The war forced millions of Ukrainians to leave their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries. However, living abroad forces them to be thrifty. They share housing rent, choose less expensive areas, look for promotions and discounts, because life in developed foreign countries is not cheap.
IA “FAKT” analyzed how Ukrainians save money abroad and collected useful life hacks.
Poland
From the first day of the full-scale invasion, most Ukrainians went to live in Poland. According to statistics, some people will never return to their home country. They found good jobs and integrated into Polish society, and the country’s government does not leave them without help. There are many different programs of financial and psychological assistance in Polish cities. Here, Ukrainians are helped to adapt, learn the language and find housing, but life is not cheap for them, so they have to save money. In general, many Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Poland after February 24, 2022 belong to the middle class and have some financial savings, of which only 22% rate their financial situation as good.
Real estate market
The increase in the price of renting a house in Poland has stopped in 2023, and the number of offers on the market is increasing. In June 2023, 73,000 apartments were offered for rent in Poland, which is 75% more than in April 2022. Last year, Poles bought apartments to rent to Ukrainians. Many Ukrainian refugees later left Poland, so the housing rental boom passed. Property owners were forced to lower prices to find tenants for expensive square meters. According to Polish classifieds portals, prices for 1-room apartments in Warsaw start at 1,000 zlotys (about 9,500 hryvnias). However, it should be noted that for this price in the capital of Poland, you can rent either a separate room in an apartment, or a small studio apartment without a kitchen. Housing prices are biting, but there are ways to save money – housing is rented or bought in cities and towns far from the capital.
The cheapest new apartments can be bought in towns near the border with Ukraine, their prices can be found on the website ukrayina.pl. According to the real estate site otodom.pl, cheap apartments are sold in the cities of Bytom, Tarnobrzeg, and Zamosta. For example, the cheapest housing in March 2023 was in Bytom (Silesian Voivodeship). The average price there was PLN 4,000 per square meter. m (870 euros). At the same time, there are more than 700 offers of apartments for sale in this city. On the primary market, the cheapest apartments are in Zamosta (Lublin Voivodeship), near the border with Ukraine. Housing there costs an average of 4.3 thousand zlotys (937 euros) per square meter. m. You can also buy cheap new apartments in Świętokrzyskie (Upper Silesian Voivodeship) – 6.5 thousand zlotys (1,400 euros) and Przemyśl (Podkarpattia Voivodeship) – also 6.5 thousand zlotys per “square”.
Food
From December 1, 2023, a new tax benefit for food products was introduced in Poland, which significantly reduced VAT on basic products. This is a great opportunity for Ukrainians to save on food. Planning purchases, comparing prices, cooking at home and using supermarket loyalty programs – all this will help our citizens in Poland save on food.
Here are some popular loyalty programs you can use:
- Auchan: Skarbonka (accumulation of points, special prices, discounts, unlimited return period)
- Carrefour: Rodzinka (cashback, additional coupons, discounts)
- Kaufland: Payback (bonuses in many partner stores)
- Lidl: Lidl Plus (discount coupons, 30-day return period, additional promo coupons)
- Biedronka: Moja Biedronka (individual discounts, good offers)
Germany
Germany is one of the most popular countries among our refugees. Experts conducted a new comprehensive study to determine where in Germany the cost of living is the lowest, writes Aussiedlerbot.
The cheapest regions:
- Vogtland, Saxony: This rural southwestern region has an index of 90, making it the most affordable place to live in Germany. Housing here is 32% cheaper than the national average, and other costs are 0.3% lower.
- Greiz, Thuringia: The city of Greiz, with an index of 90.5, ranks second in terms of cheapness.
- Goerlitz, Saxony: The charming city of Goerlitz is in third place with an index of 90.6.
- Pirmasens, Rhineland-Palatinate: the cheapest region in western Germany (index 90.7).
Large cities and their suburbs tend to be the most expensive, especially popular residential areas such as the foothills of the Alps or Lake Constance. The Insa poll showed that most Germans believe that the possibilities for accepting refugees have been exhausted, but still support a humane treatment of them. 78% of those polled are sure that refugees cannot be accepted anymore, 55% insist that payment cards should be issued to refugees instead of cash.
Transportation
Public transport in Germany is well developed, and monthly or annual travel tickets are much cheaper than car maintenance. For example, an unlimited monthly pass in Berlin costs 63.42 euros. To save even more, you need to use a bicycle.
Food life hacks
- You need to buy them in discount supermarkets: Aldi, Lidl and Netto, where they offer products at much lower prices than chains such as EDEKA, Kaufland or Alnatura.
- Look for cheap products on the lower shelves: German supermarkets usually have cheaper products on the lower shelves.
- Visit the markets: fresh produce is often cheaper than in supermarkets, and you can also haggle with the vendors.
Other tips:
Save water and electricity: turn off lights and appliances when not in use, take shorter showers, wash clothes at low temperatures.
Look for free things to do: Many German cities have lots of free things to do, such as parks, museums with free days, concerts and other events.
Buy second-hand: Second-hand and online platforms offer a wide range of second-hand items at significantly lower prices than new ones.
Compare prices before buying goods or services, they vary widely between different stores and suppliers.
Use loyalty programs: Many stores and companies offer loyalty programs that allow you to receive discounts and bonuses.
Cost of living in Germany
The general cost of living in Germany can vary significantly depending on the city, lifestyle and personal needs. On average, singles can spend from 1,200 to 3,000 euros per month, and families – from 2,500 to 5,000 euros per month.
Czech Republic:
A large number of our refugees also live in the Czech Republic. Here are life hacks for them, how to save on food:
- Compare prices:
Use Pricemania.cz or Zboží.cz to compare prices for specific products before going to the store.
- Use loyalty programs:
Download supermarket apps like Tesco Clubcard, Můj Albert, Billa Bonus Club to get discounts and bonuses.
- Look for promotions:
Use the sites: Kupi, Akčníleták, Prometheus, Mojeletáky to find 2+1 promotions, discounts and other good offers.
- Order delivery online:
Rohlik.cz and Košík.cz are convenient product delivery services that help you avoid impulse purchases.
- Buy goods of own brands:
Albert Quality and Tesco Everyday Value products are usually cheaper than branded products and the quality is no worse.
- List the prices of products by weight:
Compare prices per 100g or 1kg to find the best deals.
- Keep an eye on inflation:
The Czech Statistical Office publishes data on the growth of food prices, which will help you plan your budget.
- Avoid “Baťa prices”:
Prices ending in 9 (49 kroner, 89 kroner) are often used to manipulate customer perception.
- Know your rights:
Billa and Lidl offer discounts for long queues. Kaufland will reward you if you find an expired item.
- Buy in Poland or Germany:
If you live near a border, research the possibility of savings on products in neighboring countries. Prometheus will help you find stocks.
USA
Life in the USA, as in many other developed countries, is quite expensive for our compatriots. However, there, too, you can save significantly.
- Eat at home:
Visiting cafes and restaurants significantly affects the budget, because tips (10-15%) are added to the cost of expensive food. Opt for simple and affordable meals like pasta and take your lunches to work. Coffee from a thermos also becomes a great alternative to coffee shops.
- Rent housing together with relatives or friends, it is much cheaper there.
- Use a basket instead of a cart:
The trolley in the supermarket is tempting to fill up more than you really need. Take the example of
Americans – in order to control purchases, they take a small basket with them.
So you will take only what you really need, because carrying a heavy basket is not very pleasant.
- Hand over recyclables:
In the US, there is a deposit container system where you pay a little more for bottles and cans, and then you can get that money back by returning the empty containers for recycling. This is not only savings, but also a contribution to the preservation of the environment. In addition, sorting waste and its disposal in the US is paid, so it is more profitable to reduce the amount of emissions.
- Look for discounts and promotions:
Discounts of up to 75% are not uncommon in the US, because stores tend to get rid of products with a short shelf life or before the arrival of a new collection. Before going to the store, go to its website to familiarize yourself with the current offers. You can also subscribe to the newsletter about discounts or download the store’s mobile application.
Additional tips:
Use discount coupons from newspapers, booklets, etc., this gives you the opportunity to save up to 90% on purchases. They can be used in shops, restaurants, pharmacies, at concerts, in hairdressers and even when buying airline tickets. Also, buy products in bulk, as some products are more profitable to buy in bulk, especially if you use them often. Before buying, compare prices in different stores to find the best deal. Prefer the store’s own brands – as a rule, they are much cheaper than well-known brands.
The war forced millions of Ukrainians to seek refuge abroad. And while living in a foreign country encourages frugality, it also opens new doors. Thanks to assistance programs and affordable housing, Ukrainians can save money. Some countries offer lower prices for products, transport and other costs compared to Ukraine. In addition, working abroad allows you to earn a considerable amount of money and support your family decently. Thanks to perseverance and hard work, Ukrainians can overcome any difficulties and find new opportunities in a new country.
Julia Bozhok
