The more we were, the more kilos of sugar and oil we bought. I remember more bottles of oil would break in front of the staircase because of the slippery pavement. My mother did not like those bottles at all, especially when she had to wash them for you had to exchange them for full ones. (R. D. A., 122)

Bread was also sold on a card basis. Each person received only half a loaf of bread a day. Authorities were afraid not to give peasants bread because they did not have the right to buy bread from Bucharest. They were registered at a special center in their village and that was the only one place where they could buy it. Rarely were you given an extra loaf of bread and, for instance, you had to tell them you expected guests and had nothing to give them to eat. (M. V., 156)

I worked all day. In the morning, when I woke up, my wife told me: "Today I'm going to take the ration. Give me money or come to take me from the queue." She left with me, at 6 o'clock in the morning, and when I came to take her home at 4 in the afternoon she was still there, in the queue, having some persons in front. I remember she counted the persons in front in order to see whether something was left for her too. (R. D. A., 31)

Once a month we bought a kilo and a half of sugar and one of oil. Then we could also buy pork on the card basis - 34 lei a packet: a kilo of pork and half of beef. They were sold at our district store. Besides, 200 or 300 grams of salami a person. Everything was sold on card at a certain moment. But the fridge was full, not like today. The salami got dry in the fridge.

Files with all streets and people were drawn up. Many people did not have money, so only the rich could afford it. The other families bought for them. They made jams and all that?

Ration started after the tenth day of the month and was given every month. There was no delay?So you could not say the month in which you bought sugar or oil had not come yet. (L. A., 42)

One kilo of sugar, one liter of oil?and meat were rationed. I had the right to a packet of butter, one kilo of meat, including the queue (that is, you had to stand in the queue to buy it). You could spend half a day there.

Once a month?You had a special day?at food shops and walking down the streets. You went with your ID, were found on the list (there was a notebook and your name was erased when you took your ration).

Salami brand 'Torpedo' could be found. It was wrapped in pork bladder and consisted of meat and fat. A bit smoked?It was great!