Guest Author - Arleen Kaptur

Living in Poland is quite similar to other European
cities in that people worry about economic issues and
prepare to weather any monetary storms the best they
can.

Monthly income currently in Poland ranges between
$2,000 on up to and beyond $3,500 in U.S. Dollars.
There are the usual living expenses of rent (approximately
$150.00), and utilities ($60.00). This varies depending on
where you live, such as city or in the countryside. Many
Poles have moved to England for better jobs and most do
send money back home to family. This has brought down
the unemployment rate in Poland and has one other important
aspect. Poles living and working in other European cities
learn new ways of doing things, new food products, job
skills, and culture. Many incorporate these issues when they
return to Poland. This keeps the Polish people open to new
ideas, and it keeps Poland vital in the world markets.

The joy of small shops has its good points as well as its bad.
Smaller establishments control the prices more on a supply and
demand scale. If a product sells well, then the price increases.
Many times this places an additional burden on the typical
Polish shopper. One liter of milk currently sells at about
$1.15 and a loaf of bread hinges around $1.20. People in the
farming communities usually raise their own food products
and therefore this cost is not as high; however, cost of
feed and crops adds to the overall picture.

In all, the mentality of the Polish people is that they can
handle situations as they arise and make the adjustments
necessary to continue life as usual in Poland. No matter
the economic picture, Poles will always find time for a
social life. Whether it is simply a walk in the park with
friends and family, to a restaurant meal, they enjoy sharing
and being with those they care about. In times of money
crunch, the number of restaurant meals or movies seen may
dwindle, but the resourceful Polish people find other ways
to enjoy life and share what they have.