Time does not stand still and what was popular just yesterday today is no longer relevant. Nevertheless, no ideologies, political and social goals will discourage a person from wanting to improve his material condition.
Now everyone dreams of financial well-being and does not hesitate to declare it. A few decades ago, our mothers and grandmothers also dreamed of “living beautifully,” but it was not customary to talk about it.
All that remained was to envy the lucky ones who managed to "get along well." Teachers, doctors, workers of factories and manufacturing enterprises are respected professions (in Soviet times). But they didn’t bring either big money or any privileges. The real lucky ones worked in other areas.
Below are 10 professions that opened the door to earnings and doom, which ordinary Soviet citizens dreamed of.
10. The employee of the thrift store
Every Soviet woman dreamed of becoming a seller. Access to goods, good salary, prestige. Thrift store - one of the most promising places in the trade.
People who needed money brought various things for sale, starting from clothes and ending with appliances and jewelry.
Few people were interested in the Soviet “rags,” smuggling and import items — that was what brought good income. In the post-war period, a stream of tourists, business travelers poured abroad.
Foreign goods appeared on the shelves of commission stores. They preferred to be friends with the employees of the commissioners, because they had access to any goods and could postpone everything necessary for themselves and their friends.
9. An employee of a furniture store
It was not easy to get into a furniture store, they worked there exclusively by acquaintance. In Soviet times, it was impossible to go and buy furniture, it was necessary to stand in line.
Workers in furniture stores could juggle a place in this very queue, inform about the receipt of goods. If the seller of a furniture store caused awe of ordinary citizens, then what about the director?
In any case, those who worked in furniture stores lived very well. In addition to their salaries, they could count on rewards from buyers who dreamed of kitchen sets, walls and sofas. Do not forget about prestige, these people were respected, they were envied.
8. The employee of the dining room or restaurant
Of course, work in catering did not bring a lot of money. But the workers of the canteens and restaurants had another opportunity, which was valued even higher than money - they could take food home.
During the years of total deficit, even a high salary was no guarantee that something other than borsch and fried potatoes would appear on the table. But the cooks made bread cutlets, and they brought the meat home. Of course, this is a little exaggerated, but even the leadership turned a blind eye to large and small "pranks."
Workers bought off them with the same products that they themselves took. It all depended on the level of the establishment. Of course, the restaurant had slightly different possibilities than the usual dining room.
7. Hotel employee
The profession of a hotel employee was very popular. To get an education in the specialty of a hotel industry specialist, it was necessary to go through a big competition.
Only a few succeeded, but after receiving the diploma, yesterday's students did not regret that they had to spend a lot of time studying. Of course, subject to successful employment.
There were few hotels, it was almost impossible to rent a room, either a symposium or the arrival of athletes or artists. Every Soviet citizen knew that in order to appease the administrator, one had to put money in the passport. Surprisingly, after that, places appeared.
6. Butcher
Men also worked in trade, a rather profitable profession is a butcher. Good wages, the ability to overweight or cheat, access to products - that's why many men dreamed of taking this place of honor.
In order to get a job as a butcher, one had to pay a bribe to superior persons, or to have acquaintances in this field. By the way, no claims were made against the butchers.
After the delivery of the goods, there was no end to the buyers, the butcher was in a hurry to serve everyone, so underweight was commonplace.
5. Auto mechanic
In Soviet times, the car was rather a luxury. He was a kind of indicator of prestige and financial well-being. Often, car owners did not even imagine what was inside him. In the event of a breakdown, the car was delivered to the service. A car mechanic was engaged in its repair.
A good specialist could work beyond the norm, he received a good reward from grateful clients. More sophisticated masters could easily improve their financial condition. When they saw that the client does not understand cars, they imposed additional services, or took money for what they did not.
4. Taxi driver
People who could not afford to buy a car, traveled by public transport or taxi, since the tariffs for them did not bite. Taxi was popular due to its low cost and convenience.
Taxi drivers made good money. You could increase your income in two ways. The first is tip and change. Someone voluntarily left taxi drivers "for tea", someone was forced to leave without surrender, simply because she was not there. Little things were missing at all.
The second way - taxi drivers could help in the purchase of any thing. In short supply or alcohol - for a fee they could get anything.
3. Seamstress
Women who knew how to live well could provide themselves with a comfortable life. To do this, it was not necessary to work in the studio, the services that were provided there were not different.
The best dressmakers worked at home. They were known throughout the city, finding their own personal seamstress was considered a great success. They changed old and new things, worked miracles, respectively, received a good reward.
In the years of scarcity, women were delighted with every new new thing. They paid not only with money, vouchers, products, cosmetics.
2. Master Television
In Soviet times, there was no Internet, the only joy of citizens was the TV. Unfortunately, the equipment often broke down, no one was in a hurry to buy a new one, there simply wasn’t such an opportunity.
The telemaster came to the rescue. They repaired the TV for a fee, and also traded in parts. Often the necessary details were not provided, so the masters of the television company "got" them for a small fee. People had to pay, because there was no other entertainment besides the TV.
1. Dentist
Soviet doctors earned a little, but dentists are another matter. Among all health workers they were considered the elite. Again, only those who were not afraid to take risks could get rich with the help of a dentist’s diploma.
In Soviet times, gold crowns were very popular, their manufacture was prosecuted by law. Instead of remuneration, it was possible to get a term, but just to appease the police was quite simple, because they also wanted to live well.
Many dentists engaged in private practice at home, so they earned good money. People were ready to pay, the lines for prosthetics were huge, and nobody wanted to go without teeth.