Belt-tightening becoming Greek national pastime

Many resorting to loans to make ends meet

By Giorgos Lialios - Kathimerini

Greek households are finding it harder to make ends meet. Small but gradual price rises at supermarkets and in the cost of services, coupled with stagnating incomes and continued borrowing and consumption have ensured that the average Greek, according to consumer organizations, reacts to the high cost of living in one of two ways — by resorting to credit to pay money already owed or by gradually changing his or her basic behavior from “you only live once” to “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” As long as there is a “bird,” of course.