This year, more than a quarter of a million Romanians will turn 65, the age at which most dream of retiring and enjoying the time they have left with their grandchildren. Unfortunately, the rising cost of living combined with uncertainty about the future forces Romanian seniors to consider at least part-time employment for extra money.

Two years ago, the number of elderly people over 65 who continued to work or started a new job was about 70,000. Last year, their number approached 100,000. The reasons given were inflation, insufficient savings and the need to support their children.

Two-thirds of people over the age of 65 work full-time and one-third work part-time, according to the State Statistics Service.

Mariana Popescu (Bucharest) sees her savings running out. A freelancer until last year, her biggest client was bought by a competitor who came to work with their teams. So Maryana was left without the most permanent part of her income. Her parents have fallen ill and all the maintenance and utility bills plus unexpected expenses like caring for her elderly parents and child support are overwhelming her.

“I wanted to take a woman to the province who would take care of my family. You cannot find a woman for less than 2,500 lei per month who visits her parents several times a week to cook for them and do laundry. There is no question of going home to the hospital; I wouldn’t be able to afford the expense, and they wouldn’t be proud to admit it either,” she says. So month after month, he taps into a dwindling emergency fund. He’s tried to get a job, but at 50, none of 14 have responded. firms to which he applied.

“Everything became more expensive – from food, car ownership, housing insurance, the needs of her student son. First I cut back on the little splurges I indulged in during the good times, then I cut back on the quantity of food, and now I cut back on the quality to be as cheap as possible when I stock up,” she says.

Marian Popa is a 70-year-old taxi driver. “I have a boyfriend who has two children, and his son was left on the roads. Until he settles down, I drive a taxi to help him because I have nothing to help him with my pension. I sit outside for 8-10 hours to help my children, what should I do?” he asks rhetorically.

People approaching retirement age often underestimate their expenses. Every third pensioner has a hard time paying for housing, and most of them have seriously reduced the list of products they would like to have in the refrigerator, Statistica reports. “I thought I wouldn’t spend more than a third of my money on food in retirement, but I don’t think I will,” says another retiree who wants to supplement his income with a part-time job. According to statistics, food accounts for 40% of the average pensioner’s budget

Then, after paying for electricity and gas, the largest share of pensioners’ expenses is related to food, which, along with food, has become extremely expensive. For residents of rural areas, who are heated by wood-burning stoves, the purchase of this fuel is a serious headache.

At the level of food consumption, INS data show that retirees eat unhealthy foods. they consume the least amount of meat and are bread and butter champions (along with farmers). They also consume the most fat and the most eggs (among workers, employers, unemployed and self-employed)

Finally, let us remind you that the population over 65 will work in 2035 will triple compared to those 65+ who are working now, Professor Dr. Cătălin Ghinăraru explained in a discussion with HotNews based on data from Cedefop, one of the decentralized agencies of the European Union, which periodically makes forecasts on the labor market. The share of the elderly population will exceed the 30% threshold, confirming the serious aging process in the country. Details here or here