Cyprus-Forum.com

[pauline]

Maybe I'm being silly. but I find it hard to understand how people survive in Cyprus.. If the minimum wage is £350 pm, and if the average price for an accomodation is £200 a month, how on hearth can you leave with just £5 a day ????
Is there a magic trick or something ??
The only thing I'm sure of is that I can't wait to be over to understand how it really works !

[Hazza]

Unfortunately it is very difficult Pauline. Alot of people have 2 and sometimes 3 jobs just to survive. I'm now looking for either a second job or a flat mate in order to make ends meet.

[andri_cy]

I think a lot of people do have roomates.

[Sotos]

350 is for unskilled workers. The average salary is much higher. Also I think most Cypriots own their homes so they don't have to rent. And the family support system here is better. So a young person can work for 350 but his family will help him with additional money.

[Supertrotter]

Also bear in mind that, certainly in UK people tend not to have a work ethic...look how many people sponge off the state!

I don't know for sure, but maybe people in CY are more inclined to earn their money and as such take second jobs if necessary.

If so, then I wholeheartedly commend them

[Natty]

Plus there's a slower pace of light in Cyprus, you know the typical medditerainian (who'd you spell that? I've had a total mind block....lol) living!!

[unique_earthling]

I dont think it is about qualifications, if you are able to speak greek and have a skill they need then you can get a decent job, but many people with skills cant get a decent job, i am a qualified therapist but dont have the depth of Greek to communicate or understand what another is trying to tell me, and in therapy communication skills are everything. so i work for less.

Very few English people work at skilled highly paid jobs in Paphos. There are those that have more entreprenureal skills and start businesses, but because of the jealousy and red tape, they give up after a while. I have heard of many cases where this has happened, but hope that one day they will see that competition is a good thing. Lydls a German company have been trying now for two years to get franchises up and running but have had obstacles after obstacle put in their way. if you can do it cheaper and more efficiently and you are a foreigner you are not welcome.

I was offered a job to work as a manager of a tourist sandwich shop come bakery and my life was made hell by those i worked with because they resented my ability to do things better and more efficiently. And they would rather slouch around and growl at the customers than make it a good place to work and give customer service. I am now a manager doing a job that i really feel is worth while, i work for an animal shelter, its not a glamorous job but i feel its a valuable one. So perhaps money is not everything and if you enjoy your job then its not so bad to earn less.

And Pauline you can survive, get a flat share and be wise with your money and you will do ok. Whats the worst that can happen? Come and have fun, most of it is free, the sun, the sea, and find good friends, as a good support system is a great help. And the worst that can happen is you can always go back to the UK.

[Svetlana]

Many people on the minimum wage live with another wage earner - parent/husband/wife. Many people have two jobs.

Lana

[michalis5354]

I was offered a job to work as a manager of a tourist sandwich shop come bakery and my life was made hell by those i worked with because they resented my ability to do things better and more efficiently

I know what you mean! Jelousy! I met such kinds of people and I m feeling sad for them ! They are loosers!

[unique_earthling]

I live by this credo..No one said life was gonna be easy, but the learning experiences and personal growth cannot be bought at any price, it has to be lived. And its our fears that hold us back when really the fear is only of the unknown. Once done it is known and never as bad as our fears portray it.