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I think there’s different definitions of “live” - I know several people making around 1200 and live just ok. Yes, they don’t go out every day or something but they can survive just fine on that, it’s just frugal living in some aspects. I do mention that in the video also.

@@JimPastirmatzis Probably we have a different definition. But to put things into perspective, nowadays to live in Athens you will definitely have the following expenses: - 650 euros for rent, including bills/telephone/internet etc. To be honest, nowadays this is in the lower spectrum, it can go up to 700-800 easily -250 euros for supermarket monthly. This is to barely survive, and it sums up to 900 euros already. If you earn 1200 net per month, then you still have 300 euros. With these you have to also cover: - any entertainment, eg. going out, cinemas , bars, clubs or whatever each person like. If you ONLY go out once per week, for a cocktail and a cinema, without buying anything else, not even popcorn, this is already 20 euros per week, so 80 per month. This I believe is unattainable to be hones. In a more realistic scenario of one coffee in a cafe+1-2 drinks per week, you probably will spend 30-50 per week, so probably 120-200 per month. And you left with 100 euros for the following: -any indulgence, e.g. cigarettes, buying coffee from outside, etc., -any savings (good luck with that) - any vacation (good luck with that too) - any further education/upskill I don't see how you are going to do all these, which for me consist an ok life. And this is why most Greeks live with their parents until their 40s

@@TheAristotelis7 Yes, it's why I said frugal living. Also, I did a search and found plenty of apartments in the 350-450 EUR range that actually dont look bad at all. (45-70 square meters) - so I don't think it's necessary to go up to 650.

@@JimPastirmatzis As I said in my previous comment, 650 is with bills, internet and telephone. These things can easily go up to 200 euros per month. So your 450 find will become 650 with all these things included. So in general, you are not talking about "a good life" as you said in your video (th-cam.com/video/UlePextPOaw/w-d-xo.html) , but about frugality. That's ok, but we should be clear about it. With 1200 you can have a frugal living in Athens indeed.

@@TheAristotelis7 Athens ≠ Greece. You can live frugally in Athens (and I know people who are getting by fine - by their definition of fine - meaning my frugal is someone else's excellent living, kinda subjective) - but Athens isn't all of Greece obviously. 1200 in other cities is perfectly fine from what I've seen. Additionally, this video was shot back in mid 2021. Obviously things are getting quite a bit more expensive since also. So you can't take a small clip of a nearly 3 year old video, apply it to arguably the most expensive (non-touristic like Mykonos/Santorini) city in Greece and say well, you can live frugally here which means video is inaccurate. Put context in perspective and it's pretty accurate.

What kind of argument is that? Obviously you know nothing about me, but if you're going to make an argument, it has to have substance. So elaborate, or disappear.

​@@JimPastirmatzis One can only read your words not your thoughts .All your arguments here are based on your wallet rather than concern for Hellenism. If you cared about Hellenism you would work to improve Greece rather than just look at your own personal interests. Its painfully obvious you are a leftist "GreeK'. You basically all behave the same. Whine about Greece rather than work to improve it.

You have absolutely no idea on how to make an argument, all you have done so far is whine. Now I am also leftist. Are you stupid? State your case! Based on "my wallet" - idiot, half of Greeks have left Greece, why do you think that is? People can't have a good living in Greece. Wages terribly low, taxes super high. Also, you can work on improving Greece without necessarily BEING in Greece, you are just too narrow-minded and uneducated to understand the concept, you think that you have to be in the streets of Athens to be able to drive some form of change. Curious as to what change are you bringing about? Also, calling me a "leftist" so blindly based on the views of this video shows me you haven't even watched the video itself. If I was such a leftist, I'd be fine with high taxes, wouldn't I? You're extremely contradicting. (Obviously because you don't know what my views are, you're a troll that knows nothing but posts as if he does) Get a life.

@@JimPastirmatzis Oh please. You obvously support the left. . whine about high taxes but then want services. That's exactly the mentality the made us go broke. Can't burn both ends of the candle comrade. You are the one whining. Rather than work to improve Greece you jumped ship. Like a typical "Greek" leftist you expect other Greeks to fix Greece while you look after yourself alone. Well we both agree you should stay away from Greece. pseudo-Greek.

@@JimPastirmatzis I bet am a far more educated than you are Plato. And sorry to break it to you your whining about Greece does nothing to improve it. All you care about is yourself that's the real reason why you left. You couldn't care less about ancient Hellenism. To improve Greece... hard work, focus on technology and science to improve productivity. protect borders, support economies of scale rather than demonize big business., and stop whining about low pay for low-skilled work like leftist do. If Greeks want more money they logically will need to improve productivity to enable higher pay. Running away like you did and whining about Greece does zero to help Greece and has even less to do with Hellenism.

I actually don’t watch any tv at all. Don’t consume any of the mass media. The case of the beaten girl (if we are speaking of the same one) was something that I got to know from a friend and later on in a discourse that took place in a FB group.

@@JimPastirmatzis I understand. I myself have been a victim of violence by my ex- husband, but then there was no possibility that the "social services" would take away my son. I will post a separate link to an event in Norway to see what happens to those who have accepted the Istanbul Convention.

@@JimPastirmatzis th-cam.com/video/2IBn1U6hw3U/w-d-xo.html

@@JimPastirmatzis It looks like my link was deleted automatically. If you are interested, you can find the video "Отнемат ли се деца в Норвегия". About the long-standing struggle of a mother whose son was taken away by social services.

Anecdotally both Greece and Bulgaria are still losing people who are getting out of here and foreign investors also. But of course if I read an official statistic that refutes this, I am happy to retract my statement. Curious to know what else you find short-sighted.

@@JimPastirmatzis the data on the population movements is on the Bulgarian national statistics website.

Very kind of you. The city I was born in, funnily enough is called Drama.

@@JimPastirmatzis Thank you.

@@JimPastirmatzis I found it. These are Thracian settlements. My father's family are refugees from Aegean Thrace in Bulgaria. It is possible that we are relatives...:))))

Didn’t know this. Thanks for sharing!

Yes, exactly. The point is that most of our countries in EU are accepting far too many unqualified people who in some cases even cause chaos. I would more than welcome select, educated & qualified people from third world countries because I assume that: 1) They will keep a clean criminal record and not cause trouble - on average. 2) They will contribute by paying taxes. 3) They will help locals to further expand on ideas. (E.g building in Bulgaria is super tough, major shortage in qualified personnel.)

@@JimPastirmatzis I currently live in Germany and I can tell you that there are many Bulgarian construction entrepreneurs with medium or small businesses who intend to return to Bulgaria under better business conditions. If a qualified company from Africa, for example, can find a market in our country - why not?!, but the competition will be fierce, so something like this should be considered a lot.

Apparently they joined the Schengen Zone couple months ago. And we noticed the difference in travel in one of our recent trips. It was a pleasant change. (Along with the upgrades at T2)

@@JimPastirmatzis Bulgarians have a saying "For one wedding - for another an axe"... Perhaps for someone this development of things is welcome, but for the ordinary Bulgarian it is another stone on the coffin. We have no exports except raw materials - mainly grain, and after our agriculture was destroyed, most of the food we import from the EU, so the question is who benefits the most from this???

Hey! This is an old video, in my new video I do say that last few years this has definitely improved a lot in BG, especially Sofia and Plovdiv.

Thanks for the feedback!!

@@AdeyBlox how’s it weird? Did you listen to any of the context?

@@somebodythatiusedtoknoooooooow not having anyone watch it if they don’t like it. Tons of videos showing what you just said, you can just drop off and go search for what you’re looking for.

Need to make a new video with my views currently been some years

Hahaha well, generally younger Greeks speak some English. Some even too well. Best of luck!

I respect your opinion, but, why?

@@JimPastirmatzis what is there to see and do? Serres much more interesting…

Actually I’d agree with you 1000% maybe 6 years ago. Drama has become soooooo much more beautiful since then. It’s crazy! Different restaurants opened up, cafeterias, shops, city became even more beautiful as it’s more maintained, winter we have Wonderland. So to go for 2-3 days is perfectly fine. If you enjoy city walk and food. There’s a few really nice spots.

Yeah easily. Especially if alone and you aren’t looking after a crazy lux lifestyle. It’s def way above average so you’ll do just fine Best of luck!

I asked the question before finishing Video 😂😂😂😂

Hahaha no worries

With respect, I probably was making more money back then that you do now and I know nothing about you - just probabilistically speaking. I definitely had a career. How you come up with such facts is beyond me but it’s fine to believe what you want of course.

@@JimPastirmatzis the facts are simple… i earn 30k / year, way above the average wage, with my salary the previous Government classed me as rich and taxed me accordingly, Under this Government my National Insurance contributions (IKA) have been reduced, & I now actually get a tax return every year. I also have a company car, the previous Government introduced a tax on company cars which was a nightmare, although it hasn’t been cancelled yet, it has been reduced significantly An important aspect is the the fact that my tax money is being used to improve the country’s infrastructure, facilities, roads, the list is endless, this may appear trivial to some but the quality of life has improved significantly.

@@arthurdardalis so we don’t really disagree on the above. Only point of contention is that you said it’s a fact I didn’t have a career when back then I used to make more than what you make now. Other than that, we are more or less in agreement.

Intellectual User, I wonder what hell Europeans have that the Americans don't. I can probably list a few that we don't have that Americans do.

Your comment does not match your user name…

Damn which city was that? We don’t have that in Drama and Thessaloniki - at least almost at all.

Wtf are you talking about? Hellenic people don’t want good life? That’s complete nonsense. Why is half our country outside of Greece? There’s as many Greeks out of Greece as in Greece. What does this tell you? Why did all these people leave and still are actively leaving? Because Hellenics don’t appreciate the good life? Please stop spouting nonsense. In regards to military service, I strongly disagree. I do believe each citizen should have contribution to the State in that regard. I’d be glad to pay a high price to boost our military. I send money back to my country. What about you? Do you think just the fact that you’re born there makes you a Hellenic citizen? Tons of people are just lucky to be born in Greece but offer no value to the country. Even abroad I still offer value to my homeland. Have you donated to any schools or done any donations of any kind? Have you brought tons of tourists from abroad, what do you even spend on a personal basis to help the local economy? Bunch of guys go to military to do nothing, that’s the innate value that makes someone a Greek citizen? Please never run as a politician, your views of the world are very distorted.

@JimPastirmatzis you're talking to someone of Spartan blood, we don't need your money. And although economy is a very important part of life making more money than necessary doesn't mean that's a good life! Go sell your Dubai lifestyle to someone else because this lifestyle is trash! The Hellenic nation stayed alive from brave citizens, unlike you!

Exactly, you’re speaking about blood. Not values, ethics, morals. I also have Greek blood, wtf argument is that? What’s your level of contribution to your country? You went to the military for a year or two and now you’re the Spartan Hellenic citizen? Or you don’t need any of that because you have the true Spartan blood, straight from the bloodline of Leonidas? Also half the Greeks aren’t in Greece because they can’t even make what’s necessary not because they want to make more than necessary. You sound uneducated.

@@JimPastirmatzisThis the problem now in Greece. Too many woke communists… they work together with the current left leaning government and the fake news media here in Greece to push this woke agenda madness. I agree with everything you said. 👌🏻

Δε σε ξέρω 😅

Respectfully, this is a super funny comparison. You don't need to be either Ameircan or French to be educated in the Balkans. Furthermore, the amount of ignorance & laziness I've seen in the younger generation in America far surpasses anything we have here in Europe. Maybe that's a broad generalisation, but that's just my personal experience & I could be wrong.

@@JimPastirmatzis respectfully, you didn't get the point. You act like them, and no they are not the only ones educated. There is a way everywhere, you just maybe don't know it or don't like it.

@@Billswiftgti your comment further confuses me. How do I act like them?

You got this worked up because you don’t like the intro music? How degenerate and uneducated can a single person be? Careful not to break a nail.

@@JimPastirmatzis It's true, I should not have been worked up about the music, when that atrocious pubes of a beard is staring right at us. Cover that shit up with a mask The only thing degenerating is your channel mate, sell some of those screens and save up for the winter

This channel is consistently growing without me even posting. The fact that the only insult you can come up with is how I look all the while you are behind an anonymous account without a picture shows that you’re a coward, at the core. And let’s not speak of money, it really won’t favour you there either. Have fun trolling on the internet, given that’s all your time is good for. Peasant.

@@JimPastirmatzis You got worked up over an anon comment on internet. You are not a confident man. You like to think you are, but you know you do not respect yourself. Stop projecting your insecurities in the comments. If you are rich, then put some of the money on buying a mask to cover up that face and then maybe there is a chance of your channel growing, like your delusional belief

There isn’t one.

@@JimPastirmatzis i asked for "Pastirmatzis"

@@eralpster I am not 100% sure there is meaning behind it, my father speculates that because part of his family is from Constantinople (before Turkey took it over) that someone would make Pastourma, but not sure otherwise.

@@JimPastirmatzis Yes, I thought so too at first because of the phonetics of the word. In Turkish, "Pastırmacı" means "pastrami maker", "pastrami saler". Your surname reminds me of that.

Hey Michael, happy to hear that you liked the video. My advice is: a) Check the newer one I published. b) Regardless come and experience Bulgaria on your own.

Agreed - generally hard

​@@JimPastirmatzisI've been considering property in Greece but heard since 2024/01/01 it's no longer possible to purchase a home for cash, is that true? I don't use banks, how else am I going to buy it?

Greek

@@JimPastirmatzis Greek who speaks Bulgarian and excellent English🙂

When did I say Greece is not beautiful and the people not lovely?

Hello, as I mention in the beginning of the video, I come from Drama, Greece. In regards to your initial comments: a) Yes, there are other EU countries that have similar opening/closing hours, that doesn't mean I necessarily enjoy that. If I were doing a review on another country (E.g Germany) that does this, chances are I'd bring this up in the list of cons for me personally. b) I am not sure what your point is with "most countries have neighborhoods with dirty streets" I didn't speak of random streets. I also didn't speak of isolated streets. I speak of cleaningness in general as a country. Drama has gotten cleaner past ~3 years since making the video. c) There certainly are more questionable or outright worse education systems, again, it doesn't make it mutually exclusvie that the Greek one isn't bad. The end result of the "Panellhnies" is - you have X grade, you can go to Y uni, private sector basically doesn't exist, so either you got exact grades or there's a direct incentive for you to leave the country. Look how that's turning out for us. That's a direct contributing factor to the fact that 50% of Greeks are out of Greece. You incentivize your own people to go out of the country and live and set up bases in other countries.

@@JimPastirmatzis Your accent doesn’t sound Greek that’s why I asked where you’re from.

Got you, it probably has to do with the fact that I speak a lot more English than Greek for a very large portion of my life.

@@JimPastirmatzis Your English accent sounds Russian .. 😜

Definitely first time I hear this, but ok 🙃

That's horrible! I'm so sorry. Are you okay now? Did you sustain any serious injuries?

When did I say mandatory military service is a bad thing? Learn to listen. Also made an entire video on that separately.

@@JimPastirmatzis you list it as a con.

@@kostas0352 I said in the very isolated scenarios where people have built careers and need to give them up for it. Listen for context

Ευχαριστώ πολύ Μαρία! Ναι συμφωνώ, η Ιταλία έχει μείνει πολύ πίσω.

Fair enough, in the end that’s all that matters. Glad you’re enjoying life there and I wish you the best!

So you're Greek only when you haven't travelled and/or enjoy traveling the world? How do you know Greece is good without having proper measure of comparison? Are you allowed at all to criticize your country to see it improve, or does that also not make you Greek?