Money

There are about 50 Russian Roubles to the pound and 100 kopeks to the rouble. You can't buy much for 1 kopek!
The streets are scattered with low denomination kopeks; once they are dropped they are not worth searching for and no-one seems to bother picking them up. When the snows go in March/April they are even more evident than usual.

There are kiosks and offices all over the city where US dollars and Euros can be exchanged for roubles. These are the 'hard' currency of Russia. Pounds sterling can only be exchanged in a bank.

There has been a steady increase in the number of wealthy and moderately wealthy people in Russia over the past few years. The excesses of the post communist years are almost over and now those that cashed in on the confusion and made billions are comfortably established and almost accepted. Putin has tried to bring some of them to heel, with moderate success. Roman Abramovich, Britains wealthiest ex-pat Russian is a governor of a province in Eastern Siberia. He is rarely seen there, preferring Sussex.

The wealth of the 'Oligarchs' drifts down and many benefit from the opportunities that wealth creates. Rich people enjoy goods and services and others get rich providing them - Little fleas on bigger fleas...and so ad infinitum.

You already know how drunk one can get on a few roubles (If you missed it the answer is - VERY), but what else does the rouble (2 pence) buy:
10 aspirins - 4 roubles
Loaf of bread - 20r
1 kg tomatoes - 100r
1 kg cheese - 195 r
10 Lemsip - 200r

Fruit, vegetables and breakfast cereals are expensive.

Do svedanya

Graham


Factoid: The basic state pension is 1200r per month (24 pound) Other benefits are quite comprehensive,