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Hello Julie! I am also Julie, living in Canada. I have seen worse, have lived in worse, believe me! lol At least it isn't a basement apartment, no light, no fresh air. I hope the Babushka stays safe and warm this winter. Bless ..
@@SundaysChild1966Hello Julie! You’re right, things could indeed be worse, but we’ll do our best to make things right. Thank you for your kind words and support!
Senior homelessness is a growing problem here in the US. Since the amount you receive from our government retirement program (social security) is based on your salary when working, many who spent their working years in low wage jobs can't afford housing after they retire. Those low wages also made it impossible to save. Had I not been lucky enough to buy a very modest small house while working, I would struggle to afford current rents. I loved seeing Babushka's apartment. My kitchen and bathroom aren't modern either but I see no reason to change what's still working. Thanks so much for the interesting video and please let Babushka know she has a beautiful apartment.❤
Hello! Thank you very much for the very interesting comment. I will definitely pass along your greetings to our heroine. She will be very happy, and your compliment about the apartment will mean a lot to her. The heroine does her best to maintain her home as much as her small budget allows.
We live in a stone cottage in Wales that is over 400 years old. My husband is 83 and I am 72 and we just stopped working out tiny farm. We brought my mother to live with us 25 years ago, she died this year, aged 102. Before she moved here, she lived in a small home, rather like the one you showed us, but in London. Though higher than this lady's, her pension was not enough for her to make it comfortable and her friends had all died, so it was safer for her to be with us. She was not always able to eat well because the heating cost, local tax and paying water bills that are very high in London took most of her money. My husband and I can manage better because we each have a pension, though we have not travelled anywhere in the years since we had other jobs and we rarely buy new clothes. The exterior of our cottage is fully repaired now and we are putting a wood stove back in to help with warmth and cooking costs. I would like to know what older people do to pass the time in retirement in Russia? Many here seem to just watch television all day. We prefer to read and have other at home hobbies. We also look after our 8 year old grandson, sometimes for weeks at a time, because our son has to work far away and his mother has left the family. The little boy is great company. I never feel bored of lonely. I like being a pensioner.
Hello. Thank you very much for your comment. It was very interesting to learn the history of your family and home. Your house is wonderful! It’s a comfortable place to spend time in retirement, especially with a grandchild. You are a very kind person. You brought your mother to live with you and brightened the last days of her life. 102 years is an incredible age for a woman who lived through such challenging times. Our retirees spend their time in interesting ways. They visit each other, tend to their gardens, and much more. You’ve suggested a great topic. We will definitely show how our retirees spend their time. Thank you for the interesting story. I wish you all the best. Sincerely, Julie.
If the walls of your cottage in Wales could talk, I'm sure it would have some stories to tell. Some sad stories and some lovely. I have a bit of a tear thinking about this distinguished lady working nearly all her life to achieve so little. In some respects this is so much more than what some people have, but a lifetime of work should have blessed her with more comforts in her golden years. Apart from the older electic and plumbing and outdated decor and furnishings, there is a beauty to her home. She has kept it fairly clean and tidy for her advanced years. It shows pride of ownership of the little that she does have. I can learn lessons from this. My grandparents came from a generation where the husband earned an income and the wife worked on upkeeping the home. My grandmother never worked. My grandfather was given the choice to participate in SS or not. He chose not to thinking his pension would be enough. It was not, mounting medical costs ate away their lifetime of savings and in the end their house was bartered away for 24 hour care. After my grandmother passed my grandfather went to live with his home health nurses family. His home went to the nurses family. His pension check was signed over to the family. It wasn't much only about 800 dollars a month. When he passed the deed to the house was signed over to the nurse. She gave him excellent care and worked for peanuts while he was alive. I am grateful for her. Today one of her children's family lives in the house and I am glad that the home is well taken care of. 😊 While this is somewhat a positive outcome, I can't imagine all the seniors managed who were in similar situations that didn't have a good hearted person care for them. Those that didn't have the resources to barter for care. The system is broken and I don't see that it is much better for my boomer parents either. They have saved a lifetime, paid off their home, done without, didn't fix up flooring, kept the same furniture since the late 70's early 80's that they once bought through installment plan. They have SS and retirement and are only barely making it with the rising costs of utilities, groceries, medicalcare and taxes.😢
@@Soviet-BornI think that would be an interesting topic for a video. When my mother was What you call a pensioner, she had social Security and she had a pension from my father and she had an annuity which is sort of like life insurance except for you get it before you're dead Well actually my father made it and she got it after he was dead but she was still alive. And she lived on those things and she had a house. But she did not have a budget. She spent a lot of money for a while after my father died just 5 years and then I had to teach her how to make a budget. She still had the social Security and the pension but she spent the annuity. To me it was a lot of money she spent. At first she went out with her friends but for some reason they all moved to Canada and one of them stayed in Florida and got married. Sometimes she would go for walks. She watched some TV shows and she read a lot of books. She had two grown up children who were not married and she did not have grandchildren. You did not mention I don't think whether the grandmother had grandchildren. Maybe I forgot. My mother kept saying I don't want grandchildren so we didn't have any. I didn't want to have any children. Now I have ducks.
Once upon a time North America would say this is deplorable. Today many seniors would be happy to have a roof over their heads. The is always greener over the septic tank ❤
Circam1980, I was living in Brooklyn, NY and a Russian Jewish family came to America and settled in my neighborhood. They had a little boy, I think he was about 2 and needed clothes etc. I think they "escaped" with very little. I brough then some clothes and shoes, toys that my little boy had outgrown, When the father saw the big bag of things for his boy, he was overwhelmed and kept saying "for my boy????" I said "yes" and he wept! I said "welcome to America" The mother told me stories of waiting in line all day just for an orange in Russia. I've often wondered what happened to them. This isn't the America it once was, yet I'm afraid for our future.
What a wonderful story! I think they remember you. It’s impossible to forget someone who helped in difficult times. You are a person with a very kind heart. You needn’t worry about your country. It will remain strong as long as there are people like you living in it. Thank you very much for the comment. Sincerely, Julie.
My great uncle and my grandfather both had homes here in Hawaii very similar to this babushka's home. Simple yet functional for all their needs. Humble it may be.... but home sweet home.... at the end of the day....
Thanks for honest content, appreciate the difficulties for pensioners everywhere. This woman lives alone I suspect so moving would disrupt her social life and at this time in her life not a good idea to risk that.
You’re right; it’s very hard for an elderly person to change their life. Grandma lives in her own world and knows no other. Thank you for the nice comment. We strive to show only the truth.
i love how many little flourishes and details are included in every corner of these apartments. the cabinet beneath the sink is pretty, the tiles and wallpapers have flowers, there are beautiful lace curtains. you can tell how much babushka and others cared about their space and wanted to make even their modest items beautiful. i admire it very much and i think it’s a nice change from the white and grey modern decor that is popular now. many elders here in the US live similarly despite how different the countries are. many are poor, have never had a chance to enjoy life even after working their whole lives and we don’t care for them properly. many can never afford to retire or end up unhoused. things were different before, retiring was more common maybe 20 years ago but cost of living is high and salaries have not risen, companies have stopped offering employees pensions or retirement benefits as they once did. the rich are very rich and everyone else is poor. everything is expensive. no one can afford to buy a home these days so unless they already owned one, even elderly people now have to rent forever. and rent is very, very expensive. it’s sad how much of the world has similar problems.
It’s really sad when people who have worked their entire lives can’t afford what they truly deserve in their old age. I’ll definitely share your kind words with our heroine-she’ll be so happy. Thank you so much for your comments. I read every single one, and they bring me so much joy and mean a lot to me. Julie.
I’m not surprised they don’t want to leave. This is their home. I’m a widow pensioner and lived in my old house for 23 years. It’s home, it’s our security. I receive a better pension and still struggle to survive but there are many worse off these days. Australia. Enjoyed your video ty
This is what I was thinking. I'm 75 and don't have the energy to go out traveling. It takes too much energy and it's disconcerting; home is comfort since I can operate on habit which requires less energy. Younger people should understand this. Just moving to a better place would be traumatic after so many years.
Good morning, I am 73 years old, live in Washington State, USA. I am very blessed. I have retirement savings from being a nurse and social security, plus I have inheritance from my parents. I had the advantage of attending university. I was a single mom with one child. My daughter is 49 years old and my grandson is 26 years old and still single. We had everything we needed and did get to travel, I was and am not rich by US standards but I'm comfortable. I still get to travel to see family in other states but I also have to budget that in. I have visited many states here in the US and have also visited other countries. I live in an 1800 square foot home (167 square meters), 3 bedrooms, 2 baths on main floor. (built in 1980) I converted the basement into a one bedroom apartment, also has a bathroom, living room, washer and dryer, and kitchenette in the living room. I have an attached double car garage. I rent the basement area out to traveling nurses. I have 2 cats and a dog, a nice yard on a corner lot. The yard just has plants, no lawn. I live in a high desert and am landscaping with native plants to reduce water usage in the summer. I respect how hard pensioners worked during the Soviet era and how that beautiful lady now makes do. I have to budget my money, too, since things are really getting expensive. I try not to waste things and I share what I've got with others. Now that I am older, I prefer to stay home. Thank you so much for sharing this. Please tell that Babushka thank you for letting us see her apartment.
Hello. Thank you very much for the very interesting story about your life. You described your wonderful home in such detail that I felt as if I had visited you. I am very glad to meet you. I will definitely tell our heroine about you, and she will be very happy to receive your greeting. Wishing you and your family good health. Sincerely, Julie.
It seems like you have documented a very sensitive and important issue. Thank you for posting this very interesting video. Graceful people are the ones who are thankful for what they have... 🙏💐
I like that old building, it has a solid character, which says safety to a pensioner. I am a pensioner in the US. My home is 100 years old, and old homes always need work. But this work is also beyond my reach. Many modern building materials are not healthy to live with compared to wood and plaster. One owner cannot do everything a house needs, unless they are rich, so we pick one or two important things like the plumbing or a new roof. Then the next person to own the house will do more upgrades.
Thank you for showing another side of living. You did it with kindness, dignity and clarity despite the meagre surroundings. I really appreciated it 💖 In Australia, most people over the age of 65 are eligible for a government Aged Pension or part pension, depending on if you are still working or what assets you have. It’s not a great deal of money but certainly a lot more than $200 a month. Many older people also live off of their superannuation (handled by a superannuation company), which is like a retirement fund that working people contribute to during their working years. They become eligible to withdraw from it once a certain age has been reached or with special permission due to emergencies or financial hardship. Many older Australians are fortunate enough to own their own homes (houses). Some even more fortunate ones own several properties as an investment which they rent out. Sadly, for the younger generation, the Australian Dream of owning your own home is very fair out of reach for many. The financial crisis, inflation and the sky high property prices make it extremely hard and keep people in rentals. You have a new subscriber ☺️👏🏻👏🏻
Hello. What an interesting story about the life of retirees in Australia. Yes, compared to our elderly people, they are in a better position. Considering the climate, expenses for utilities and clothing are much lower than ours. Thank you very much for the information, and I am very glad to have a new subscriber!
Send my greetings to the Babushka of the apartment. I hope she is well. I am a Baba also with two grandsons and live in the USA. They have two other grandparents who left the Soviet Union when it fell. I must say that we are not as poor as the ones you are showing. I study Russian history and enjoy your channel. Keep going-all peoples are important. ❤
Hello. I will definitely pass on your greetings to the grandmother. I can imagine how surprised and happy she’ll be! Thank you very much for your kind words. I wish all the best to you and your big family!
Hello. Thank you very much for your kind words! Our heroine is a very good person. We helped her solve some problems, so she is doing a little better now than before. We will continue to help as much as we can.
Thank you for this showing us this. It is very interesting to see apartments from that era. However I too feel for pensioners everywhere who are left to struggle with so little.
Thank you for your comment. Your support is very important to us. I agree with you. The unjust life of pensioners is very upsetting. Many of them built entire eras, but in return, they received a miserable existence. This pains any reasonable person.
Lifestyles vary a lot in the U.K. My parents who were children at the end of WW2 were lucky to have good working lives. They had good pensions. Very good pensions & were able to afford very nice holidays but the U.K. now is a much harder place to live. Many people now, even some couples, who are both working full-time, cannot afford to buy a home of their own but must continue renting accommodation, which is expensive and sometimes in poor condition. Some people get sick because of mould, damp & the stress of the insecurity of renting. Some people move many times trying to find a place which is O.K. or because their landlords keep putting the rent up & they cannot afford to stay. So some people do have nice homes but some are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Many people still live in their parents home although they are in their 40s or 50s. Sadly there are an increasing number of people who have no home at all but must sleep on the streets, they die much younger than others.
Hello. This is surprising to us. We thought that people in your country were much more socially protected. But in any case, I believe that the elderly in your country don’t have to choose between repairs and decent food. Thank you very much for sharing about life in the United Kingdom.
The rising cost of homes and rents is really high in Toronto, Ontario Canada. There are people who live on the streets and there is a growing trend of people living in their car converted into their home. You can see videos on that. Even though the pensioner lives a very modest and low means, I am glad that the government provided housing, as they should so deserve. It is too bad they do not do more. You did a great job in doing this video and that was very sweet for you to offer to take her to see the sea. I know she declined, you should ask again and maybe show a video of what it is like. It would be so nice to see the video of her reaction. Good Luck with your channel. I subscribed. I know there is the tension with the war with Ukraine. However, life still continues in other parts of Russia away from the war zone. All the Best.
Hello. Thank you for the information about the lives of Canadian pensioners. It is very interesting. It is also nice that you mentioned my suggestion to visit the seaside. I will definitely tell our heroine about this. She will be very pleased with your recommendations. Right now, I am in a very difficult situation due to my husband’s serious illness, but I am very hopeful for the best. And maybe then I can repeat my suggestion to Grandma.
Thank you the video was very interesting, I enjoy seeing how other people live in different countries . Thank the pensioner for allowing the viewers to see her home it’s very well kept. Bless you and your family.
That poor woman. The apartment looks nice to me, but the plumbing work has obviously caused great disruption. Where I live in the US, in New England, someone with that sort of income would be living under a bridge. Or homeless shelter in the best case scenario. I love the house tours of ordinary Soviet people, I love Soviet history and design.
Hello. Yes, it’s very hard for our heroine to maintain her home. But she does her best by saving on everything. This is how most single pensioners live. Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you enjoy the theme of our channel.
Thank you for sharing this video, I found it so interesting. I found Babushka's apartment has a charm all of it's own and would like to see her bathroom when it's finished. I'm from the UK and not retired yet. We retire at 67yrs old. I know that Russian pensioners would be surprised at the mod cons most pensioners have over here. All pensioners get the state pension, £221.20 per week, free prescriptions and bus travel and attendance allow, if needed: Higher rate: £108.55 a week Lower rate: £72.65 a week and a £10.00 bonus at Christmas. Those on a low income could also receive Pension credit which is a gateway to free dental care, free hearing aids and prescription glasses. winter fuel allowance £300 per year, free council tax (saving £1250 approx on a 2 bed residence) and a free TV licence. There are also grants available (free of charge) to update old heating systems and provide property insulation and solar power. Needless to say everyone receives free medical care . Having said that, it's true that some of pensioners have to live very modestly as well in terms of disposable income. I hope you find this interesting and would love to see more of your videos. Wendy x
Hello, Wendy. Thank you very much for your comment. It was very interesting to learn about your pension system. It inspires a sense of hope for a peaceful life after retirement. We are seeing some positive changes here as well, but they are so minor compared to the real needs of retirees. I will definitely show you the state of the bathroom after the work is done. I’ll also ask my grandmother to give me an interview. I hope you’ll find it interesting.
I am descended from a man who left Castlederg during the potato famine in 1847 and journeyed to Canada to make a better life. I have an auntie named Vera. She was a nice woman and an expert knitter. Greetings.
I belong to a family of government empolyees in the Philippines. No housing was ever provided for my sisters or for my parents. They tried their very best to build their houses. We would be happy if we had homes like that you showed to retire in.
Your parents were able to build a house on their own. That means their salaries allowed them to do it. Our salaries are so low that building a house is impossible. Especially in our climate with temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius, where wall thickness reaches 1 meter. Thank you for your interesting comment about your country.
I like the use of every available storage space. The dish drainers above the kitchen sink shows a good use of a small space! Too bad that it is so dated, worn out, and shabby.
I love this apartment. It has character and charm. Everything doesn't need to be modern or updated. That cast iron tub is spectacular. Essentials are all a person needs. Everything else is a luxury especially in today's world
Thank you for this video. My husband is 76, and disabled. We sold our old house that was built in 1910 and we moved to an apartment complex that is on a lake. More eldery live in this complex. We just could not keep up with the repairs, nor yard work or snow removal with the house. We actually feel un-burdened.
What an interesting and well-presented depiction of this Dear Senior’s home. The positive response is that the home looks modest and cared for. It is well that she has her own home. I am 78 and my decision has been to live in a room in a private home with shared kitchen and bath.of course, the expenses grow while the career has stopped. May we all stay happy and healthy and prepare gifts for the young ones who are getting married. The adventure of life is to give us joy. May we look to the joy in every day. Thank you for your interest in the daily life of older folks and the energy you put into this thorough documentary.
Hello. Thank you very much for your kind wishes. I will definitely pass them on to our heroine. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health and many years of life ❤️
My polish grandma lived in her 60s apartment which was of 4 rooms, a toiletroom, a bathroom and a small kitchen. Most of pensionaries here lives in their apartments which they got in the Polish People's Republic. My granny just got this apartment on behalf of her husband who was working in the railways and the whole estate was built mostly for the railway employees. They got an apartment that big because they had 3 children and they oficially registered my grandma's in laws there (they lived elsewhere in a pre-war building that looked like a half of a village building and they were renting it somehow). It was like this because there were norms of square meters in new apartments per person. So my grandma has no "normal" pension because due to having 3 children and a house to upkeep she was a homemaker and she was sewing clothes for the women of nearby to have a little more money in the budget. Now she has a reduced pension of a widow so it's kind of a pension given to her in lieu of my grandpa. She can afford to pay the rent (large sum for such a big appartment) and it's about half or even more of what she gets... So when she was able to live alone, she was always bying things at the farmer's market (unlike the US, those are considered cheeper in Poland since the farmers sell directly and not via supermarkets or shops) and she was only buying there mostly cheap foods. She wouldn't think of going anywhere for any kind of trips, even to see distant family but I think it's more of a mindset. She could afford it I think, but it would completely drain her finances. I think most of pensioners live similar way. It's always sad that they can't afford any luxuries and even if they can, everything is spent. Lately they were given "the 13th and even 14th pension" which is a stupid idea of government because they just could've made the pensions higher. Immediately there were many advertisements for trips or pilgrimage trips and such kind of things for the pensioners so they would pay those extra pensions to travel agencies. Usually those trips are of not the best quality I guess, it's just a way to trick the elderly to give away their money...
It’s a privilege to hear about the Soviet experience from the people who experienced it, directly. Every perspective will be nuanced and that’s what makes it interesting and special. It’s also good to knock down some of the things that are portrayed in past and contemporary media. Thank you for taking the time to share your lives and experiences with us. The following are suggestions I’d like to see from your channel. However, it may not be suitable for the content I suggest. Please do not use any precious resources for my suggestions. I am interested in what types of cooked meals were created and what recipes were used in the Soviet era? How was transportation in the Soviet Union? What was it really like to get every day provincials? You mentioned the pride and modesty of people who remember that time clearly. What was it like working in those days? How did the average person in the Soviet error feel about their circumstances and situation? Did all people have a chance to enjoy the arts? I understand that the arts were very much appreciated but did it allow for freedom of expression was a geared toward the survival of the Soviet Union? Please forgive my ignorance. I have a slim understanding of the Soviet experience. I grew up as a child in the 1980s so I’ve had a very different interpretation although I was never encouraged to disrespect another person‘s culture. Thank you for your time and the willingness to dismantle the misconceptions around the Soviet experience, through story telling of lived experiences.
Of course, we will do our best to cover as many diverse topics about life in the USSR as possible. All of your suggestions are very helpful and resonate with us. It saddens us to see how inaccurately and one-sidedly life in the Soviet Union is often portrayed. It is very important to us to show and tell the whole truth about the USSR while contemporaries of this significant era for the world are still with us. Thank you for your valuable comments. We look forward to further feedback.
Anche in Italia ci sono pensionati che vivono allo stesso modo.Personalmente non è il mio livello ma sono minimalista e conduco una vita frugale, abbandonando da tempo il consumismo sfrenato e non sostenibile.Un augurio e un caro saluto alla signora🙋🏻♀️♥️☘️
This is a very charming and cozy apartment with soul and atmosphere. I like it. Especially the doors and the storage over the doors. I live in an old apartment in central Copenhagen, to be honest, it isn´t much more modern than this one!
Na zachodzie pralka i zlew to standard. W rosji to luksus. Moj tato był w rosji. Na wsiach piorą w rzekach, biorą wodę wiadrami ze studni jak w 19wieku. Ich toalety to drewniane budki w ogrodzie z dziurą bezpośrednio do ziemi, nie ma kanalizacji. Dla tej kobiety żyrandol to".nowoczesność". Na Białoruśkich wsiach do lat 70 tych uzywali lamp naftowych, a w Europie zachodniej juz dawno temu były żarówki.
The apartment is very cute. Reminds me of my first place built in 1867, with claw foot tub, separate water closet and wide plank floors. We had Direct current so needed a transformer to AC modern appliances! It was a happy time with assortment of roommates.
Personally love what is old but we'll kept with updates because it connects us with the past. New means new materials not made to last. I loved the tiles. The exterior structure is thick, well built. It hasn't been maintained is only problem. People on 200$ a month cannot be expected to fix it. It's a grand bldg. Flower boxes with flowers in yard. A bright painted door. New stucco. Think how lovely it was new.
Hello! You are right; the building does need major repairs. It could probably be clad in brick, but that would be very expensive. Most of the people living in this area are elderly, and they cannot manage to maintain the houses. The management company collects money from them every month for capital repairs, but nothing gets done. It’s very sad.
@@Soviet-Born Can residents/management afford seeds? No sarcasm intended. Sometimes it just takes a little push by one to get it started. It would improve morale 💯. Harvest seed year after year eliminates cost and the budget can buy new varieties. Grow herbs, too. Do you think covering exterior with brick is wise? Idk. The underneath structure would continue deteriorating? I'm really glad to know how things are for pensioners there. So many here in USA are either homeless or receiving Section 8. When the economy completely tanks so will subsidy. We the people are one ❤️
I'll take that flat...I'm 59...but probably in Uzbekistan....my mother had the same wardrobe in the house built in 1913 and it was in my room starting from the 8th foot up to the ceiling! I used to sit in it and look down at the ladder.
We lost our home & we live with the son & his wife. We really want our own place but waiting for social housing. I'd love to have that apartment. At least it is independent.
I am very sorry for your loss. Losing your home is very hard. But you have hope of getting social housing, and that is something positive. Here, it is nearly impossible to get social housing at this time. The apartment I showed you was earned by the entire family. And even now, though the apartment is owned, they struggle to afford its upkeep. The building is very old and requires a lot of investment, sometimes even pointless. I sincerely hope everything will work out well for you. Wishing you all the best.
Hello, this video is really interesting. Considering the apartment was given to Babushka it's not too bad. I assume she just pays the utilities each month. Here in Southern California United States very expensive to live. My house is about 1354 sq ft 3 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. Cost now would be $500,000+. Year 2006 built. Mortgage rates are very high also now. Utilities not too bad $160.00 month gas, electric, water. Many homeless people including senior citizens here in California. Thank you for the video. Best wishes --- Mary - California.
Hello Mary. Thank you for telling me about your home and the cost of utilities. It’s very interesting. You have a very nice house. I like it when there are enough bathrooms. You’re right; in today’s world, it’s very difficult to live. Everything is getting more expensive, and you have to work hard to have good living conditions. It was a pleasure to meet you. Best regards, Julie
I am a pensioner that worked for the government for 28 years. I've lived in my apartment also for 28 years. I get 55% of my salary for my pension. My health insurance is covered under my pension. In addition to my pension, I have a retirement account and savings. I don't have to work fortunately. I am 63 years old.
Thank you for the interesting story about your pension payments. Your government treats its citizens with dignity. At 63, having such an income is just an unattainable dream for our retirees. I am sincerely happy for you and really hope that one day everything will be well in our countries too.
Unfortunately, people who have worked their entire live here in the US are now moving to tents and travel trailers. Working all their lives, buying and paying off a home only to have taxes and insurance go so high, they can no longer afford their homes.....I am almost at that point, my taxes and insurance went up 100 per month, While I have equity in my home it is no where mere enough to buy even a smaller home. No family to get help from......this month utilities go up as well.....
I hope you can take some measures to hold onto your home... perhaps take in a roommate? Babysitters and dogsitters are in demand in many areas and are well-paid where I live. I wouldn't hesitate to utilize food pantries. I wish you all the best!
If everybody lives at around the same standard, that's when people are most satisfied. But if some would have more and be able to upgrade their home and renovate their kitchen, the satisfaction of most of the others would dwindle immediately. Basic psychology...
Here in the UK we see very little accommodations like this. It’s hard to believe ppl in Eastern Europe live like this. I feel very humbled watching your film.
Very interesting video. Beautifully done. Some of our elderly live just as poorly in the U.S. but many have more. Our government housing is newer and better made but doesn't have the history behind it.
It's a nice apartment , lots of storage nice floor, double windows for the cold , nice heating , i like that type of heating . A window in the bathroom , that's nice. It should have a shower with a seat for an older person. Bathtubs are becoming a rarity because of the water expense. But what happens to the ones that didn't work for fifty years?
Yes, the apartment is good. It’s a very old building. The roof is currently leaking, and in winter, snow will blow in. Neither the grandmother nor her neighbors have the means to repair it, as they are all elderly. But, in any case, they maintain it as best as they can. Regarding your question about those who haven’t worked, many live in their parents’ apartments, but even more people live in rented housing under very poor conditions. Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for this video! I have seen documentaries on Soviet stars like Eduard Khil and Marya Pakhomenko, and their apartments and furniture seemed very humble to my Canadian eyes. A lot of old Soviet stuff… so it’s no surprise to me that ordinary Russian pensioners would live very modestly in dingy apartments
Thank you for the comment. It’s very hard for elderly people to part with their belongings. What may seem like clutter to us is valuable to them for various reasons. As for messy apartments, it’s hard to maintain them, and sometimes there simply isn’t enough money for repairs.
So very interesting -- thank you so much for the detailed tour through this home. I am definitely interested in Russian cooking. How to make basic Russian dishes that I could try. Something not too difficult with ingredients that would not be hard to find. ❤ (If food is outside the scope of your plans for this channel, disregard my request!)
Hello! Thank you for the interesting suggestion. I enjoy cooking, and I’m pretty good at it. I’ll think about how to showcase it in an engaging way. I hope it works out!
While the gas canisters are very scary that little home is so clean, it is a credit to the lady. Are the powers that be really interested in keeping seniors in comfort in their old age or are they just interested in the land value?
Thank you for the compliment to the apartment owner. It’s very hard for her to maintain the house. She struggles with poor health and has to save on even the basics. Yet, she still does her best. You’re right; the land is valuable. This is the city center. I don’t know what the authorities are waiting for-they keep promising relocation, but those are just promises.
Actually, the apartment is not as bad - for one person. Definitely not sufficient for a family of 5. It's too bad that the building is not maintained (i.e. the outside) because that would only speed up further deterioration and it may enable pests to enter the building. The worst part, from my perspective, was the kitchen sink, which was too tiny and in a bad spot. Otherwise, I think the apartment could be easily updated and made a lot more cozier although I completely understand the financial situation. I should say that I grew up on one of the Soviet Union-satellite countries so therefore, I am not really shocked. I completely understand that these people deserve better what unfortunately, it is what it is.
Hello. This house is beyond repair-only demolition is possible. Promises are made, but whether people will live to see it is a big question. The grandmother does her best to maintain the apartment. Now the roof has started leaking, but there aren’t enough funds. Thank you for your comment.
I am a Canadian retired to Spain, not just for the weather but for the affordable lifestyle. At least I have a pension. does this lady get a monthly pension, despite her apartment.? That would make all the difference. don,t know how things work in Russia
They were given apartments free, and they are beautifully built. I am 77 born after the war, 1947, and original occupants would be dead. Their children must now be living there, not the original occupants.
I worked since I was 15, I’m now 69. My last and longest job was for the city government, of 27 years. I get $3,400 per month, my husband retired from his city government job, he makes twice my salary. We started planning and saving since our 30’s for our retirement, we also had a 401k plan. We are blessed. One of our children owns a business, the other we got through college and doing well too. We are so blessed.❤
Hello. You have a very worthy life, and you have earned it honestly. Working since the age of 15 is very difficult. But your hard work has been rewarded compared to our heroine. This is very sad. Nevertheless, I am very happy for you. Thank you very much for the comment.
We are watching a very sad and painful story and you are bragging aboit how much money you have . Just have a little respect for these people and their painful life .
It has been very interesting to see one of the older apartment. In Australia just like in the USA the homeless elder population numbers are growing. It is wonderful to see that at least in Russia people have somewhere to live. In the suburb I own my house, without a mortgage, average house prices starting from a number of million dollars. The middle class and under can only dream however simply can't afford to purchase or rent a house or apartment in my suburb. Currently Australia dealing with a never before seen shortage of housing and more and more working people/families with children has been forced to live in tents in parks, if they lucky than they may have a car what they able to park in their families or friends driveway. They live in a car or tent next to the car and able to use a bathroom and kitchen. In Australia It is a tragedy what some peoples lives has been reduced to.
Hello. Unfortunately, the issue of homeless elderly people exists worldwide, and in the former USSR, there are especially many of them. There are so many tragedies associated with deception, ungrateful grown children, and much more. I plan to address these topics in upcoming videos. Thank you very much for sharing your interesting story about life in Australia and for bringing up this topic.
@@Soviet-Born Hello, Thank you for your explanation. It may be interesting to know; Home ownership in Australia is at 67% from which around 30% owned without mortgage (I am one of them) and 37% struggling to pay their mortgage and 33% either renting or homeless. Home ownership in Russia is 92%. I am one of the only 20% of tax payers who also own investment properties. In one house I reduced the rent by 70% to help the tenants who's circumstances changed. Most people would just send a notice to vacate if the tenants un-able to pay the rent and sadly these people would end up being homeless. I came from a significant family with over 1 thousand years of history. Most of my Russian side of the family has been murdered or exiled from Russia. I just thought it may be interesting for you. Wish your wealth, health and happiness.
@@survive-1-day-at-a-time There are senior pensioners in the US who are unhoused. Where I live, they are given 82 days a year in a run down motel. Even if they are veterans, disabled, elderly, and have no where to go, they have to move out. Some organizations give them tents and sleeping bags.
@@survive-1-day-at-a-time That’s right, and there is a distinct difference between pensioners and the homeless. Also the homeless can be any age most do not get social security. Homelessness is a problem but it is a different problem. The people in this video have worked 25 to 50 years that is not true for most of the homeless. These people have long work histories, in the us if you work 35 plus years you will receive social security and you may not have all that you need but most people live better than what the video shows.
How would an immigrant live in Russia with a budget of 3,000 USD per month? Maybe you could use that for another video idea. Different budgets and different locations - rural vs city/town. Very well, informative video. This is not a civilized world and millions left to struggle through every age of their lives. Very hard for elderly with physical issues too. Seems a crime to humanity for such conditions to exist.
The idea may be good, but I don’t have a $3000 budget. Even without it, I can say for sure that in the former USSR, you could live very well with that amount of money. Thank you for the comment, and I agree with you that it is very difficult for elderly people to live in the new realities.
Thank you there nothing wrong with living with your family that what we have to do there are three different family members living in our house that is how we survived when there not a lot of money we put our money together and pay for our roof over our heads thing are so expensive food water house everything if we don't do this we have to help each other we pray for better but are thankful and thank God for all everything
I wholeheartedly agree with you that this a disgraced way the country treats its pensioners. If I had these living conditions I would be depressed every day of my remaining life. I live in USA and was born and raised in Greece. Greece suffered an austerity period for having defaulted on its national debt and pensions were cut as much as 30%. What saved the Greeks is the support they give and receive in their families. People moved together to make ends meet and they managed to survive and now they rebounced and doing relatively well. What determines the amount of pension they receive is how many years they worked and paid into the pension system. A typical average pension can be €1800 per month provided they worked enough years to earn it. The same goes for USA but the difference is that there are many high paid jobs in USA and as a result the pensions are much higher. USA social security administration (the government agency responsible for overseeing pensions caps the earnings to a maximum of $160,000 annual salary on which a maximum pension will be calculated and paid out to the pensioner. I hope this information was helpful.
Hello. Your information has been very helpful. It allows us to compare our pension. Of course, it is very upsetting, but it shows how unfair the situation of our pensioners is. I sincerely hope for an improvement in the situation. The example of Greece is very useful. Thank you very much for the comment.
THIS was very informative here in the states this would be considered sub par. However one could make the argument that at least she has a home they’re som many here in the US who do not have as much i wonder what is the better system
A very good question-what system is better? In the USSR, apartments were not sold; they were provided by the state for long-term work experience. People were tied to a permanent place of residence. There was cooperative housing, but very few could afford it. Wages were designed for a basic standard of living without the possibility of savings. This is a very interesting topic overall. We’ll try to explore it in more detail in future videos. Thank you.
@@evaaniela5717 Yes indeed, I am sure. Not putting their system down but I think I can truthfully speculate that the living environment described here would have no appeal to Americans. They have taken living modestly to a new level. It would be abuse here, and just because it is planned abuse by the government does not make it less abusive. She worked 50 or more years the whole time just getting by now she can barely do that. People want to live, they except what they cannot change especially when they have never known better. In the U.S with all of it's imperfections we still have hope, a chance that we can overcome what life throws at us. Most children do better financially than their parents did. ( I'm not including the rich and famous just the average Joe). In the U.S. even when we are not doing well, we still have hope.
This is great looking apartment compared to what I have seen in western countries . Homelesness, living on the streets in the tents and abandoned by everyone. Be proud of your country, the grass in not greener in the west anymore. Point out good things. Its a brick house, not like modern western unsafe light material houses like cupboard boxes. Also in the west they dont own their houses, the apartment was given to babuska and nobody can tell her to go out. In america veterans are out if they get seriously ill and have to pay inormous medical bills because either they rent or have credit on their houses, cars almost to the and of their life. We have to be proud in east although it may not look like that , it is now, the west is far worse. Lots of love from bricks house build 1927 with 3,5 m high walls in Serbia. ❤
The heroine doesn’t complain about her life. She’s used to saving on everything. Unfortunately, her house is wooden and needs major repairs. It’s probably cheaper to demolish it. We live in harsh natural conditions with a sharply continental climate. In winter, the temperature drops to -35 degrees Celsius, and there’s a very strong wind. We don’t criticize our homeland and aren’t planning to leave it. We love it, just as any normal person loves the place where they were born. Thank you very much for the interesting comment. Sincerely, Julie.
The people who kept the country going now live in poverty & have their grandsons sent off to die for Putin's greater glory! 😡- I hope you don't get into trouble for showing this! Bless you!!
They won’t because it’s the same “Babushka” who voted for Putin and will never raise her voice against anything. There are millions of such people with a slave mentality. I know it too well, being lucky to escape that country many yers ago.
How much rent do you pay for a govt home? Is it free? Here in Australia we have a housing crisis and many people would love a government home, and they pay about 20% of their income for that, as rent. There is not enough low cost housing in Australia, it is a crisis.
It was a nice apartment in the USSR, built in the style of Stalinist architecture. In our town only members of the Communist Party and senior leadership were allowed to live in such apartments.
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Hello Julie! I am also Julie, living in Canada. I have seen worse, have lived in worse, believe me! lol At least it isn't a basement apartment, no light, no fresh air. I hope the Babushka stays safe and warm this winter. Bless ..
@@SundaysChild1966Hello Julie! You’re right, things could indeed be worse, but we’ll do our best to make things right. Thank you for your kind words and support!
Senior homelessness is a growing problem here in the US. Since the amount you receive from our government retirement program (social security) is based on your salary when working, many who spent their working years in low wage jobs can't afford housing after they retire. Those low wages also made it impossible to save.
Had I not been lucky enough to buy a very modest small house while working, I would struggle to afford current rents.
I loved seeing Babushka's apartment. My kitchen and bathroom aren't modern either but I see no reason to change what's still working.
Thanks so much for the interesting video and please let Babushka know she has a beautiful apartment.❤
Hello! Thank you very much for the very interesting comment. I will definitely pass along your greetings to our heroine. She will be very happy, and your compliment about the apartment will mean a lot to her. The heroine does her best to maintain her home as much as her small budget allows.
Right about Social Security. I'm trying to live 2024 on an income comparable to what I made in the1980's. It doesn't work well.
We live in a stone cottage in Wales that is over 400 years old. My husband is 83 and I am 72 and we just stopped working out tiny farm.
We brought my mother to live with us 25 years ago, she died this year, aged 102.
Before she moved here, she lived in a small home, rather like the one you showed us, but in London. Though higher than this lady's, her pension was not enough for her to make it comfortable and her friends had all died, so it was safer for her to be with us. She was not always able to eat well because the heating cost, local tax and paying water bills that are very high in London took most of her money.
My husband and I can manage better because we each have a pension, though we have not travelled anywhere in the years since we had other jobs and we rarely buy new clothes. The exterior of our cottage is fully repaired now and we are putting a wood stove back in to help with warmth and cooking costs.
I would like to know what older people do to pass the time in retirement in Russia? Many here seem to just watch television all day. We prefer to read and have other at home hobbies. We also look after our 8 year old grandson, sometimes for weeks at a time, because our son has to work far away and his mother has left the family. The little boy is great company. I never feel bored of lonely. I like being a pensioner.
Hello. Thank you very much for your comment. It was very interesting to learn the history of your family and home. Your house is wonderful! It’s a comfortable place to spend time in retirement, especially with a grandchild.
You are a very kind person. You brought your mother to live with you and brightened the last days of her life. 102 years is an incredible age for a woman who lived through such challenging times.
Our retirees spend their time in interesting ways. They visit each other, tend to their gardens, and much more. You’ve suggested a great topic. We will definitely show how our retirees spend their time.
Thank you for the interesting story. I wish you all the best.
Sincerely, Julie.
If the walls of your cottage in Wales could talk, I'm sure it would have some stories to tell. Some sad stories and some lovely. I have a bit of a tear thinking about this distinguished lady working nearly all her life to achieve so little. In some respects this is so much more than what some people have, but a lifetime of work should have blessed her with more comforts in her golden years. Apart from the older electic and plumbing and outdated decor and furnishings, there is a beauty to her home. She has kept it fairly clean and tidy for her advanced years. It shows pride of ownership of the little that she does have. I can learn lessons from this. My grandparents came from a generation where the husband earned an income and the wife worked on upkeeping the home. My grandmother never worked. My grandfather was given the choice to participate in SS or not. He chose not to thinking his pension would be enough. It was not, mounting medical costs ate away their lifetime of savings and in the end their house was bartered away for 24 hour care. After my grandmother passed my grandfather went to live with his home health nurses family. His home went to the nurses family. His pension check was signed over to the family. It wasn't much only about 800 dollars a month. When he passed the deed to the house was signed over to the nurse. She gave him excellent care and worked for peanuts while he was alive. I am grateful for her. Today one of her children's family lives in the house and I am glad that the home is well taken care of. 😊 While this is somewhat a positive outcome, I can't imagine all the seniors managed who were in similar situations that didn't have a good hearted person care for them. Those that didn't have the resources to barter for care. The system is broken and I don't see that it is much better for my boomer parents either. They have saved a lifetime, paid off their home, done without, didn't fix up flooring, kept the same furniture since the late 70's early 80's that they once bought through installment plan. They have SS and retirement and are only barely making it with the rising costs of utilities, groceries, medicalcare and taxes.😢
@@Soviet-BornI think that would be an interesting topic for a video.
When my mother was What you call a pensioner, she had social Security and she had a pension from my father and she had an annuity which is sort of like life insurance except for you get it before you're dead Well actually my father made it and she got it after he was dead but she was still alive. And she lived on those things and she had a house. But she did not have a budget. She spent a lot of money for a while after my father died just 5 years and then I had to teach her how to make a budget. She still had the social Security and the pension but she spent the annuity. To me it was a lot of money she spent.
At first she went out with her friends but for some reason they all moved to Canada and one of them stayed in Florida and got married. Sometimes she would go for walks. She watched some TV shows and she read a lot of books. She had two grown up children who were not married and she did not have grandchildren. You did not mention I don't think whether the grandmother had grandchildren. Maybe I forgot. My mother kept saying I don't want grandchildren so we didn't have any. I didn't want to have any children. Now I have ducks.
Once upon a time North America would say this is deplorable. Today many seniors would be happy to have a roof over their heads.
The is always greener over the septic tank ❤
Circam1980, I was living in Brooklyn, NY and a Russian Jewish family came to America and settled in my neighborhood. They had a little boy, I think he was about 2 and needed clothes etc. I think they "escaped" with very little. I brough then some clothes and shoes, toys that my little boy had outgrown, When the father saw the big bag of things for his boy, he was overwhelmed and kept saying "for my boy????" I said "yes" and he wept! I said "welcome to America" The mother told me stories of waiting in line all day just for an orange in Russia. I've often wondered what happened to them. This isn't the America it once was, yet I'm afraid for our future.
What a wonderful story! I think they remember you. It’s impossible to forget someone who helped in difficult times. You are a person with a very kind heart. You needn’t worry about your country. It will remain strong as long as there are people like you living in it. Thank you very much for the comment. Sincerely, Julie.
Small but very very clean,, I love it..
Thank you. I will pass on your words to our heroine. She will be happy!
My Best Wishes to Babushka! 🌺
My great uncle and my grandfather both had homes here in Hawaii very similar to this babushka's home. Simple yet functional for all their needs. Humble it may be.... but home sweet home.... at the end of the day....
Thanks for honest content, appreciate the difficulties for pensioners everywhere.
This woman lives alone I suspect so moving would disrupt her social life and at this time in her life not a good idea to risk that.
You’re right; it’s very hard for an elderly person to change their life. Grandma lives in her own world and knows no other.
Thank you for the nice comment. We strive to show only the truth.
i love how many little flourishes and details are included in every corner of these apartments. the cabinet beneath the sink is pretty, the tiles and wallpapers have flowers, there are beautiful lace curtains. you can tell how much babushka and others cared about their space and wanted to make even their modest items beautiful. i admire it very much and i think it’s a nice change from the white and grey modern decor that is popular now.
many elders here in the US live similarly despite how different the countries are. many are poor, have never had a chance to enjoy life even after working their whole lives and we don’t care for them properly. many can never afford to retire or end up unhoused. things were different before, retiring was more common maybe 20 years ago but cost of living is high and salaries have not risen, companies have stopped offering employees pensions or retirement benefits as they once did. the rich are very rich and everyone else is poor. everything is expensive. no one can afford to buy a home these days so unless they already owned one, even elderly people now have to rent forever. and rent is very, very expensive. it’s sad how much of the world has similar problems.
It’s really sad when people who have worked their entire lives can’t afford what they truly deserve in their old age. I’ll definitely share your kind words with our heroine-she’ll be so happy.
Thank you so much for your comments. I read every single one, and they bring me so much joy and mean a lot to me.
Julie.
I love old apartments, real cozy.
I’m not surprised they don’t want to leave. This is their home. I’m a widow pensioner and lived in my old house for 23 years. It’s home, it’s our security. I receive a better pension and still struggle to survive but there are many worse off these days. Australia. Enjoyed your video ty
This is what I was thinking. I'm 75 and don't have the energy to go out traveling. It takes too much energy and it's disconcerting; home is comfort since I can operate on habit which requires less energy. Younger people should understand this. Just moving to a better place would be traumatic after so many years.
thanks for sharing / posting
A lovely, clean home.
Good morning, I am 73 years old, live in Washington State, USA. I am very blessed. I have retirement savings from being a nurse and social security, plus I have inheritance from my parents. I had the advantage of attending university. I was a single mom with one child. My daughter is 49 years old and my grandson is 26 years old and still single. We had everything we needed and did get to travel, I was and am not rich by US standards but I'm comfortable. I still get to travel to see family in other states but I also have to budget that in. I have visited many states here in the US and have also visited other countries. I live in an 1800 square foot home (167 square meters), 3 bedrooms, 2 baths on main floor. (built in 1980) I converted the basement into a one bedroom apartment, also has a bathroom, living room, washer and dryer, and kitchenette in the living room. I have an attached double car garage. I rent the basement area out to traveling nurses. I have 2 cats and a dog, a nice yard on a corner lot. The yard just has plants, no lawn. I live in a high desert and am landscaping with native plants to reduce water usage in the summer. I respect how hard pensioners worked during the Soviet era and how that beautiful lady now makes do. I have to budget my money, too, since things are really getting expensive. I try not to waste things and I share what I've got with others. Now that I am older, I prefer to stay home. Thank you so much for sharing this. Please tell that Babushka thank you for letting us see her apartment.
Hello. Thank you very much for the very interesting story about your life. You described your wonderful home in such detail that I felt as if I had visited you. I am very glad to meet you. I will definitely tell our heroine about you, and she will be very happy to receive your greeting. Wishing you and your family good health. Sincerely, Julie.
It seems like you have documented a very sensitive and important issue.
Thank you for posting this very interesting video.
Graceful people are the ones who are thankful for what they have... 🙏💐
Hello. How well you said that!
Thank you very much for the comment.
This is an interesting and well made video. I will be watching for more of them. Thank you for sharing them.
Thank you for the comment. We’re very glad that you enjoyed our video.
I like that old building, it has a solid character, which says safety to a pensioner. I am a pensioner in the US. My home is 100 years old, and old homes always need work. But this work is also beyond my reach. Many modern building materials are not healthy to live with compared to wood and plaster. One owner cannot do everything a house needs, unless they are rich, so we pick one or two important things like the plumbing or a new roof. Then the next person to own the house will do more upgrades.
Thank you for showing another side of living. You did it with kindness, dignity and clarity despite the meagre surroundings. I really appreciated it 💖 In Australia, most people over the age of 65 are eligible for a government Aged Pension or part pension, depending on if you are still working or what assets you have. It’s not a great deal of money but certainly a lot more than $200 a month. Many older people also live off of their superannuation (handled by a superannuation company), which is like a retirement fund that working people contribute to during their working years. They become eligible to withdraw from it once a certain age has been reached or with special permission due to emergencies or financial hardship. Many older Australians are fortunate enough to own their own homes (houses). Some even more fortunate ones own several properties as an investment which they rent out. Sadly, for the younger generation, the Australian Dream of owning your own home is very fair out of reach for many. The financial crisis, inflation and the sky high property prices make it extremely hard and keep people in rentals. You have a new subscriber ☺️👏🏻👏🏻
Hello. What an interesting story about the life of retirees in Australia. Yes, compared to our elderly people, they are in a better position. Considering the climate, expenses for utilities and clothing are much lower than ours.
Thank you very much for the information, and I am very glad to have a new subscriber!
Keep the videos coming, they are so interesting 👏🏻👏🏻
Send my greetings to the Babushka of the apartment. I hope she is well. I am a Baba also with two grandsons and live in the USA. They have two other grandparents who left the Soviet Union when it fell. I must say that we are not as poor as the ones you are showing. I study Russian history and enjoy your channel. Keep going-all peoples are important. ❤
Hello. I will definitely pass on your greetings to the grandmother. I can imagine how surprised and happy she’ll be! Thank you very much for your kind words. I wish all the best to you and your big family!
True 😊
I appreciate the video and I appreciate the home owner letting us into her/his world. Greetings from the great State of Georgia, USA…God bless you ❤️
Hello. Thank you very much for the comment and the greeting. I will definitely pass it on to our heroine.
Very good a very interesting. Love to see more. Thank you
You’re a very Sweet Lady … People were proud back then Hard workers . I do hope her living conditions will improve.
Hello. Thank you very much for your kind words! Our heroine is a very good person. We helped her solve some problems, so she is doing a little better now than before. We will continue to help as much as we can.
Thank you for this showing us this. It is very interesting to see apartments from that era. However I too feel for pensioners everywhere who are left to struggle with so little.
Thank you for your comment. Your support is very important to us.
I agree with you. The unjust life of pensioners is very upsetting. Many of them built entire eras, but in return, they received a miserable existence. This pains any reasonable person.
Thanks for sharing. All the best to everyone.
Thank you very much for the kind words!
I loved all the details 💕
Thank you very much! We are very happy.
Lifestyles vary a lot in the U.K. My parents who were children at the end of WW2 were lucky to have good working lives. They had good pensions. Very good pensions & were able to afford very nice holidays but the U.K. now is a much harder place to live. Many people now, even some couples, who are both working full-time, cannot afford to buy a home of their own but must continue renting accommodation, which is expensive and sometimes in poor condition. Some people get sick because of mould, damp & the stress of the insecurity of renting. Some people move many times trying to find a place which is O.K. or because their landlords keep putting the rent up & they cannot afford to stay.
So some people do have nice homes but some are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Many people still live in their parents home although they are in their 40s or 50s. Sadly there are an increasing number of people who have no home at all but must sleep on the streets, they die much younger than others.
Hello. This is surprising to us. We thought that people in your country were much more socially protected. But in any case, I believe that the elderly in your country don’t have to choose between repairs and decent food.
Thank you very much for sharing about life in the United Kingdom.
Thanks for sharing. Nice.....from the Ozarks USA 🇺🇸
Thank you very much for the greeting!
Thank you for sharing
Hello from Ireland 🇮🇪, interesting video, thank you
Hello. Thank you for the welcome!
The rising cost of homes and rents is really high in Toronto, Ontario Canada. There are people who live on the streets and there is a growing trend of people living in their car converted into their home. You can see videos on that. Even though the pensioner lives a very modest and low means, I am glad that the government provided housing, as they should so deserve. It is too bad they do not do more. You did a great job in doing this video and that was very sweet for you to offer to take her to see the sea. I know she declined, you should ask again and maybe show a video of what it is like. It would be so nice to see the video of her reaction. Good Luck with your channel. I subscribed. I know there is the tension with the war with Ukraine. However, life still continues in other parts of Russia away from the war zone. All the Best.
Hello. Thank you for the information about the lives of Canadian pensioners. It is very interesting. It is also nice that you mentioned my suggestion to visit the seaside. I will definitely tell our heroine about this. She will be very pleased with your recommendations. Right now, I am in a very difficult situation due to my husband’s serious illness, but I am very hopeful for the best. And maybe then I can repeat my suggestion to Grandma.
Thank you the video was very interesting, I enjoy seeing how other people live in different countries . Thank the pensioner for allowing the viewers to see her home it’s very well kept. Bless you and your family.
That poor woman. The apartment looks nice to me, but the plumbing work has obviously caused great disruption. Where I live in the US, in New England, someone with that sort of income would be living under a bridge. Or homeless shelter in the best case scenario. I love the house tours of ordinary Soviet people, I love Soviet history and design.
Hello. Yes, it’s very hard for our heroine to maintain her home. But she does her best by saving on everything. This is how most single pensioners live.
Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you enjoy the theme of our channel.
Thank you for sharing this video, I found it so interesting. I found Babushka's apartment has a charm all of it's own and would like to see her bathroom when it's finished.
I'm from the UK and not retired yet.
We retire at 67yrs old. I know that Russian pensioners would be surprised at the mod cons most pensioners have over here. All pensioners get the state pension, £221.20 per week, free prescriptions and bus travel and attendance allow, if needed: Higher rate: £108.55 a week Lower rate: £72.65 a week and a £10.00 bonus at Christmas. Those on a low income could also receive Pension credit which is a gateway to free dental care, free hearing aids and prescription glasses. winter fuel allowance £300 per year, free council tax (saving £1250 approx on a 2 bed residence) and a free TV licence. There are also grants available (free of charge) to update old heating systems and provide property insulation and solar power.
Needless to say everyone receives free medical care .
Having said that, it's true that some of pensioners have to live very modestly as well in terms of disposable income. I hope you find this interesting and would love to see more of your videos. Wendy x
Hello, Wendy. Thank you very much for your comment. It was very interesting to learn about your pension system. It inspires a sense of hope for a peaceful life after retirement. We are seeing some positive changes here as well, but they are so minor compared to the real needs of retirees.
I will definitely show you the state of the bathroom after the work is done. I’ll also ask my grandmother to give me an interview. I hope you’ll find it interesting.
This apartment is better than others that I've seen in some areas of America. God bless she has a place to live as some elderly don't even have that.
Thank you for sharing this video Julie. I wish you good luck with your you tube channel. My name is Vera and I am watching in Northern Ireland. ❤
I am descended from a man who left Castlederg during the potato famine in 1847 and journeyed to Canada to make a better life. I have an auntie named Vera. She was a nice woman and an expert knitter. Greetings.
Hello, Vera! Thank you very much for the kind wishes! I really need them.
super interesting…..keep making videos and I will keep watching🙂…subscribed
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I belong to a family of government empolyees in the Philippines. No housing was ever provided for my sisters or for my parents. They tried their very best to build their houses. We would be happy if we had homes like that you showed to retire in.
Your parents were able to build a house on their own. That means their salaries allowed them to do it. Our salaries are so low that building a house is impossible. Especially in our climate with temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius, where wall thickness reaches 1 meter.
Thank you for your interesting comment about your country.
I like the use of every available storage space. The dish drainers above the kitchen sink shows a good use of a small space! Too bad that it is so dated, worn out, and shabby.
Things are getting worse in the UK. However thank you for your informative video, don't be nervous, it was excellent.
Thank you very much for the kind words!
I love this apartment. It has character and charm. Everything doesn't need to be modern or updated. That cast iron tub is spectacular. Essentials are all a person needs. Everything else is a luxury especially in today's world
Thank you for this video. My husband is 76, and disabled. We sold our old house that was built in 1910 and we moved to an apartment complex that is on a lake. More eldery live in this complex. We just could not keep up with the repairs, nor yard work or snow removal with the house. We actually feel un-burdened.
What an interesting and well-presented depiction of this Dear Senior’s home. The positive response is that the home looks modest and cared for. It is well that she has her own home. I am 78 and my decision has been to live in a room in a private home with shared kitchen and bath.of course, the expenses grow while the career has stopped. May we all stay happy and healthy and prepare gifts for the young ones who are getting married. The adventure of life is to give us joy. May we look to the joy in every day. Thank you for your interest in the daily life of older folks and the energy you put into this thorough documentary.
Hello. Thank you very much for your kind wishes. I will definitely pass them on to our heroine. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health and many years of life ❤️
My polish grandma lived in her 60s apartment which was of 4 rooms, a toiletroom, a bathroom and a small kitchen. Most of pensionaries here lives in their apartments which they got in the Polish People's Republic. My granny just got this apartment on behalf of her husband who was working in the railways and the whole estate was built mostly for the railway employees. They got an apartment that big because they had 3 children and they oficially registered my grandma's in laws there (they lived elsewhere in a pre-war building that looked like a half of a village building and they were renting it somehow). It was like this because there were norms of square meters in new apartments per person. So my grandma has no "normal" pension because due to having 3 children and a house to upkeep she was a homemaker and she was sewing clothes for the women of nearby to have a little more money in the budget. Now she has a reduced pension of a widow so it's kind of a pension given to her in lieu of my grandpa. She can afford to pay the rent (large sum for such a big appartment) and it's about half or even more of what she gets... So when she was able to live alone, she was always bying things at the farmer's market (unlike the US, those are considered cheeper in Poland since the farmers sell directly and not via supermarkets or shops) and she was only buying there mostly cheap foods. She wouldn't think of going anywhere for any kind of trips, even to see distant family but I think it's more of a mindset. She could afford it I think, but it would completely drain her finances. I think most of pensioners live similar way. It's always sad that they can't afford any luxuries and even if they can, everything is spent. Lately they were given "the 13th and even 14th pension" which is a stupid idea of government because they just could've made the pensions higher. Immediately there were many advertisements for trips or pilgrimage trips and such kind of things for the pensioners so they would pay those extra pensions to travel agencies. Usually those trips are of not the best quality I guess, it's just a way to trick the elderly to give away their money...
It’s a privilege to hear about the Soviet experience from the people who experienced it, directly. Every perspective will be nuanced and that’s what makes it interesting and special. It’s also good to knock down some of the things that are portrayed in past and contemporary media.
Thank you for taking the time to share your lives and experiences with us.
The following are suggestions I’d like to see from your channel. However, it may not be suitable for the content I suggest. Please do not use any precious resources for my suggestions.
I am interested in what types of cooked meals were created and what recipes were used in the Soviet era? How was transportation in the Soviet Union? What was it really like to get every day provincials?
You mentioned the pride and modesty of people who remember that time clearly. What was it like working in those days? How did the average person in the Soviet error feel about their circumstances and situation? Did all people have a chance to enjoy the arts?
I understand that the arts were very much appreciated but did it allow for freedom of expression was a geared toward the survival of the Soviet Union?
Please forgive my ignorance. I have a slim understanding of the Soviet experience. I grew up as a child in the 1980s so I’ve had a very different interpretation although I was never encouraged to disrespect another person‘s culture.
Thank you for your time and the willingness to dismantle the misconceptions around the Soviet experience, through story telling of lived experiences.
Of course, we will do our best to cover as many diverse topics about life in the USSR as possible. All of your suggestions are very helpful and resonate with us. It saddens us to see how inaccurately and one-sidedly life in the Soviet Union is often portrayed. It is very important to us to show and tell the whole truth about the USSR while contemporaries of this significant era for the world are still with us.
Thank you for your valuable comments. We look forward to further feedback.
Anche in Italia ci sono pensionati che vivono allo stesso modo.Personalmente non è il mio livello ma sono minimalista e conduco una vita frugale, abbandonando da tempo il consumismo sfrenato e non sostenibile.Un augurio e un caro saluto alla signora🙋🏻♀️♥️☘️
Hello. Thank you for sharing about your life in Italy. I will definitely pass on your greeting to our heroine. She will be very pleased!
💖 Thank you.
This is a very charming and cozy apartment with soul and atmosphere. I like it. Especially the doors and the storage over the doors.
I live in an old apartment in central Copenhagen, to be honest, it isn´t much more modern than this one!
Na zachodzie pralka i zlew to standard. W rosji to luksus. Moj tato był w rosji. Na wsiach piorą w rzekach, biorą wodę wiadrami ze studni jak w 19wieku. Ich toalety to drewniane budki w ogrodzie z dziurą bezpośrednio do ziemi, nie ma kanalizacji. Dla tej kobiety żyrandol to".nowoczesność". Na Białoruśkich wsiach do lat 70 tych uzywali lamp naftowych, a w Europie zachodniej juz dawno temu były żarówki.
The apartment is very cute. Reminds me of my first place built in 1867, with claw foot tub, separate water closet and wide plank floors. We had Direct current so needed a transformer to AC modern appliances! It was a happy time with assortment of roommates.
More truthful than many videos coming out of the Soviet Union. I’m sorry that this is the way it is !😢🇨🇦
I’m very glad that you noticed the truthfulness of the video. Our goal is to show the real truth about the USSR. Thank you.
This is a way was ! Today they live very differently!
Similar to apartments in Poland.
Personally love what is old but we'll kept with updates because it connects us with the past. New means new materials not made to last. I loved the tiles. The exterior structure is thick, well built. It hasn't been maintained is only problem. People on 200$ a month cannot be expected to fix it. It's a grand bldg. Flower boxes with flowers in yard. A bright painted door. New stucco. Think how lovely it was new.
Hello! You are right; the building does need major repairs. It could probably be clad in brick, but that would be very expensive. Most of the people living in this area are elderly, and they cannot manage to maintain the houses. The management company collects money from them every month for capital repairs, but nothing gets done. It’s very sad.
@@Soviet-Born Can residents/management afford seeds? No sarcasm intended. Sometimes it just takes a little push by one to get it started. It would improve morale 💯. Harvest seed year after year eliminates cost and the budget can buy new varieties. Grow herbs, too. Do you think covering exterior with brick is wise? Idk. The underneath structure would continue deteriorating? I'm really glad to know how things are for pensioners there. So many here in USA are either homeless or receiving Section 8. When the economy completely tanks so will subsidy. We the people are one ❤️
I'll take that flat...I'm 59...but probably in Uzbekistan....my mother had the same wardrobe in the house built in 1913 and it was in my room starting from the 8th foot up to the ceiling! I used to sit in it and look down at the ladder.
We lost our home & we live with the son & his wife. We really want our own place but waiting for social housing. I'd love to have that apartment. At least it is independent.
I am very sorry for your loss. Losing your home is very hard. But you have hope of getting social housing, and that is something positive. Here, it is nearly impossible to get social housing at this time. The apartment I showed you was earned by the entire family. And even now, though the apartment is owned, they struggle to afford its upkeep. The building is very old and requires a lot of investment, sometimes even pointless.
I sincerely hope everything will work out well for you. Wishing you all the best.
@@Soviet-Born Thankyou. I'm not sure if we will actually get social housing as there is a huge waiting list. All in God's hands.
Hello, this video is really interesting. Considering the apartment was given to Babushka it's not too bad. I assume she just pays the utilities each month. Here in Southern California United States very expensive to live. My house is about 1354 sq ft 3 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. Cost now would be $500,000+. Year 2006 built. Mortgage rates are very high also now. Utilities not too bad $160.00 month gas, electric, water.
Many homeless people including senior citizens here in California.
Thank you for the video.
Best wishes --- Mary - California.
Hello Mary. Thank you for telling me about your home and the cost of utilities. It’s very interesting. You have a very nice house. I like it when there are enough bathrooms.
You’re right; in today’s world, it’s very difficult to live. Everything is getting more expensive, and you have to work hard to have good living conditions.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
Best regards,
Julie
Love this channel!
Thank you for the kind words! It means a lot to us.
Thank you for sharing this pensioners in the uk are from one extreme to the other poor to comfortable
Thank you for the comment!
How is life in the rural villages? Is it better for people than if they live in an apartment?
Such an interesting look at regular Russian people, thank you. Peace and goodwill to you 🌻
Thank you very much for the kind wishes.
I am a pensioner that worked for the government for 28 years. I've lived in my apartment also for 28 years. I get 55% of my salary for my pension. My health insurance is covered under my pension. In addition to my pension, I have a retirement account and savings. I don't have to work fortunately. I am 63 years old.
Thank you for the interesting story about your pension payments. Your government treats its citizens with dignity. At 63, having such an income is just an unattainable dream for our retirees. I am sincerely happy for you and really hope that one day everything will be well in our countries too.
Thanks for sharing ❤ 😊
Unfortunately, people who have worked their entire live here in the US are now moving to tents and travel trailers. Working all their lives, buying and paying off a home only to have taxes and insurance go so high, they can no longer afford their homes.....I am almost at that point, my taxes and insurance went up 100 per month, While I have equity in my home it is no where mere enough to buy even a smaller home. No family to get help from......this month utilities go up as well.....
I hope you can take some measures to hold onto your home... perhaps take in a roommate? Babysitters and dogsitters are in demand in many areas and are well-paid where I live. I wouldn't hesitate to utilize food pantries. I wish you all the best!
Hello. I hope everything will be good for you. Wishing you all the very best.
If everybody lives at around the same standard, that's when people are most satisfied. But if some would have more and be able to upgrade their home and renovate their kitchen, the satisfaction of most of the others would dwindle immediately. Basic psychology...
Here in the UK we see very little accommodations like this. It’s hard to believe ppl in Eastern Europe live like this. I feel very humbled watching your film.
Hello. Unfortunately, that’s the reality of life.
Haha your so right with the Chinese check bags, I enjoyed your video…🌺
Very interesting video. Beautifully done. Some of our elderly live just as poorly in the U.S. but many have more. Our government housing is newer and better made but doesn't have the history behind it.
Hello! Thank you very much for the comment!
It's a nice apartment , lots of storage nice floor, double windows for the cold , nice heating , i like that type of heating . A window in the bathroom , that's nice. It should have a shower with a seat for an older person. Bathtubs are becoming a rarity because of the water expense. But what happens to the ones that didn't work for fifty years?
Yes, the apartment is good. It’s a very old building. The roof is currently leaking, and in winter, snow will blow in. Neither the grandmother nor her neighbors have the means to repair it, as they are all elderly. But, in any case, they maintain it as best as they can.
Regarding your question about those who haven’t worked, many live in their parents’ apartments, but even more people live in rented housing under very poor conditions.
Thank you for your comment!
Thank you for this video! I have seen documentaries on Soviet stars like Eduard Khil and Marya Pakhomenko, and their apartments and furniture seemed very humble to my Canadian eyes. A lot of old Soviet stuff… so it’s no surprise to me that ordinary Russian pensioners would live very modestly in dingy apartments
Thank you for the comment. It’s very hard for elderly people to part with their belongings. What may seem like clutter to us is valuable to them for various reasons. As for messy apartments, it’s hard to maintain them, and sometimes there simply isn’t enough money for repairs.
Inflicting your perspective on the elderly is reguarded as elder abuse in my country .
So very interesting -- thank you so much for the detailed tour through this home. I am definitely interested in Russian cooking. How to make basic Russian dishes that I could try. Something not too difficult with ingredients that would not be hard to find. ❤ (If food is outside the scope of your plans for this channel, disregard my request!)
Hello! Thank you for the interesting suggestion. I enjoy cooking, and I’m pretty good at it. I’ll think about how to showcase it in an engaging way. I hope it works out!
@@Soviet-Born That would be awesome !!!😊
While the gas canisters are very scary that little home is so clean, it is a credit to the lady. Are the powers that be really interested in keeping seniors in comfort in their old age or are they just interested in the land value?
Thank you for the compliment to the apartment owner. It’s very hard for her to maintain the house. She struggles with poor health and has to save on even the basics. Yet, she still does her best.
You’re right; the land is valuable. This is the city center. I don’t know what the authorities are waiting for-they keep promising relocation, but those are just promises.
Soviet culture. What life was like & is like now
Actually, the apartment is not as bad - for one person. Definitely not sufficient for a family of 5. It's too bad that the building is not maintained (i.e. the outside) because that would only speed up further deterioration and it may enable pests to enter the building.
The worst part, from my perspective, was the kitchen sink, which was too tiny and in a bad spot. Otherwise, I think the apartment could be easily updated and made a lot more cozier although I completely understand the financial situation. I should say that I grew up on one of the Soviet Union-satellite countries so therefore, I am not really shocked. I completely understand that these people deserve better what unfortunately, it is what it is.
Washing dishes in that closet would probably drive me to drink 🍹 more than is good for me!
Hello. This house is beyond repair-only demolition is possible. Promises are made, but whether people will live to see it is a big question. The grandmother does her best to maintain the apartment. Now the roof has started leaking, but there aren’t enough funds.
Thank you for your comment.
@@Soviet-Born Thank you for your update as well.
I am a Canadian retired to Spain, not just for the weather but for the affordable lifestyle. At least I have a pension. does this lady get a monthly pension, despite her apartment.? That would make all the difference. don,t know how things work in Russia
She get 200 in American dollars 😮
It does not look safe. All the best. 🌷🌷
You’re right; the house isn’t very reliable. Thank you for your good wishes!
Lived in China-- looks very much the same as our apartment there! It was from the 80's
That was until 4 years ago only
This is very nice. Believe me
Thank you very much for the kind words!
They were given apartments free, and they are beautifully built. I am 77 born after the war, 1947, and original occupants would be dead. Their children must now be living there, not the original occupants.
Do something on farmers and the way they live now.
You seem to be fascinated with that plumbing you mentioned at about five times😂
It was worth mentioning no one should live in a home with those plumbing problems.
I worked since I was 15, I’m now 69. My last and longest job was for the city government, of 27 years. I get $3,400 per month, my husband retired from his city government job, he makes twice my salary. We started planning and saving since our 30’s for our retirement, we also had a 401k plan. We are blessed. One of our children owns a business, the other we got through college and doing well too. We are so blessed.❤
Hello. You have a very worthy life, and you have earned it honestly. Working since the age of 15 is very difficult. But your hard work has been rewarded compared to our heroine. This is very sad. Nevertheless, I am very happy for you. Thank you very much for the comment.
We are watching a very sad and painful story and you are bragging aboit how much money you have . Just have a little respect for these people and their painful life .
It has been very interesting to see one of the older apartment. In Australia just like in the USA the homeless elder population numbers are growing. It is wonderful to see that at least in Russia people have somewhere to live. In the suburb I own my house, without a mortgage, average house prices starting from a number of million dollars. The middle class and under can only dream however simply can't afford to purchase or rent a house or apartment in my suburb. Currently Australia dealing with a never before seen shortage of housing and more and more working people/families with children has been forced to live in tents in parks, if they lucky than they may have a car what they able to park in their families or friends driveway. They live in a car or tent next to the car and able to use a bathroom and kitchen. In Australia It is a tragedy what some peoples lives has been reduced to.
Hello. Unfortunately, the issue of homeless elderly people exists worldwide, and in the former USSR, there are especially many of them. There are so many tragedies associated with deception, ungrateful grown children, and much more. I plan to address these topics in upcoming videos.
Thank you very much for sharing your interesting story about life in Australia and for bringing up this topic.
@@Soviet-Born Hello, Thank you for your explanation. It may be interesting to know; Home ownership in Australia is at 67% from which around 30% owned without mortgage (I am one of them) and 37% struggling to pay their mortgage and 33% either renting or homeless. Home ownership in Russia is 92%. I am one of the only 20% of tax payers who also own investment properties. In one house I reduced the rent by 70% to help the tenants who's circumstances changed. Most people would just send a notice to vacate if the tenants un-able to pay the rent and sadly these people would end up being homeless. I came from a significant family with over 1 thousand years of history. Most of my Russian side of the family has been murdered or exiled from Russia. I just thought it may be interesting for you. Wish your wealth, health and happiness.
Be thankful ! In new zealand many live in 120 yr old rotten wooden damp dumps .
Thats so true. In the west people sleeps on the street
Sad because it seems nothing has changed since 1960.
American homeless people would be happy if they have place to sleep ,cook, and sower !
Her video is not about homeless; it is about pensioners.
@@survive-1-day-at-a-time There are senior pensioners in the US who are unhoused. Where I live, they are given 82 days a year in a run down motel. Even if they are veterans, disabled, elderly, and have no where to go, they have to move out. Some organizations give them tents and sleeping bags.
@@survive-1-day-at-a-time god forbid if anyone gives a kind word for the homeless.
@@survive-1-day-at-a-time That’s right, and there is a distinct difference between pensioners and the homeless. Also the homeless can be any age most do not get social security. Homelessness is a problem but it is a different problem. The people in this video have worked 25 to 50 years that is not true for most of the homeless. These people have long work histories, in the us if you work 35 plus years you will receive social security and you may not have all that you need but most people live better than what the video shows.
The rich get richer, the poor poorer, why do we put up with it.
I hope future generations rebel against this social standard
How would an immigrant live in Russia with a budget of 3,000 USD per month? Maybe you could use that for another video idea. Different budgets and different locations - rural vs city/town.
Very well, informative video.
This is not a civilized world and millions left to struggle through every age of their lives. Very hard for elderly with physical issues too. Seems a crime to humanity for such conditions to exist.
The idea may be good, but I don’t have a $3000 budget. Even without it, I can say for sure that in the former USSR, you could live very well with that amount of money.
Thank you for the comment, and I agree with you that it is very difficult for elderly people to live in the new realities.
Thank you there nothing wrong with living with your family that what we have to do there are three different family members living in our house that is how we survived when there not a lot of money we put our money together and pay for our roof over our heads thing are so expensive food water house everything if we don't do this we have to help each other we pray for better but are thankful and thank God for all everything
I wholeheartedly agree with you that this a disgraced way the country treats its pensioners. If I had these living conditions I would be depressed every day of my remaining life.
I live in USA and was born and raised in Greece.
Greece suffered an austerity period for having defaulted on its national debt and pensions were cut as much as 30%. What saved the Greeks is the support they give and receive in their families. People moved together to make ends meet and they managed to survive and now they rebounced and doing relatively well. What determines the amount of pension they receive is how many years they worked and paid into the pension system.
A typical average pension can be €1800 per month provided they worked enough years to earn it.
The same goes for USA but the difference is that there are many high paid jobs in USA and as a result the pensions are much higher. USA social security administration (the government agency responsible for overseeing pensions caps the earnings to a maximum of $160,000 annual salary on which a maximum pension will be calculated and paid out to the pensioner.
I hope this information was helpful.
Hello. Your information has been very helpful. It allows us to compare our pension. Of course, it is very upsetting, but it shows how unfair the situation of our pensioners is. I sincerely hope for an improvement in the situation. The example of Greece is very useful. Thank you very much for the comment.
THIS was very informative here in the states this would be considered sub par. However one could make the argument that at least she has a home they’re som many here in the US who do not have as much i wonder what is the better system
A very good question-what system is better? In the USSR, apartments were not sold; they were provided by the state for long-term work experience. People were tied to a permanent place of residence. There was cooperative housing, but very few could afford it. Wages were designed for a basic standard of living without the possibility of savings. This is a very interesting topic overall. We’ll try to explore it in more detail in future videos.
Thank you.
@@Soviet-Born thank you the insight into Soviet life is so helpful in understanding the way of the world
@@Soviet-Born The U.S is clearly better no comparison.
@@minimalistknitterare you sure ?????😮😅
@@evaaniela5717 Yes indeed, I am sure. Not putting their system down but I think I can truthfully speculate that the living environment described here would have no appeal to Americans. They have taken living modestly to a new level. It would be abuse here, and just because it is planned abuse by the government does not make it less abusive. She worked 50 or more years the whole time just getting by now she can barely do that. People want to live, they except what they cannot change especially when they have never known better. In the U.S with all of it's imperfections we still have hope, a chance that we can overcome what life throws at us. Most children do better financially than their parents did. ( I'm not including the rich and famous just the average Joe). In the U.S. even when we are not doing well, we still have hope.
This is great looking apartment compared to what I have seen in western countries . Homelesness, living on the streets in the tents and abandoned by everyone. Be proud of your country, the grass in not greener in the west anymore. Point out good things. Its a brick house, not like modern western unsafe light material houses like cupboard boxes. Also in the west they dont own their houses, the apartment was given to babuska and nobody can tell her to go out. In america veterans are out if they get seriously ill and have to pay inormous medical bills because either they rent or have credit on their houses, cars almost to the and of their life. We have to be proud in east although it may not look like that , it is now, the west is far worse. Lots of love from bricks house build 1927 with 3,5 m high walls in Serbia. ❤
The heroine doesn’t complain about her life. She’s used to saving on everything. Unfortunately, her house is wooden and needs major repairs. It’s probably cheaper to demolish it. We live in harsh natural conditions with a sharply continental climate. In winter, the temperature drops to -35 degrees Celsius, and there’s a very strong wind.
We don’t criticize our homeland and aren’t planning to leave it. We love it, just as any normal person loves the place where they were born.
Thank you very much for the interesting comment.
Sincerely, Julie.
The truth is, these apartments are much bigger with higher ceilings than modern apartments. If they had good upkeep they would be great.
A whole generation of American youth want this to be their future, unfortunately . Living on someone else works 70 years away. Great video.
Hello! Thank you very much for the comment!
@@Soviet-Born your welcome. I enjoyed the content of your video
The people who kept the country going now live in poverty & have their grandsons sent off to die for Putin's greater glory! 😡- I hope you don't get into trouble for showing this! Bless you!!
I was thinking the same thing as I watched this. I hope the KGB doesn't come after this outspoken woman and send her off to some Gulag!
They won’t because it’s the same “Babushka” who voted for Putin and will never raise her voice against anything. There are millions of such people with a slave mentality. I know it too well, being lucky to escape that country many yers ago.
Is there an address where we can send her gifts?
Wow, that would be very kind of you! Please email me at gyli.adv@gmail.com
How much rent do you pay for a govt home? Is it free? Here in Australia we have a housing crisis and many people would love a government home, and they pay about 20% of their income for that, as rent. There is not enough low cost housing in Australia, it is a crisis.
It was a nice apartment in the USSR, built in the style of Stalinist architecture. In our town only members of the Communist Party and senior leadership were allowed to live in such apartments.
Pensioners can do repairs and paint outside, plant flowers to give it a better look.
💛