Woman In Her 60s Enjoying Her Retirement
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Occupation: I am now a retiree
Industry: Geriatrics, I am a gerontologist and still do a bit of geriatric counseling
Age: 69
Number of household members (whom you provide for): 3
City: Bet El
Income per month: ₪7,180 (Bituach Leumi – ₪1520 shekel, Social Security – $773 and ₪2800 from rental income)
Spouse’s salary: about ₪6,000
Monthly Expenses
Mortgage: ₪1400
Transportation: about ₪132 (I go into Jerusalem 2 or 3 times a week and a daily bus pass for a senior is ₪11 including to and from Bet El)
Health Care (basic health care is covered for all Israeli citizens through the government, but people may choose to supplement with private insurance): ₪230 for Leumit Gold and ₪316 for private supplemental insurance
Renters/Home Insurance: ₪50
Internet: ₪170; American phone ₪18
Electricity: ₪450
Gas: ₪200
Water: ₪60
Municipal (Arnona): ₪550
Cell Phone: ₪40
Savings/Pension: ₪669
Gym: ₪100 (Israeli Dance)
Community Fees: ₪115
The Diary
DAY ONE
6:00 a.m. — I wake up at 6, have my coffee, and look at messages while drinking… I then shower, dress, daven, and eat oatmeal with my coffee
11:30 a.m. – I go to the Golden Age Club where I now volunteer and eat a light lunch with them
2:00 p.m. – I go to the “Yom Shuk” at our makolet and pick up mostly fruits and veggies and a few odds & ends
₪206.17
7:00 p.m. – Took a bus within Bet El and then to Ramat Beit Shemesh to visit my daughter and her family (₪14.50) On the way I stopped at a pizza shop; ordered 2 pizzas and 2 servings of french fries, with ice cream
₪257.50
Daily Total: ₪463.67
DAY TWO
7:30 a.m. – My daughter and I go out for coffee. We each get two cups each and some spelt bread and butter
₪45
10:00 a.m. – I head to the supermarket, Barkol, for a bit of shopping
₪62.20
2:00 p.m. – Take the bus to Jerusalem
₪7.30
3:00 p.m. – I head to a store in Ramat Eshkol and get 3 packages of napkins (₪20), cough drops and birthday cards (₪49), and a dress (₪149).
₪218
6:00 p.m. – Bus to a birthday party
₪3.90
Daily Total: ₪340.30
DAY THREE
7:00 a.m. – This morning I pick up a coffee and croissant (₪8.90) and take a bus (2.90) to a shiur where they have bagels and lox breakfast between the shiurim
₪11.80
10:00 a.m. – I come back to Ramat Eshkol (bus ₪2.90) where I had spent the night after the party, and go shopping for meat for Shabbat (chulent meat and a turkey rollada).
₪176.76
12:00 p.m. – Took a bus back home to Bet El bus 7.20; came home and cooked a lot for Shabbat.
₪7.20
6:00 p.m. Supper was some of the fish and rice that I had cooked for Shabbat.
Daily Total: ₪195.76
DAY FOUR
I cooked and cleaned all day, and we had company for Shabbat.
We usually have a cleaner who comes on Fridays for a couple of hours but she could not come this week. the usual expense is generally ₪90, sometimes a bit more if I have more for her to do.
Daily Total: ₪0
DAY FIVE
7:00 p.m. – On Motzei Shabbat we take my son, his wife and his in-laws visiting from abroad out for our son’s birthday. We head to a cafe in Beit Zayit near where they live.
₪500
Daily Total: ₪500
DAY SIX
6:00 a.m. – Wake up at my usual time and leave on a bus for Jerusalem
₪11
8:00 a.m. – I go to Leumit (my healthcare provider) for a lymphatic massage
9:00 a.m. – After my appointment, I head to shiurim at Israel Center
₪10
11:00 a.m. – I stop at a Bazaar store for a few items
₪53.60
1:30 p.m. – After the store, I come home and rest
6:30 p.m. – We go to a special program honoring senior volunteers which included a nice dairy dinner and a musical program
₪60
Daily Total: ₪124.60
DAY SEVEN
6:00 a.m. – I wake up and have my coffee and oatmeal.
12:30 p.m. – I go volunteer at the Golden Age Club where they had leftover lunch from last night’s affair
3:00 p.m. – I go to proctor bagruts in Ma’ale Levana.
Daily Total: ₪0
