Picture this: electronics shop, people are scrambling to get hold of a washing machine, a television, or a refrigerator, piling it all up in their shopping cart and running to the cashier as if their life depends on it.. To a foreigner it might seem like it's Black Friday, but do not be fooled: this is no sale day.
This scene takes place regularly in Belarus, during every inflation crisis. It also happened about a month ago: just before the New Year's holidays, jumps of the Russian Ruble affected the Belarusian Ruble, causing it to be less valuable. So you see the people running to the stores to save their money, ASAP! Every day is of importance, prices can change at any minute, the exchange rate is completely unpredictable. The shops can't change the prices right away, so people have a very small window to invest their soon-to-become less valuable Rubles in electronics (as well as other valuable things).
Some are very happy about this: that fridge they wanted and needed for so long is now "cheaper" than it will be tomorrow. Others are borderline desperate: these guys are buying 2-3 TV sets with the hope to sell them for profit later. The whole thing looks quite humorous from the outside, almost like a blast from the soviet past: enormous checkout lines and totally empty shelves. Not so much fun when you're on the other side.
But, Eto Belarus Detka! Anything can happen in Belarus, the country filled with surprises that we love to write about.
Feel free to share with us your inflation madness experience!
This scene takes place regularly in Belarus, during every inflation crisis. It also happened about a month ago: just before the New Year's holidays, jumps of the Russian Ruble affected the Belarusian Ruble, causing it to be less valuable. So you see the people running to the stores to save their money, ASAP! Every day is of importance, prices can change at any minute, the exchange rate is completely unpredictable. The shops can't change the prices right away, so people have a very small window to invest their soon-to-become less valuable Rubles in electronics (as well as other valuable things).
Some are very happy about this: that fridge they wanted and needed for so long is now "cheaper" than it will be tomorrow. Others are borderline desperate: these guys are buying 2-3 TV sets with the hope to sell them for profit later. The whole thing looks quite humorous from the outside, almost like a blast from the soviet past: enormous checkout lines and totally empty shelves. Not so much fun when you're on the other side.
But, Eto Belarus Detka! Anything can happen in Belarus, the country filled with surprises that we love to write about.
Feel free to share with us your inflation madness experience!
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