The aim of the paper is to expand our knowledge on what financial problems older widows experience and how they try to overcome them. To gain a more comprehensive view I adopted quantitative and qualitative approaches.

For the quantitative analyses, the first wave of the Polish Generations and Gender Survey was used. The regression models allowed for verifying whether widowhood impedes women’s financial situation. Different measures of material deprivation helped to illustrate how big their financial problems are. Next, I analyze what areas of expenditures are problematic for widows.

In order to deepen the statistical findings, I conducted 25 in-depth interviews in two different Polish voivodeships with widows aged 65-79. The sample was heterogenous in respect to interviewee’s financial situation—the interviews were conducted with widows in (very) good as well as in (very) difficult material situation. The data gives unique insights into nature of women’s financial problems and their ways of dealing with them. Special attention was paid to actions undertaken by interviewed women when they face financial difficulties.

Results from statistical analyses indicate that widows are ceteris paribus in worse financial situation than married women. As for types of financial difficulties, widows most frequently reported buying new furniture, paying for a week-holiday and acquiring new clothes.

The first analyses of qualitative data showed that older widows emphasize a necessity to adapt expenditures to their financial means—the interviewees were saying that their budget is “what it is” and that they simply must operate within its constraints. The women were cutting the expenditures or adjusting needs to their financial capability. In some cases they even intentionally tried to ignore their needs. However, the problem arose when there was a need to buy more expensive product, which was difficult to ignore, like a necessity of buying winter shoes.