How people live in America. Life in an American family. Personal experience. Social Security and Taxes

Russians think that living in America is simply wonderful. Many people dream about this since childhood, imagining a carefree life with a cool car and a beautiful three-story house. It seems like moving there is the height of your dreams. And some even succeed. But is everything so wonderful, and what general features of life in America are there that are better to know and for which it is better to prepare, especially morally?

Katya left for the USA 5 years ago. She recently returned to her homeland and decided to talk about the peculiarities of life in the distant country of America.

The girl was also one of those who had life in America as their ultimate dream. But not every Russian can cope with such a life. Katya couldn’t do this either. She finally returned to her native Moscow, and no longer wants to leave it.

1. With your feet on the bed.

For Katya it was a big shock. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with the fact that Americans wear shoes in the house, and can even easily retire to bed. But it starts to really piss off Russians when it happens before their eyes every day.

No, they are not dirty. They wash all the roads 4 times a day, and about 4 times a week they do this with special cleaning products. And they almost never walk. Everyone gets around by car or, in extreme cases, by taxi.

But the Russians still don’t like it. Katya said that for her it’s like it’s not respect. Put your feet on the table, or climb onto the bed with your shoes on. In Russia, as everyone knows, there is even such an expression - “Put a pig at the table, and it will put its feet on the table.” By the way, because of this we have to constantly change the floors of the house...

2. Freedom...

In America and in Russia these are different concepts. This is not even a matter of the state, but of society. Therefore, according to Katya, you need to immediately prepare for what you will see. For example, everyone there reacts normally to the fact that two guys will stand in line and kiss. Let it even be children's store toys. No one has the right to say anything until no one does anything to you personally. Therefore, be prepared, if you have children, that they will look at this everywhere and all the time. People can wear whatever they want and it shouldn't bother anyone either.

3. People without housing.

There are a lot of them. Yes, all Russians know that there are many of them in America, but no one can even imagine on what scale this is. These people live quietly on the central streets of the city. According to the authorities, this is due to the fact that housing is very expensive in America. Even removing it is very expensive. Not every salary will be enough even for a spare room. In addition, America has stopped funding some hospitals, including psychiatric hospitals. People ended up on the streets and from there... Unless they have relatives who can pay for their stay there.

4. Nutrition.

Almost all Americans eat their own fatty cuisine. These are French fries, hamburgers, steaks, etc. And if you bring something from home for lunch, and even something healthy, they will look at you strangely. Basically, everyone has a quick snack in cafes that are located near offices.

5. Work.

This is especially difficult for those who have not lived in America. They are used to devoting almost all their time to work. Moreover, the fact that you stayed until night doesn’t bother anyone. Nobody will pay you for this. And if you don’t do this, you will simply be kicked out. Any employer has the right to this. There are practically no contracts with anyone employment contracts. This makes it possible for both the employee to leave his position at any time, but also for the employer to fire the worker simply because he wanted to. This is why all Americans are terrible workaholics. They have no other choice. Agree, we are not used to this. We know that the law protects us and that we won’t just stay on the street. And there it’s easy, and without anything. Americans buy everything on credit. Therefore, being fired means a lot to them - without work, without housing, without a car and everything else, and immediately, within a month.

So, it’s good everywhere where we are not... Not everyone can stand it. Not to mention the insanely expensive medicine and so on.

Most residents live in some kind of illusory world relative to how people live in the United States.

In fact, poverty levels in America have reached unprecedented levels. Gradually dies middle class. Unemployment is at a fairly high level. Most Americans live very poorly. Does this mean the US economy is experiencing the hardest times? Let's try to answer this question relying solely on the facts.

Facts about catastrophic poverty in America

1. 47 million Americans now live below the poverty line. This was reported by the US Census Bureau.
2. Almost one in five children in the United States rely on food stamps. Back in 2007, every 7 children lived on the “ticket system”.
3. There are about 1.5 million households in the United States whose daily earnings do not exceed $2.00. Since 1996, the number of these farms has only increased.
4. 46 million US citizens rely on food banks to survive. At 6 a.m. a line begins to form. After all, everyone wants to get their rations before they run out.
5. Over the past 6 years, the number of homeless American children has increased by 60%.
6. Behind Last year 1.6 million children in the United States stayed overnight in shelters.
7. New York police have found 80 special places where homeless people can spend the night. The rise of homelessness in America is now being called an “epidemic.”
8. The overwhelming half of schoolchildren are so poor that they have no money in school canteens.
9. Approximately 65% ​​of children living in orphanages receive various financial assistance from the state.
10. Approximately 33% of children live in families average income which are below 60% of the average annual income in America.
11. The United States ranks 41st in UNICEF's ranking of the richest countries. Previously, this country was in 36th place.
12. Since 2000, the number of poorest areas has doubled.
13. 48.8% of 25-year-old Americans still live in the same home as their parents.
14. 51% of American workers earn less than $30,000 annually.
15. 7.9 million working population officially do not work anywhere, 94.7 million American citizens are unemployed for one reason or another. If you sum up these two figures, you get 102.6 million. This is exactly the working-age population per this moment don't have a job.
16. The “middle class” in America includes homeowners. Over the past 8 years, the number of homeowners has begun to decline significantly.
17. 70% of Americans believe that they simply have to get into debt (loans) in order to survive.
18. A quarter of the American population owns “negative equity.” In other words, what they have in the house does not correspond to the amount of money in their wallet.

Residents of the United States may claim that they live better than other countries and have an economic paradise. However, the fact that every day the number of American poor people is becoming larger and larger forces us to “take off our rose-colored glasses” and understand that life in America is actually very difficult.

America is a huge country with high economic level And comfortable conditions for life. Everything seems so attractive that many migrants dream of staying in the United States. But how do they really live? simple people Abroad? It is generally accepted that in America people earn a lot, and life is simple and pleasant. In order to figure out whether everything is so rosy, it is worth considering different aspects of life in the USA.

American character

How do they live in America? ordinary people? Basically, they are united by national traits - ease of communication, openness and friendliness. Americans are very polite, and in order not to offend another person, they can simply remain silent. Residents of America are free to move around the country and easily make acquaintances and make friends. Although there are certain invisible boundaries. Houses are separated by small hedges, and friendship does not imply interference in the affairs of a neighbor.

The conversation cannot discuss political, religious or financial issues. Mentioning social status is considered indecent. Americans are very fond of humor and pranks, but they are quite specific and not always understandable to foreigners. With the help of jokes, US residents smooth out conflict situations. They often express their own opinions using humor.

Everyday life

Is life difficult for people in the USA? The history of all families is approximately the same. American life largely centers around own home. The lawn in front of him is brought into perfect condition, even if there is not enough time for household chores. Americans do not make daily shopping trips, but stock up on food for a long time.

Paid predominantly credit cards and rarely in cash. Once a week, the whole family always gets together for dinner, discussing the news. Parties are held on the lawns to socialize with neighbors. Children are required to help their parents with housework - clearing snow, mowing the lawn, vacuuming, etc.

For this, their parents pay them small fees. American teenagers often work part-time at car washes, supermarkets, etc. This experience is considered mandatory, since grown children immediately leave their parents’ home after school and they need the skills of physical labor and earning money for a living.

Life style

How do people live in America? The day begins as in other countries. In the mornings, parents go to work (mostly in private cars), and children go to school on special buses. Housewives are engaged in housekeeping. Many teenagers drive their own cars, although their insurance costs much more than adults.

Almost all Americans visit various clubs, golf, bridge and other entertainment. Some US residents are members of public organizations and engage in charity work. Church parishioners organize dinners. Dishes for them are prepared at home and then placed on the common table. Children are involved in various clubs: ballroom dancing, tennis, etc.

Americans love to talk on the phone. Almost all families have notes posted on their refrigerators reminding who is in the family and what exactly needs to be done. Americans are distinguished by their smiling nature, and they take care of their personal and other people’s time. They prepare carefully for important negotiations and highly value punctuality. Almost all US residents follow a strict schedule, many use diaries.

Lifestyle

How do they live in America? ordinary Americans? Their lifestyle is quite dynamic. All week they are constantly on the move - work, errands. There are only weekends left for relaxation. These days, Americans go out with their families to parks, for walks, or to meet with friends. There are much fewer vacations and holidays in America than in Russia.

The average US citizen only takes one vacation a year. During vacation they prefer family trips to other states, to the countryside, to the mountains, etc. Wealthy Americans mostly vacation in Hawaii or the Bahamas. Residents of the United States are very fond of goods with discounts; purchases are rarely made without them.

All services, including medicine, are quite expensive, so a salary of several thousand dollars is considered low. You can only live on this money with great difficulty. To support a home, family, pay taxes, for education, etc., an American needs to receive at least 20 thousand dollars monthly. Smoking in public places is prohibited in America.

Alcoholic drinks are consumed in small quantities and mainly in the form of cocktails. Due to addiction to fast food, most Americans are prone to obesity. Sports are promoted to shed extra pounds. There are many elderly people in the United States who live alone. They are rarely visited by their children and grandchildren. Residents of the United States invite only family or close friends to their home; they prefer to meet with everyone else on neutral territory.

Real estate

The American way of life requires you to have your own home. But since it is not possible to save for it, most often houses are purchased on credit or taken out with a mortgage. The most popular are small ones one-story cottages from 150 to 250 square meters. Such a house costs an average of $150,000.

The cost of housing may be higher, it depends on its area, location of the block and building material. In modern American homes, a spacious living room, children's and dining rooms are required. Americans buy houses with loans (usually at 10 percent per annum) for 30 years. The period, terms and amount of payments depend on the level of salary, advance payment and cost of the cottage.

Job

How do ordinary working Americans live? They have an eight-hour workday and two days off each week. Employers offer different schedules. Americans can choose to work part-time, at home, etc. For a stable and high standard of living in America, it is necessary to have higher education. In the USA, you can’t get a job “through connections.” The standard of living depends on the annual income of the entire family. Salary depends on education and profession acquired. The highest paid specialists:

• television workers;
• managers;
• doctors;
• lawyers.

Their income can be from 15 to 20 thousand dollars monthly. Teachers, junior medical staff, workers government agencies have less wages. In America - hourly payment. Minimum wage- approximately 7.5 dollars per hour.

The level of income largely depends on the state. In them, the same position can be paid differently. Highest Income Americans are provided own business or private activity. Any US resident can become an entrepreneur. The state supports the development of small businesses.

Education

Schools are divided into elementary, middle and high schools. Moreover, they are all in different buildings. High school students start studying at 7 a.m., and kids at 8:30 a.m. Tuition in many schools is paid, the cost depends on the area of ​​residence. Payment is made once a year. The amount is included in the general tax. The funds are then distributed by the state.

Education can be obtained in both public and private schools. Studying at universities is carried out mainly on a paid basis - from 3-10 thousand dollars annually. Colleges last four years. Part of the payment is covered by the state. Foreign students are allowed to enroll in US universities. A special visa is issued for this.

Food prices

How do ordinary people live in America? Not all Americans can afford to go to restaurants and cafes. In the USA, it is common to purchase food in wholesale stores, as it is much cheaper and saves time. Prices in supermarkets can be much lower than, for example, in Russian ones. But the low cost of goods is often associated with poor quality.

Food products may be approaching their expiration dates, seemingly good meat may be bursting with hormones, and fresh and beautiful vegetables may be bursting with pesticides. There are a lot of quality products sold inexpensively. The United States supports farms; the cost of land and taxes is quite acceptable for small businesses. Accordingly, all this is expressed in low food prices.

Social Security and Taxes

How do ordinary people live in America? The standard of living directly depends on the annual income of the family. An important condition For a comfortable existence is insurance. This usually applies to real estate, cars and health. Pensioners over 65 years of age are entitled to receive health insurance from the state. This category also includes children under 19 years of age.

Each company provides its employees with insurance, through which payments can be received. Some large organizations issue them not only to their specialists, but also to their families. Small companies that cannot provide workers with insurance often offer discounts on various products.

Free medical care is provided for low-income citizens. Americans spend 30 to 50 percent of their income on taxes. The largest deductions:

• state taxes;
• federal;
• sales taxes;
• for real estate and property.

Low-income citizens, pensioners and students are not subject to taxes.

How to live in America: a view from the inside. Credit "trap"

Almost all ordinary people take out loans. Cards are opened in childhood and adolescence. Almost everyone in the US has a savings account. This is insurance for a rainy day. Savings are used in extreme cases (job loss, etc.). Americans have to do financial planning ahead of time.

Kindergartens are paid. Approximately $700 is paid monthly for one child. Sports, dance and other sections in which children and schoolchildren are usually enrolled are expensive. Against the backdrop of all the payments, even a week of illness and disability can lead middle-class residents to bankruptcy.

Payment of bills

How does the average American middle class live? Almost every second family pays off a mortgage or rents a home. Small two-story cottage costs approximately $5,000 monthly, excluding utilities. Medical insurance, car insurance, student loans, etc. all cost a lot of money.

Cars are most often rented, bought less often. But almost every adult family member has a car. Monthly payments for cars range from 200 to 400 dollars monthly. If family members do not have good credit history, then about own home and a cloudless life can only be dreamed of.

Sales

How do ordinary people live in America? They prefer to shop at sales. Americans dress simply and try not to spend a lot of money on clothes. When things wear out, they are taken to a humanitarian aid center. There are many stores in America with discounted branded clothing. What might cost thousands in other countries can be purchased on sale for $50 in the US.

Discounts are offered in stores all the time. Many sales are organized in honor of holidays. After them, the remaining things come true at even greater rates. low prices. At large sales, queues begin to form several hours before the store opens, and some even set up tents on nearby lawns in which to spend the night. Most often this happens at supermarkets with household appliances.

Coffee mania and fast food restaurants

How do ordinary people live in America? They spend a lot of money on coffee. In the mornings there are long queues outside the coffee shop. Then they repeat during lunch and after work. Even though coffee can be made at home for much less, millions of Americans spend hundreds of dollars every year on the invigorating drink. Bistros with fast food and frozen semi-finished products for microwaves are no less in demand.

How Americans live: interesting facts

Many Americans consider it their duty to have a gym membership. Even if they don't go there at all. In America, it is not customary to borrow or lend money. If a person cannot take out a loan for his needs, he will most likely miss a semester, refuse to travel, but will never ask for a loan of money. This is considered indecent.

All three emergency services always respond to calls. Moreover, firefighters are most often the first to respond and provide first aid. There are many toll roads and tunnels in the USA. Medicine is very expensive, but it is at a highly professional level. Americans call skyscrapers towers.

In the previous article about Washington, I promised to talk about how the American middle class lives. Ordinary engineers, doctors, middle managers, not millionaires or oligarchs. That is, not Hollywood stars and not relatives of George Soros and Warren Buffett. But on the other hand, they are by no means pizza delivery people or store clerks. Ordinary citizens aged 30-35 years, with small children, with education and work experience of 10-12 years after graduation. People usually live in a townhouse purchased on credit about 50 km from Washington, in the town of Rockville, and commute to Washington to work (about an hour by car, taking into account possible traffic jams). Actually, their house is visible in the photo; a black car is passing near it. Such a house costs 650 thousand dollars, some part of the amount (20-30%) is contributed from one’s savings, and the rest is given by the bank for 30 years at 4-4.5% per annum. Isn't it true that it is quite possible to live? Can! If, of course, you have at least a couple of hundred thousand dollars a year in family income and are able to repay the loan and pay utility bills. Details below -

Regular garage for 2 cars. In this case, this is the Infinity M56 and the 5th generation Ford Explorer SUV -

Basement, that is, the first floor, where your humble servant stayed, randomly scattering his things over an area of ​​at least 100 square meters. I have my own bath and toilet here -

There are stairs leading to the second floor, there is another toilet here, if you suddenly get diarrhea on the way from the first floor to the second -

The second floor is also the salon. Here is a resting place, a kitchen and another toilet (third) -

By the way, do you know what kind of grating is on the stairs and why it is needed?

Kitchen with refrigerator, dishwasher and other things -

Backyard -

Each townhouse has its own heating and water heating system. There are two systems here: air conditioning in the summer, and gas (heating) in the winter. Andrey finnskij , here is your part :)

Pressure -

Water meter -

Two air conditioners only work in summer, usually for cooling -

Accounts for public utilities depend on the season: in the summer about 250 dollars a month for electricity (air conditioning) and 50-60 for gas (no heating required, saving gas, exclusively for cooking), and in winter exactly the opposite, 250-300 for gas and 50- 60 for electricity -

In addition to utility bills, owners pay monthly for similar house $500 council tax, plus $140 - community charges (garbage removal, area cleaning, swimming pool, etc.). Well, the mortgage payments on the house are about $2,200-$2,400 monthly.

This is how people live in America, “decaying from the crisis.”

p.s. The third floor of the house, where the owners and children live, remains behind the scenes.