In this essay, I aim to explore the income and cash management characteristics of the roma
communities living on the margins of society in Budapest. In my research, my main focus was the
way people are living in the segregated streets of “Magdolna district” reacted to the declining
opportunities after the economical system change. Another question to be answered is what
strategies these families and households use to provide the sufficient amount of income, and if
there is any kind of economical or ’life-management’ community function between them beyond
the segregation.
After reviewing the job opportunities, I concentrated on the characteristics of the consumption
structure. I interviewed them about their costs of living as well as the possible ways of reducing
their expences. I also tried to examine how the cooperation of extended families effect the
everyday life of the smaller parts of these families.