‘Earlier, We Bought Food In Installments With One-Month Period, Now — Three-Month’

• 12.09.2022, 15:16

Belarusians have to live in debt.

In Belarus, many people buy the necessary products in installments — bread and milk, writes zerkalo.io.

Previously, they bought groceries in installments for one month, now — for three

Siarhei with his wife and five-year-old child live in the district center of the Brest region. The spouses are working. Siarhei earns about 850 rubles, his wife — 1,200 rubles. The man assesses the family's wealth as average, although they can afford, according to him, only the essentials.

“My salary is gone virtually in one day — 740 rubles a month is sent to repay the loan that we took to build a house. With my wife’s salary, we pay for utilities, a kindergarten, an installment for furniture,” the man spoke about spending the joint income.

The family does not have enough money, so Siarhei has to moonlight. Also, for five months, they are rescued by an installment card. Belarusians use it to buy groceries and fuel the car. Sometimes they buy clothes and shoes.

“We give about 500-600 rubles a month to pay off installments. It’s convenient for us, because it’s easier to split the payment amount over several months than to give it all at once,” the man explains.

Last month, they ordered another card, where a longer installment period is possible. This time they issued the “plastic” for Siarhei’s wife.

“It is more profitable for us if the installment period is longer. For example, earlier, when buying food products, the installment plan was for a month, and now it is for three. The same is true for refueling. We are so accustomed to installment plans that it is scary to imagine what will happen if they are suddenly canceled.”