Thriving through the Greek economic crisis

**greekislandgirl** · 02-10-2012, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Missourimom

I just read an article that said the youth could be making as little as 510 euros a month. Does that convert to $672.00? I'm not sure I have that right.

If you saw 510 euros, that is pre-tax; we usually talk about 'after tax income' in Greece because taxes are so high here (if they pass this thing, there won't even be a standard deduction at all, everything will be taxed from the first penny). The amount after income tax would be 450 euros per month, which at the current exchange rate is $598.50 per month.

I'm not sure how that stacks up against American minimum wage. Here a gallon of gas is around $10 and a gallon of milk is around $6.76.

I just posted an interesting article on my blog (link in my signature) - if anyone is interested, it represents a growing part of the Greek population right now (including me and Dh, I dare say).

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-10-2012, 08:10 PM

very very very low poverty level.....r u saying that you live off 598 american dollars a month gig....? U say gas is $10 a gallon and milk is close to $7? If so i commend you because if you are yo are doing the impossible....

**greekislandgirl** · 02-11-2012, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by alotofgooddeals

very very very low poverty level.....r u saying that you live off 598 american dollars a month gig....? U say gas is $10 a gallon and milk is close to $7? If so i commend you because if you are yo are doing the impossible....

No - that's the minimum wage. Dh is a tenured teacher with a masters degree and quite a few years of experience, working in the wasteful public sector! He is paid the lavish sum of 594 euros/month or $790.00 in US dollars.

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-11-2012, 09:17 AM

$790 a month....wow i am gonna start reading back through this thread because you are amazing and i need motivation again....

**Didi** · 02-12-2012, 09:01 AM

How are you today? Watching the news all the time or enjoying this Sunday?

**greekislandgirl** · 02-12-2012, 09:18 AM

the news is very quiet, believe it or not... but I just posted an article on my blog that you might find interesting Didi. It was in today's paper, and I translated it.

tonight we'll be watching, but it's basically CERTAIN that the thing will pass, merely delaying the inevitable even more.

**Didi** · 02-12-2012, 09:57 AM

I just read the article (I've been visiting your blog several times today for an update).

While this is of course negative propaganda for the troika option, I fear that part of this grim prediction is true and may already take place (like you wrote in one of your earlier posts).

Yesterday one of the Dutch items was that according to an association of collection agencies (which holds 70% of that market) 6.3 Billion Euro is still due by Dutch citizens and companies. The total debt is probably 30% more and there is also a part that has not made it to the collection agency yet. I think that that is quite a lot on a population of 16 Million people.

I consider to increase my stockpile. Do you also include non-food items like socks?

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-12-2012, 10:58 AM

they are trying to use scare tactics to scare people into doing what they want them to do...however it is because they are scared of what will happen...we to in the united states keep borrowing money we dont have...and they say this will happen and that will happen....I say bring it on! Its the inevitable and eventually will happen so why not get it over with so we can start to rebuild...ugh!
Well give me 3 or 4 months so i can get things pulled together but then i am good......haha...thinking of you all...

**daylily** · 02-12-2012, 01:18 PM

That sounds just like the dire predictions for the United States. it's interesting to see another country's perspective.

**bunnys** · 02-12-2012, 02:01 PM

alogd--I understand your position. I'm just afraid if we say "hands off" a la Adam Smith, and let the chips fall where they may, there will be a lot of suffering by people on the fringes with no guarantee that if we start with a clean slate and start rebuilding what will be rebuilt will be any better (and perhaps worse) than what we've got right now.

I think we should reform our way out of this while protecting those at the bottom who could starve and die if we don't keep them in mind as we try and get out of this horrible mess. The problem is that now, no one really even wants to reform...

**cwaltz** · 02-12-2012, 03:35 PM

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. A full time job at 40 hours would net a young person $295 a week or $1180 a month.
Many aren't able to obtain full time employment though.

Milk and gas are both hovering around $3.50 a gallon.

Our official unemployment is at 8.3% but unemployment that considers those working part time wishing for full time employment is 15.1%.

1 in 6 needs help to pay for food. Something like 47 million lack health care insurance. Millions have lost their homes to foreclosure.

It isn't a pretty picture here either. Not as bad as Greece but still not pretty.

**greekislandgirl** · 02-12-2012, 03:38 PM

I have a lot of mixed thoughts and feelings today but one thing I wanted to say, if only just to have written it down:

It is very disturbing how quickly we become cold-blooded. Being able to sit here and say "yes, I understand that most people will experience malnutrition, many will die of starvation and untreated illness, the young generation will lose height, and we will need to commit violent crime in order to continue to eat/live." I might not like it and I might not want it, but I recognize it as a reality and I accept it and prepare for it in my own way.

I don't want people to die of starvation (or violence, or untreated illness, etc), but it's already started happening, so I can't hide in my room and say it's not real, la la la, this isn't happening.

Those who read this thread regularly will know that I've gained weight and have wanted to lose it. I actually felt heavy today and said to myself, that's okay, I'll need those stores, better let it be for now.

I'm not scared and I'm definitely not panicking. But I can feel myself becoming cold-blooded. I care as much or more than I did before. But I just want to note down that I'm definitely moving psychologically/emotionally/mentally from preparation to survival modes. The actual physical change is still yet to come, of course.

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-12-2012, 03:46 PM

however you cant keep borrowing what you dont have...eventually it is going to have to be paid back....i understand though what your trying to say....I in no way would want people to starve to death or freeze to death or suffer from what would happen if we default...I really dont know the answer to this but all i know is you can't forking out dough if its not there to fork over...you know maybe if the countries that owe each and are on the brink of defaulting...maybe they could just erase each others debts etc...
Our country has been like this for years and years...and i think they are trying to say that we are starting to recover however i do not see that yet...

**brennasmom** · 02-12-2012, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by greekislandgirl

I have a lot of mixed thoughts and feelings today but one thing I wanted to say, if only just to have written it down:

It is very disturbing how quickly we become cold-blooded. Being able to sit here and say "yes, I understand that most people will experience malnutrition, many will die of starvation and untreated illness, the young generation will lose height, and we will need to commit violent crime in order to continue to eat/live." I might not like it and I might not want it, but I recognize it as a reality and I accept it and prepare for it in my own way.

I don't want people to die of starvation (or violence, or untreated illness, etc), but it's already started happening, so I can't hide in my room and say it's not real, la la la, this isn't happening.

Those who read this thread regularly will know that I've gained weight and have wanted to lose it. I actually felt heavy today and said to myself, that's okay, I'll need those stores, better let it be for now.

I'm not scared and I'm definitely not panicking. But I can feel myself becoming cold-blooded. I care as much or more than I did before. But I just want to note down that I'm definitely moving psychologically/emotionally/mentally from preparation to survival modes. The actual physical change is still yet to come, of course.

What an awful situation.

I am trying to fathom my family living on $790 and can't see how it would be possible in the state where I live.

**alotofgooddeals** · 02-12-2012, 04:38 PM

You are not coldblooded...its called survival and i believe most of us would react the same way...I hope things get better before they get worse...

Originally Posted by greekislandgirl

I have a lot of mixed thoughts and feelings today but one thing I wanted to say, if only just to have written it down:

It is very disturbing how quickly we become cold-blooded. Being able to sit here and say "yes, I understand that most people will experience malnutrition, many will die of starvation and untreated illness, the young generation will lose height, and we will need to commit violent crime in order to continue to eat/live." I might not like it and I might not want it, but I recognize it as a reality and I accept it and prepare for it in my own way.

I don't want people to die of starvation (or violence, or untreated illness, etc), but it's already started happening, so I can't hide in my room and say it's not real, la la la, this isn't happening.

Those who read this thread regularly will know that I've gained weight and have wanted to lose it. I actually felt heavy today and said to myself, that's okay, I'll need those stores, better let it be for now.

I'm not scared and I'm definitely not panicking. But I can feel myself becoming cold-blooded. I care as much or more than I did before. But I just want to note down that I'm definitely moving psychologically/emotionally/mentally from preparation to survival modes. The actual physical change is still yet to come, of course.