Here in Germany, we usually have quite a decent system, and not many people have to live on the street, but the older generation is already suffering because lots of them don’t have good retirement pay.
I became a fan of flea and second-hand markets recently and therefore I went today in the morning in quite a big city. There weren’t many people because the holidays just started. Normally on the flea markets in Germany, there are mostly older people selling and also mostly older people visiting.
So anyways, a lot of people were already packing because they knew they couldn’t sell lots of stuff today since there was less visitors.. I got to a stand where there was an above 80 year old man and I could see that he was selling junk stuff that he probably had in his basement.
Most of the stuff that he was selling, and it was a lot, it was just junk that you can’t use for anything you know.
I feel bad because I even bargained with him for sunglasses. And this made me realize that I feel really bad for them and I wish I could help them. When I bargained with him, he let out a little sigh, but still accepted my price.
You just could see in his whole persona that he has been through a lot, and this little moment of today made me realize how many older people in Germany probably don’t have much money to live. and I could cry by the thought of it, and then I thought maybe going to flea markets is not the best idea. but at the same time I’m helping them out even if I just buy things for 1 or 2 euros.
Also even if I don’t go to the flea market, those elderly people will still go there and sell their stuff, right? So it’s best I can support them, as well as make their day by having a nice conversation right?
Here in Germany there’s a big gap between the younger generation and the elderly, (and also not many women talk to strangers like that, it’s mostly young men) so I thought maybe I can lift their mood by a normal conversation with them about literal anything. What do you think?
Comments
We can’t really give advice on this but I’m really glad you shared this. I live in Ireland but I’d imagine these issues exist in loads of places so it good you shared otherwise I wouldn’t have thought of this today. I don’t know if anything will change by me reading this but t least but now im aware I guess
You are very kind. If you have the money to spare, of course spend some to help people out.
If you don’t have the money, sometimes just spending a few minutes to talk to an older person, or listen to a story, is just as meaningful.
If you can afford it, please don’t bargain with them for a lower price. They desperately need money or they wouldn’t be doing this. If you’re able to do it, just buy something.
I live in the US. Here there is a huge gap between the Boomers who benefitted outrageously from the post-war economy and are rolling in riches, and the folks who somehow missed that train. Many are widows or women whose husbands left them in middle age with no skills and no savings. Some made their own bad choices. It’s heartbreaking either way.
Did this Flohmarkt take place in the north part of the country?