Historical shop receipts

While cleaning up the hard disk of my computer I have come across a spreadsheet dated 4Q2015 in which I recorded prices of basic goods in shops at that time, to estimate the costs of living after I move out from my parents. Over 7 years later, after a few quarters of rampant inflation, I possess a quaint material for price comparisons. The list is rather modest and contains household goods, food and beverages, so the main stuff which lands in a shopping bag.

A few basic articles whose prices have gone up significantly since 4Q2015:
- lavatory paper – bygone cost PLN 3.59 per 8 rolls, today – around PLN 10 for the same quantity,
- bath sponge – then PLN 0.63, these days PLN 1.29 at Lidl,
- milk (3.2%) – then below PLN 2.00 per litre, today usually above PLN 3.50,
- 10 eggs – then for less than PLN 4.00, today twice as much,
- a loaf of bread – then around PLN 2.00, today usually no less than PLN 3.00 (in a supermarket, in a bakery it is more expensive),
- flour (1 kg) – then around PLN 1.30, today at least two times more,
- sugar (1 kg) – then close to PLN 2.30, today I believe PLN 5.00 (I buy it once in a blue moon).

But to my surprise, I have found goods, whose price has not gone up significantly (if at all) over that time:
- glass cleaner – then PLN 6.00 per litre, today you might find it at such price at bargain sales,
- Domestos (1 litre) – then PLN 7.00, today you can find 750 ml for PLN 6.00,
- instant tea (100 bags) – then PLN 6.00, today no problem to find Earl Grey from Lidl at such price,
- oranges – then for around PLN 4.00 – PLN 5.00 per kg, recently I saw ones for PLN 3.49 in Lidl.

The above are just exceptions which prove the rule. The costs of living have gone up in recent months by more than the official inflation, with prices of nutrients and dwelling upkeep eating up only bigger parts of households’ budgets, which bears out inflation hits the poorest most. In December 2022 the average salary in Poland reached PLN 7,330 before tax, up by 10.3% year-on-year, while the CPI rate stood at 16.6%, which means real wages declined by 5.4% year-on-year. For the first time since many years Poles have been impoverished and the trend is likely to continue at least for a few months.

Personally, albeit I am faring well financially, I am going to set up a spreadsheet of my personal expenses and divide them into a matrix of four categories: essentials and non-essentials, vs. recurring and non-recurring. I will fill it in based on my bank account statements and jotted down cash payments at the end of each month and after 12 months (otherwise one-off expenses will not count up properly) I will find out how much I need to spend monthly to eke out a living and how much I actually spend. I estimate the former is between PLN 2,000 and PLN 2,500 (including car maintenance) and the latter between PLN 4,500 and PLN 5,000. I pledge revert with a summary in early 2024.

Dog ownership

As a child and as an adult I had not been fond of animals. At times I was tempted to adopt a cat, yet my allergy to cats put paid to those wishes. When being involved in charity, I always helped people and never donated money nor volunteered to animal shelters. Having something in common with pets was not my cup of tea.

Last summer I met a girl who has had a dog. Over the first weeks I was a bit of indifferent towards the creature, but with time, as she (the dog) began to treat me as a companion (and stopped barking on me fiercely every time I popped on to my girlfriend’s place), we (the dog and I) hit it off with each other.

My fondness grew, yet I was slightly afraid of looking after the pet. I first took her for a walk on my own in early October 2022 and recall I was slightly scared. A month later when my girlfriend and her parents flew to Turkey for holidays, the dog stayed with me for a week and I not only got on with it, but was elated to have a flatmate.

Having a dog is above all a duty. Taking it out for a walk three times a day is a must and it consumes between 60 and 90 minutes a day, which is a lot if you are in a rush, work-wise. Going to the office for 12 hours, as I tend to have to (more about recent developments on the corporate front soon), is also out of question. When the dog stays in my flat, I switch to home office only.

When taking a dog a for walk, picking up its turds is a must. I have quickly overcome the abhorrence, but I know for several people this down-to-earth element of looking after the dog is too difficult.

A bigger nuisance is cleaning the fur at home. In November it was no problem, but since early December the dog kept shedding her coat (which is not seasonal) and vacuum cleaning has become the order of the day.

I can tell you little about the costs, since so far all have been borne by my girlfriend, but I estimate all recurring (feed) and one-off (vet, vaccinations, toys) expenses count up to between PLN 500 and PLN 1,000 per month.

Upsides of having a dog friend who which brings joy to your home compensate the above with a surplus!

Wisła – the longest stay so far

A quick photo coverage of my foray to Wisła. I grabbed the opportunity of not having to pop in to the office during the theoretically slack period around Christmas and resided in the mountain resort for 10 days. One event I slightly regret as a zealous weather observer was missing out on experiencing the January heat record for Warsaw and the whole Poland (+18.9C on 1 January 2023). Where I was temperature in full sunshine barely climbed above +10C.

Higher into the mountains, remnants of snow lingered until the end of the 2022. During our trip to Trzy Kopce Wiślańskie on New Year’s Eve, we came across regular snow at 700 metres above sea level and such ice 100 metres higher. The dog was elated. We made it to the peak thanks to winter footwear we had worn.

On New Year’s Day we drove to Jaworzynka, a village close to a place where borders of Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia converge. We hiked to the spot and to two other countries from the village, while other tourists had to carry their arses in their cars up to the venue. Twoje serce przypomina – piechotą zdrowiej. To the right – viaducts being a part of D3 motorway in Slovakia. I drove here in May 2018 not realising such valley was beneath the road.

A snap taken on the same day shows the undulating landscape of the Czech village Herczawa, which we later ambled through during our 11-kilometre hike. The weather was March-like and while we were ascending, two layers of clothing were absolutely sufficient.

The very tourist destination where the borders meet is in a state of reconstruc- tion. Instead of grass, mud is all around, presence of solar panels and wind turbines is notable. Sadly, cars in the background remind for many one mile is a far too long distance to cover on foot. Entry to such spots should be prohibited to visitors’ vehicles.

On 6 January we hiked to Stecówka. We cycled through part of that route in August, but this time we rambled up a shorter trail. To the right, a panorama from the viewing platform en route. In the fog one sees the confluence of Biała Wisełka and Czarna Wisełka. Where the two brooks join each other the river Wisła officially starts.

As we roamed downhill, we passed the winter residence of the president of Poland. Due to unfavourable skiing conditions (the weather resembled late autumn), Mr Duda was absent at that time.

As my girlfriend rightly claims, you should not stay in Wisła for too long, not to get accustomed to that place. After at most two weeks you should return to Warsaw to foster the longing for the place. For business (quite many tribulations at work) reasons I doubt I will visit the town in the coming weeks.

Pandemic diary – December 2022

Tuesday, 13 December 2022
The number of new infections is four-digit, for the first time since 26 October 2022. During the commencing winter a seasonal flu is probably going to be more dangerous than COVID-19.

Thursday, 15 December 2022
The 7-day average of new infections exceeds 500 for the first time since 5 November 2022. Forecasters claim the current wave, barely noticed by anybody, will peak in January, with on average 5,000 new infections per day.

Tuesday, 20 December 2022
China, upon lifting the zero-covid policy, is witnessing soaring numbers of infections, hospitalizations and infections which are not officially registered. The nation which used to keep the virus at bay for nearly 3 years and whose vaccines cannot boast of great efficacy, lacks proper immunity, which is the case for western societies these days.

Friday, 23 December 2022
It seems COVID-19 is now not the biggest peril to the health care system. This winter, as envisaged, the seasonal flu is taking its toll on Poles, especially on children. Par for the course after 2 years of masking and staying at home. Some time ago I was either somewhat ill or too busy to get vaccinated against flu. Currently, there is a shortage of vaccines in Medicover…

Thursday, 29 December 2022
I get my flu jab, but not in Warsaw, but in Bielsko-Biała.