an emploee) . The high costs of running business in Poland imposed on employers caused this situation work in such way . ZUS operates as a money biggest waster giving money away as well for system abusers ( Poland is a country with the most social benefits claimed in all EU ) . Lots of pensioners are quite young people who could work but due to reconstruction of the Polish economical system in the 90-ies they took advantage of so called early retirement or they simply abuse the system .They don`t get married in order for a partner to be able to claim benefits

Average and employed person aged 20 -60 in Poland lives the same life and has got the same living conditions as their counterparts in other EU countries . They eat and dress the same . No one makes any sacrifices , believe me .

But if you are unemployed you are poorer because the state doesn`t support such people as other EU country do , letting unemployed live very comfortable life's .

Polish people care a lot about the living conditions , so they live in very well equipped houses or flats . We are the nation of self made men or so called handy men who can do lots of home improvements by themselves . Married men sometimes work two jobs which is not uncommon . Also women work in most cases . So average household income is more than 1500 Euro which is relatively high comparing to average EU where women don`t work so often and the salary is divided by wife and children .

The problem with an average income per capita is such that it covers people before retirement age who are already pensioners and high unemployment rate above 11 % .

Don`t tell about poverty , hunger and stuff like that because it amuses me . Food in Poland is cheap . But if you eat in restaurants only , well , you can become poor quickly ... but this can happen anywhere .

Gumishu, I've already told you -- you know to little and this makes your views so pessimistic and so socialist.

The richest person in Norway, Mr Rokke, started his career as a fisherman. Things done by your Mr Misiak are "pikuś" (a trifle) compared to things done by Mr Rokke. And imagine what, actions of Mr Rokke are one of major force driving the Norwegian economy, giving employment and well-being to masses of Norwegian people, also to immigrants.

I know it is hard to change someone's socialist thinking, I'm not giving up yet.

I don't know Mr Rokke and his legacy - and don't feel like learning all about him (I guess even if I spend an hour on him I won't know enough) - I however know the case of Mr Kluska who was the founder of Optimus - I bet you have heard about him and the fate this country created for him - and you must have heard of some who have benefited from what happened to Mr Kluska - like perhaps ITI (TVN owner) who managed to acquire onet.pl for a modest price

Gumishu, big business is not for faint hearts. It is for gangsters and warriors and you better understand that.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kjell_Inge_R%C3%B8kke

gangsters should spend their times in jail (if reeducation fails) - it's not imperative that we have big businesses Antek - the world will not collapse if one day there won't be people like Mr Rokke - btw the article in wikipedia says very little on Mr Rokkes -