The need reaches the middle class: "Despite a

40-hour week, many can no longer get on their feet"

Created: 04/10/2022 05:30

By: Martin Becker

Wanting to help: Claudia Mammach (left) and Carola Schanzer listen to people's concerns in the Caritas advice bus and look for solutions.

© Martin Becker

The energy crisis and inflation are not just affecting welfare recipients and low-income earners.

The crisis has long since reached the middle class.

The employees of Caritas in the district of Munich are experiencing this more and more often.

Unterhaching/district

– save, save, save.

But how?

In order to make the abstract more tangible, Claudia Mammach and Carola Schanzer from Caritas have designed a small quiz.

On the Caritas advice bus, which stops at the Unterhachinger weekly market that day, there are laminated cards with questions ready.

For example: How much does drinking water from the tap cost compared to the cheapest mineral water from the supermarket?

With a consumption of three liters per day, the tap costs 1.92 euros per year, which is far cheaper than the water from the discounter, which costs a total of 182.50 euros.

Or the tumble dryer with an exhaust hose – how expensive is a load?

3.76 euros per load are incurred.

Lots of little tricks

The two ladies from Caritas surprise many interested passers-by with numbers like these.

And hand out brochures with tips on how to save money in the age of skyrocketing energy prices: "With lots of little tricks that don't hurt, up to 20 percent can be saved in every household.

The sum of the measures makes the difference!”

The range of Caritas offers is wide, from debt counseling to food distribution.

"You can come to us with any problem," says Carola Schanzer.

She has noticed that the demand for advice has risen sharply.

And: "The people who come to us are changing." The priority is no longer the recipients of social benefits, as they used to be, but working people with full-time jobs.

"Many say we can't do it anymore - the needs of the people have reached the middle class."

Waiting list at the blackboard

This trend is particularly noticeable in food spending.

In 13 of the 29 district municipalities, Caritas is present with offers such as the "Hachinger Tisch" and provides around 1,500 people with food every week.

Waiting lists had to be introduced for the first time this year, around 200 people are on them, and the proportion of Ukrainian refugees is 15 percent.

In the debt counseling service, Carola Schanzer noticed "that most of them are already in a situation that threatens their very existence and can no longer cover their expenses with their income from employment".

This primarily affects the middle class, on average people just under 40 and pensioners who suddenly drift into poverty in old age.

"Many prioritize wrongly," explains Claudia Mammach.

The most important thing is to “always pay rent and electricity”.

Caritas takes care of consumer debt creditors: “We have networks and stretch them to suit every client.”

Various information materials are available in the advisory bus.

© Martin Becker

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But that also means turning over every cent with a budget or putting all cost items to the test.

Do you need fire insurance in your rented apartment? Aren't four mobile phone contracts three too many for one person?

potential and problems

A lot of money can be saved in the energy sector in particular: "One shower costs one euro - if the water runs for a maximum of five minutes," calculates Claudia Mammach.

Anyone who showers for 20 minutes a day has additional expenses of 1,500 euros per year.

One degree more in the refrigerator, switch off stand-by on the television with the mains plug, run the dishwasher and washing machine on a longer eco program because the rapid heating of the short programs consumes a lot more electricity: many small measures relieve the burden on the wallet.

Financial difficulties often also mean "being excluded from social participation", emphasize the two Caritas advisers.

Even the invitation to a children's birthday party could become a problem: "There are families who are faced with the choice of whether to buy the neighbor boy a present or rather have something to eat for a day or two."

An elderly lady with a walker stops at the advice bus on the Unterhachinger Rathausplatz and describes her current problem: After 22 years, her apartment was given notice - the owner changed and reported personal needs.

However, with inadmissible deadlines: Caritas can at least obtain a postponement.

Increasing housing costs, rising food prices - this is now overtaxing many normal earners and especially young professionals with low salaries.

What consequences will that have?

“Despite working a 40-hour week, many can no longer get on their feet,” says Claudia Mammach.