Bluebirds on the Ground. Laura in Romania.

 Report on the Ground – Laura_s_world from Romania

Today, January the 20^th, 2023 is the 331^st day of war in Ukraine. 

I am living in a small town on the Romanian border with Ukraine and from my office window I can see over the railway and Tisa river the houses from the other country. Starting with NATO and American soldiers in my country, the bug out bags ready to leave at the door and in the cellar in the first days of war, more than 3 million Ukrainian refugees crossing our border, almost daily alarm sirens screaming in the air and very often border surveillance flights by helicopters, these days NATO deploys AWACS airplane radars guarding the Black Sea and monitor Russian military activity. 

Russia continues to threaten our country and other European countries. 2023 is a big year, if the war does not end in 2023, Putin will have a significant advantage. Because of the war all the prices are high, food, energy, utilities, etc. And because of the war, as a second and somewhat unexpected problem, almost daily, ATMs at banks are out of money – the town is full with Ukrainians and they withdraw money – periodically there is a queue in front of banks. So I always have cash on me when shopping and cash in the house for whatever emergency. 

Today, January the 20^th, 2023, minimum wage in Romania is 3000 lei gross/ 1898 lei net salary/a month. (which is EUR 609/385,  American Dollar  659 /417,  Australian Dollar 957/605). The price of living is higher than that so everybody needs to do a side hustle or work overtime, or go in other countries searching for work and a better life. The alternative is poverty and it is harder for elderly or ill people, as disability income or retirement income is lower than that. Not everybody is on minimum wage but more than half of the population. 

Prices - Economists say Inflation is 8% but it feels higher. For example, heating gas increased by 35%, electricity by 45%, sugar by 65%, butter by 60%, potatoes, cooking oil, eggs have increased by 30-50%. The supermarkets are well enough supplied but either with the above mentioned scary prices or with the same price but smaller packages or *buy one- the second % less* but it is a scam usually. Our car is a big part of our budget. Diesel is 7,5 lei / liter, car insurance is 20% higher, it is a big sum for us, for what we try and put some money aside in advance. Also, many times in good weather I use my beautiful Bordeaux bicycle or walk to work and back – it is a 20 minute trip. 

What we do to ease the pill – for heating gas or electricity, for example, we pay the same amount of money for 12 months (or add to that whenever we can) so if in the summer we consume way less and have less to pay it adds up for the winter bills and we don*t feel such a big pressure. Not to mention we use all of utilities with great attention.   

Buying food is a constant game that I play well. I have learned from the best – my Mother. Living in the communism era on one income the two of us had to make do with what we had. But there were good life lessons!

Thank God for the local market where I can buy fresh and affordable vegetables, fruits, dairy products, etc. and I am happy to pay for their honest work. From the supermarkets I hunt the yellow stickers, the no brand names, I buy what I know I will need way before – for example for autumn season, which means canning, pickles, vinegar, sugar, jar lids, etc I start buying from now if the price is right. I do the same for Christmas or birthdays. 

Also, a bit of a barter is always welcome – I have found a few colleagues with whom I swap fruits or flowers, or seeds…You have to ask around and don*t care what others think. Hard work is good work.

I don*t menu plan, I cook from scratch whatever I have on hands – harvest from the garden, shopping on discount, pull out from the refrigerator or brought up from the cellar. I do a monthly inventory of my pantry so I know what I have and what I need. Animal food is very important, so I am vigilant to always have on hand. I love them and they are important 

to me. 

Corn flour polenta with leftover cheeses, leftover meat/ham/sausage, and homemade cucumber pickles.

I hope to beat inflation – by gardening, preparing ahead, raising chickens. 

Following Annabel and this wonderful community helped me, encouraged me and made me buy and use a lot a dehydrator, an air fryer machine and 4 chickens, my golden ladies, in the last months. I consider all of them an investment and for sure we do not buy what is not useful or a necessity. (I considered an investment my bicycle and my sewing machine when I bought them).

Today, January the 20^th, 2023, the weather is unusually warm – is it the hottest January that we had – but we have rain a lot in my part of the country (north-west). These days I start planning the garden, inventorying the seeds I managed to save from my plants, swap or buy when on good price. I am so glad I have the home grown tomatoes seeds – imagine the flavors of a juicy tomato fresh from the vine, seeds squirting every direction and dripping down your chin…    I will try and use a bigger part of the garden planting more, add to the fruit trees as we do every year and buy some more chickens – they are so friendly and easy to care after – nothing beats the joy to find an egg in the nest or the taste of it. I swear by it!

 

You know about my side hustle – not big but constant these last months. My knitted cardigans, jumpers and vests, or the crocheted baby blankets and baby clothes are a hit so I will continue to do that – every penny counts and I do this in the evenings while relaxing (I work from 8-17 every day in the office). Although I am thinking to level up and maybe do some courses to teach others to knit, crochet, sew, embroider – it is a plan, will see. 

Since last year I have started working for an on-line shop for a few hours a week, that sells meat produce all over the country and my payment is a package of 2 killos of meat at my choice every week – it is a true win for me with prices skyrocketing.  

Because I know 2023 will be a hard year and because I do not want to be scared by it I am watching everything carefully, I listen and read all your comments and try to do my best. I am lucky I have my husband on board and always there to support me and together we try to teach our teenager boy to know how to live on the good side of life. 

Thank you Annabel and good wishes to everybody from my part of the world,

Laura_s_world from Romania   

Thank you so much Laura!  We are learning so much!   You are working hard and doing so well!  I am praying for your safety and for your family and the world. xxx