Food Prices

[tribalelder]

So why don't you move them [?]

[stoop]

Because I don't have enough to warrant it

[Scunner]

It's interesting to read that some families are existing on a meat free diet because of prices. As it was explained to me, the reason we are able to enjoy so many amazing vegetable mezes and dishes is very much due to the fact that traditionally meat was rarely found in 'everyday' meals. Because vegetables made up nearly all meals, the dishes we enjoy today were born out of the necessity to make the best of them in terms of taste and variety.

[stoop]

In the 7 years we have been going there I can not ever recall meat being cheap. A good quality steak for our barbie costs roughly the same as it does in the UK - if not slightly more. I'm talking Migros or Carrefore here.

[cheers]

Getting ready for the Euro???

[Ovacikpeedoff]

I think what people who live here are noticing that prices have shot up by much more than the rate of inflation. For example,in Migros four months ago steak was around around 25TL a kilo,today the same cut of steak would cost you 32TL a kilo nearly a third more.Chicken 7 or 8TL is now 10 to 12TL.  A kilo of mince which is one of the most basic meats you can buy is about 25TL a kilo. The rate of inflation is about 10 percent so these price rises are 3 times the rate of inflation.

Turks have never been total vegetarians and meat does play some part in the Turkish diet. Turks never ate meat 7 days a week but what they are now saying that the common meat dishes that they made two or three times a week have to go because they cannot afford to buy meat and along with all the other price increases the budget wont stretch.

The expected rise in beer is going to be about 0.5TL and only half that rise can be attributed to tax. The rest is Efes jumping on the bandwagon.

On an income of 600TL a month it is very difficult to survive. Around 7 million Turks are unemployed and do not get state handouts like the UK.  One of the main saving graces is the strong family unit where all are expected to help out. The Turkish tradesmen who would quote extortionate prices to foreigners are feeling the pinch and it is possible to get a painter to painting for 50TL a day and he can start tomorrow.

In the next few months the conditions of this new IMF loan will be introduced. The first condition will result in another hike in energy prices as the IMF thinks Turkeys electricity is too cheap.  

[nichola]

How the IMF can think electric prices are too cheap here is a joke - I know people paying 250tl a month and more just for electric so more than £1200 a year.

The IMF also wants Turkey to drop the minimum wage which is by law 550tl a month...

Great help - not!

[Old Daffodil]

I know Turkish people who would be glad to earn any wage,especially during the winter months.

[Old Daffodil]

250 lira a monthfor electricity in the summer months seems a lot of money. I can understand the winter months being that amount.

[nichola]

I had a chat with Dogan and he says wages in the season start from around 600tl pm (waiters/dishwashers) to 5000tl pm (managers/head chefs in places like Help & Buzz Bar.

Most people here earn about 800 to 1000tl pm for 6 months a year

Staff accomodation and staff meals are usually provided and the quality of these varies.

Waiters have their wages topped up by (our) tips so this is very important for them. Last year it was a common topic of conversation that people weren't leaving tips like they used too (economic recession etc) because it makes such a big difference to them.

When I lived in the UK I thought it was a bloomin' cheek that business owners paid low wages in, for example restaurants where we customers topped up wages through tips.

Now I live here I am more sympathetic and always leave a decent tip.

Many people who often come here from rural parts of Turkey, work here seasonally to support their entire family for the year.

The way I see it is tipping a little from me and you can make a huge difference and can go a long way to giving something back to the people that help make our time here so memorable.