Wages have increased - and there is still no free money: where does the budget go

The majority of Russians over the past two years, the salary has really increased. The study of “Alfa-Money” showed that 86% of respondents received an increase, and every fifth income grew by more than 20%. But here's what doesn't add up: 34 percent admitted that they felt freer for a while, and then things went back to normal. Another 26% did not notice the difference. In total, 60% of income growth never turned into financial freedom.

Tula region is not behind the overall picture. The average salary in the region for a year and a half increased by about a third: from 74 thousand rubles in 2024 to 97.9 thousand in June 2026. Technically, Tulas have become richer. Actually, no.

Rosstat showed the main leak of money: at the beginning of 2026, Russians spent 39% of all consumer spending on products - the maximum share since 2008. Five years ago, this figure was below 37%, and a historic low of 31.2% was recorded in 2007 and 2019.

The difference with developed countries is striking: according to open sources, 12-20% of the family budget is spent on food. We have almost twice as much. At the same time, an increase in the share of food spending is traditionally considered a marker of a decrease in the standard of living: the higher it is, the less remains for savings, recreation and large purchases.

The problem is that products are rising faster than general inflation. In the Tula region in 2025, it amounted to 7.02% - against 5.59% in the country. And some items of the daily basket – coffee, rice, onions, alcohol – rose by 13-18% over the year. These products regularly enter the food basket. Nothing to replace.

Just in early October, Tula receipts grew again. Since October 1, 2026, utility fees in the region have increased by an average of 9.8%. Electricity became the most tangible: plus 11.1% - for citizens a kilowatt hour now costs 7.60 rubles instead of 6.84.

In total, for the year communal in the Tula region rose by about 11.5%: in January, tariffs increased by 1.7% due to the increase in VAT, in October - by 9.8%. In some municipalities, the increase can reach 11.9%.

For a family with a typical receipt of 6-7 thousand rubles, this is an extra 700-800 rubles a month - without changing the quality of services. The annual salary increase for many public sector employees was comparable or less.

Let's turn to mathematics. In the Tula region, the average accrued salary in the region in May 2026 - 93 thousand rubles, in June - almost 98. On the hands after personal income tax — about 80-85 thousand.

Now the minuses. Communal with two indexations for the year - minus about 10-11%. The average cheque for utility payments is from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles. Products account for another 39% of expenses. If a person works in education, where the average salary in 2025 was about 60 thousand – almost a third lower than the regional average – the picture is tougher: after the communal room and the food basket, there are crumbs for everything else.

The study of “Alpha-Money” decomposed the mechanism on the shelves. After a pay rise, people start spending more on: food and everyday purchases (42%), higher quality goods and services (29%), leisure and entertainment (28%), clothing and footwear (23%), and things that used to be saved (22%).

Regular expenses for 40% became slightly more, another 17% – much more. New mandatory payments – subscriptions, delivery, insurance – stick to the budget quickly, and untied poorly.

Further, adaptation works: 25% get used to a new level of income for 1-2 months, another 23% - for 3-6 months. After six months, the increase is perceived as a “normal salary”, and the level of mandatory spending has already pulled up under it. A closed circle.

The half raise rule. Divide any increase in half: half for life, half for savings. Thus, income growth ceases to be “absorbed” by household spending.

Fix basic spending. Products and utilities are the categories where they are lost the most. The utilities check grows twice a year, and it should be laid in the budget in advance, not after the receipt.

Real growth, not nominal growth. An increase of 10% with inflation of 7% is actually 3%. Estimate income is adjusted for its own basket: for Tulaks, it rises faster than the national average.

The main conclusion of both the survey and the Tula statistics is the same: financial freedom is determined not by the size of wages, but by the ratio of its growth and growth of basic spending. As long as food and service prices outpace income, a pay rise only slows down the descent, but does not reverse it.