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LIVING THROUGH CRISES
mother even if she never tells us that we do not have any money. Still she tries to feed us and she never buys anything for her own use.” And in Almaty oblast, a participant described how they economize on children’s clothing: “There is never enough money. We buy cheap shoes, yet they can wear out very soon. It affects children’s health.” In addition, unemployed and rural respondents and families across regions reported that they stopped using modern communication technology, such as mobile phones and the Internet, and abandoned entertainment and recreational activities as household budgets became more constrained. Poorer households also economized by defaulting on loans and restricting unofficial payments. The latter was seen to have second-round effects as these unofficial payments are often necessary to receive fiercely competitive kindergarten places and new jobs. Participants reported nonpayment of utility bills and education expenses. As utility expenses increased, poor people often had no option but to delay or default on the payment of their bills. Respondents mentioned that they and their neighbors save electricity, live in unheated houses, or use water from open wells, rivers, and lakes. But if electricity bills are not paid, the electricity is cut off, and some people said that they started illegally connecting to other electricity sources. This response raises the prospect of even greater hardship in the future and entails severe risks of getting into trouble with the authorities. Some senior citizens in Kyzyl Orda oblast described the situation in their neighborhood: “Many people are being disconnected from the electricity sources due to unpaid bills and their inability to pay fines. . . . People that do not have much money are freezing during the winter period in their cold houses since they are saving coal.” Some students and young people were required to contribute to the family income or earn their own income. The lack of money forced some students to transfer to home study to be able to work part time. In extreme cases, they had to leave high schools and universities and start working. Parents mentioned that their older children (above 15) were working in bazaars as loaders, cart keepers, or packers or were working to support other members of the family and performing household chores. Respondents were aware that this coping mechanism would have severe consequences for the level of education of poor people and would perpetuate poverty in the future. Participants described the importance of an active life philosophy in coping with the impacts of the crisis. These participants demonstrated a