Saving and pedantry in the life of pensioners in countries. Hidden reserves: How Europe saves. Shopping list and individual heating
Each nation has not only cultural traditions, but also its own ways of saving. People save in different countries in different ways, but there are common expense items for both the Germans and the Chinese. Everyone spends money on food, clothing, utilities, transportation or entertainment.
In the context of the financial crisis in countries around the world, the issue of maintaining Money becomes particularly acute. Saving is not the preserve of the poor. Representatives of the middle class, even rich people, are wary of unnecessary expenses and use the rule “saving means earning.”
All over the world, Germans are considered the most thrifty nation. Saving is instilled in them from childhood: every little German has a piggy bank for personal savings. High organization of life allows you to control everything, including finances. The Germans keep receipts and keep track of expenses. Adults in the country save 10% of their monthly income for pension insurance, maintenance and education of children.
On average, the expenses of a German family in relation to the income side can be represented as follows:
- rent 35%;
- food 30%;
- loan payments 12.5%;
- insurance 5%;
- petrol, renovation work 10%.
The smallest expense item for Germans is clothing. Residents of Germany take care of all their belongings. They will wear the same jeans and boots for several years, and then give them to those in need. They do not strive to buy new household items. In Germany there is nothing wrong with using your grandmothers' furniture or driving a nice old car.
Germans are particularly frugal when it comes to various housing expenses. To save energy washing machines are turned on at night, since the tariff is reduced at this time. They use energy-saving lamps, dishes with compacted bottoms, and try to buy only energy-saving appliances, even if they are more expensive.
Electrical appliances that are not in use are unplugged. Thus, Germans save about 100 euros annually.
The heating is turned on when frost sets in, and the house is always cool. Prudent housewives prefer to wash dishes by filling the sink, and there is no need to rinse them - after all, the detergent is not toxic. Rainwater is collected to water lawns; watering them with a hose is considered wasteful.
It is not customary for the Germans to visit people. Meetings with friends, like dates, take place in a cafe, where everyone pays for themselves. Only very significant events are celebrated at home. And an invitation for tea or coffee should be taken literally - cookies and sandwiches are unlikely to be included. In Germany, drinks are taken in boxes, and then the bottles are returned in them to special collection points or vending machines.
This not only saves residents 25 cents per bottle, but also has a positive impact on environment. Preferring not to spend extra money on the services of craftsmen, a thrifty owner will mow the lawn and wash the car himself. He monitors promotions and sales, and is ready to go to the other end of the city if the benefits of buying there exceed the costs of travel.
The Germans are ready to shell out large sums only for the services of financial consultants, because in Germany they are real specialists and will tell you how to optimize the family budget and increase savings.
Sweden: investing in the future
Sweden is a fairly rich country, but the peculiarities of taxation and the cost of utilities force the people to live very modestly. Swedes' tax contributions reach 60%, and 20% of income is spent on housing payments. And yet they manage to put money aside every month into a savings account for their children, which becomes a gift when they reach adulthood.
They invest money in securities, which also make great gifts. The purpose of Swedes' savings is to invest in the future of their children.
Regarding Swedish life, they save on everything. The average resident of the country does not have a washing machine. At home (often in the basement) there is a common machine where all residents do their laundry. In apartment buildings, several washing machines are installed, and utility rooms are equipped with an ironing board and clothes dryer. People sign up for laundry one at a time, and mostly iron shirts and suits.
Things are bought at various sales, worn carefully, and then sold online. Little Swedes are taught by their parents to write advertisements on their own to sell their clothes, toys, and unnecessary things.
France: saving in style
Like many European countries, France has high taxes and housing costs. The French know how to manage their income wisely and know how to save their savings. They monitor promotions, sales, plan shopping trips in advance, and can take time off from work to buy goods at a discount. Fashion trendsetters spend only 9% of their monthly income on clothing, and general expense items are as follows:
- food 25%;
- utilities 20%;
- transport 15%;
- clothing 9%;
- medical services and entertainment 5%.
What the French don't skimp on is food. A quarter of the family budget is spent on food and good wine, although prices here are lower than in neighboring Switzerland. Residents of the country buy high-quality products, refuse various synthetic semi-finished products, and buy vegetables from large quantities.
Before the market closes, sellers reduce the price of goods, so most purchases are made in the evening. They prefer to go shopping with friends and neighbors.
Here, for the first time, they began to practice covoiturage - taking travel companions to reduce travel costs. For this purpose, entire sites have been created that have acquired international significance.
But the French are resting at home. They attend mostly free events: street concerts, exhibitions. They prefer to spend their holidays in campsites without leaving the country.
England: moderation is the key to success
The British way of saving is not characterized by extravagance or excessive conservatism. But some of them make you smile or think. For example, in order not to waste extra electricity, they turn off the doorbell when they leave the house.
Most English people do not water their lawns with a hose: using a watering can for this purpose reduces water consumption. In addition, when taking a shower, the British do not rinse off the soap suds, but simply dry themselves with a towel. In recent years, anti-crisis online stores have become especially popular in England: they sell expired products at a huge discount. Some English people buy food there.
Japan is a country of traditions
The peculiarity of the Land of the Rising Sun is the limited area and resources with a large population, therefore, since ancient times, the people of Japan have saved space and resources. Modern Japanese save as much as they can:
- Japanese washing machines do not have a water heating function - things are washed in cold water;
- There is no centralized supply of hot water in the country - only cold water is supplied and heated with gas. Since Japan is not in vain considered a country of high technology, in order to save money, the TOTO device was invented. It fills the water with air. The manufacturer claims that this allows the average family to reduce water and gas bills by $180;
- The Japanese wash themselves every day, but in the same water. Take a shower first (no more than 15 minutes), and then take turns taking a bath: husband, wife, children. The next day, the water is heated and reused or washed there;
- Some residents use the public toilet in the morning;
- Japanese housewives buy food together with neighbors and friends at wholesale stores, taking advantage of evening discounts;
- Over the past decade, the cost of housing has increased in Japan, so the average worker cannot afford an apartment in the city, and it takes 2-3 hours to get there from the suburbs. Capsule hotels have gained great popularity: the room has a bed and a TV, the cost is $25 per night, but if you book a room for a week, you can save.
Budgeting is not a family affair here .
A man in Japan, when he earns money, gives it to his wife, who keeps a ledger of income and expenses, distributes the money at her own discretion, and even gives pocket money to her husband. A quarter of the income MUST go towards a deposit or insurance policy.
The Japanese experience of home accounting has gained wide popularity throughout the world.
China is a country of paradoxes
It’s paradoxical, but for several decades in many countries the Chinese have been considered one of the most economical nations, and at the same time the most wasteful. The lion's share of crazy things is bought by China; the country's rich citizens spend mind-boggling sums on luxury goods. But the middle class, which makes up half of the population of the Middle Kingdom, is forced to deny itself many things.
A frugal lifestyle allows the Chinese to save 30% of their annual income. Their apartments have cheap domestic furniture, they go to Russia on vacation: the difference in exchange rates makes goods in Russia almost two times cheaper than in China. The cost of food is low. The Chinese can afford to dine in cafes. Those who are especially thrifty buy street food or cook noodles at home.
Free healthcare in China does not cover the treatment of serious diseases, so the Chinese monitor their health. Registration allows you to save money - it gives you the right to partial payment for medical services and assistance in examining sick parents.
In short, the secret of Chinese economy is minimal amenities, modest clothing, food and healthy image life.
America: always rely on yourself
Americans teach their children to rely only on themselves. With the birth of a child, they open a deposit account in his name and save money for education. Upon reaching adulthood, young Americans go their own way, knowing in advance that they will not have to rely on government help.
In addition to mandatory contributions, state citizens make contributions to non-state pension funds, invest money in various projects. An apartment, as in European countries, can only be purchased with a mortgage, but in the States without a positive credit history it will not be approved. Therefore, Americans take out a lot of small loans, and interest payments are the main expense item in the country's family budgets.
Saving in the United States turns into a game: they look for where to buy goods cheaper, share discoveries with friends, carefully cut out discount coupons from magazines.
In the summer, owners of private houses rent out rooms to foreign students, and Americans do not change their cars for decades. People in America save on clothes without thinking: a cheap T-shirt and jeans for $15 are quite suitable for the average American.
Australia: saving money and taking care of the environment
Australians are concerned not only about their family budget, but also about the environment. In 2004, the “Kangaroo Zone” was created on the mainland - the first zone where packages were abandoned. For shopping they use reusable bags made of fabric. This type of bag can withstand up to 20 kg of weight and has been used for years.
To save energy, inventive housewives have found a way not to use an iron. A shirt is placed on a hanger next to the shower, and while they wash, the steam smooths out the wrinkles. Australians, like Germans, unplug unused electrical appliances from sockets: they save on the consumption of “extra electricity.”
Korea: forced savings
The economic situation in Korea leads to the fact that many residents of the country refuse heating devices and use other heating methods. The ingenuity of Koreans reaches the point of absurdity. One Seoul resident set up a tent in his house and slept in it. Having learned about this, many residents South Korea adopted his method, thereby saving on heating costs.
But the women North Korea They don’t buy white shirts for their husbands, because colored ones are washed less often and this saves washing powder.
conclusions
Statistics show: people usually save on clothes and food, refuse to buy expensive equipment, and carefully consume electricity and water.
In many nations, the art of saving money has been passed down from generation to generation, and today these habits have become so much a part of the way of life that they are taken for granted.
Hello to my slow emerging readers!
Yesterday I walked through blogs on topics similar to mine and was stunned - how many wonderful Russian people live abroad! Especially our girls who come here, start everything from scratch, look for themselves, go to their happiness.
And how wonderful it is that they share their experiences and help others get to know their new home better. I really hope that my blog will help someone.
To be honest, right now it would be very relevant to write about the oddities of Germans and, in particular, German men. My husband does yoga and chews broccoli all evening and is very worried about the 500 grams he has gained. Oh Gods! Meanwhile, I chew donuts in the evenings and understand that something doesn’t add up)) But I’ll wait a little longer and accumulate material for a separate topic)) >> (P.S. Here it is promised post about German men!)
In my last post "Economy as a German lifestyle" promised to continue the topic of saving and write, HOW The Germans save.
WHY they do this - we have already roughly understood, and we will no longer condemn, spread rot and ridicule them, right?)) We will enter, at least for a while, into their position and imagine what it is like to give half (or even more) their salary and try to make the most of what they receive. And I have a better idea - let's learn from them how to save. Honestly, if in Moscow I saved the way I save now in Germany, then now I would already have some kind of, but my own small capital.
How do Germans save money?
1) Order in everything
Not only family budgets in Germany are clearly calculated. Students and singles clearly know how much the monthly budget is for. Expenses are recorded, receipts are collected, and then carefully analyzed to identify unnecessary and excessive expenses. Haushaltsbuch (expense book) or mobile apps similar topics here it is more a rule than a rarity. By adhering to the system, by the end of the month they are not a minus, but a plus.
2) Water
The Germans save water, but not always in the same way as in the tales your friends tell you. In moderation. Yes, water never flows in German apartments just like that - neither when they brush their teeth, nor when they cook, nor when they wash the dishes. Not only from savings. The Germans found an excellent reason for themselves - so they "save resources". No, seriously, it's true, they are more environmentally conscious than any nation in the world. besides, “I save resources” sounds much better than “I already pay forty percent of taxes, I can’t also waste water.” This is why a large number of German apartments do not have a bathroom.
3) Electricity
A significant expense item. The average German family of three pays 1,200 euros for electricity per year. Therefore, they try to reduce expenses consciously, without causing themselves discomfort - when leaving the room, they turn off the lights, eat by candlelight, use a fully loaded washing machine and dishwasher, and take care of household appliances.Use energy-saving lamps (Sparlampen),Thick-bottomed pans (Sandwich-Boden), which retain heat longer and heat up faster, use microwaves to heat food, and are often willing to pay more for household appliances if they are energy-efficient (labeled “A++” and “A+”).
Simple rules, Yes? In Russia, things are gradually moving towards the same conditions. Think about natural resources, friends, we don’t have many of them)) And about the family budget, of course.
4) Heating
I will make this point separately. In winter, German houses are cold compared to Russian ones! They prefer to wrap themselves in a sweater and cover themselves with a blanket, but turn on the heating higher - only in an emergency, when the guest is already blue in the face!
According to German research, falling asleep in the bedroom is best at 16-17 degrees! Of course, again, “I can’t afford to turn on the heating at home” somehow I can’t even dare to say, it’s much more euphonious to say: “Oh, how fresh!” and jump in thermal underwear under five blankets.
I struggled with this desperately, since I am cold at any time of the year (in winter I look like the picture on the left).
Now I have an incredibly warm thermal blanket, and on winter nights we no longer open the window. Just for a couple of minutes before bed to ventilate.
5) Clothing and status items
There is no cult of clothing here, few people suffer from shopaholism (only young ladies, but where would we be without it) and everyone knows what items of clothing and shoes they need at the moment.
Making impulsive purchases that exceed their capabilities is not in the blood of Germans. They take good care of their items so that they last longer and pursue convenience and functionality rather than fashion. Moreover, the need to “show off” or “amaze everyone” is alien to them, as is living beyond their means.It would never occur to a burgher to pay more for a car than his 5-7 salaries. He will never go into debt to buy a prestigious model of car to make his neighbor jealous and will not spend half his salary on a branded item so as not to “disgrace himself.”
ABOUT Carefree Germans sometimes dress shockingly simply (I won’t talk about all of them). Few things are bought, but they are of high quality and universal.
You rarely see dressed up people here, only near a theater or concert hall. Girls in high heels during the day are usually tourists or foreigners not yet accustomed to Germany.
According to the Germans, there are many important things in life that cannot be sacrificed for the sake of prestige, fashion, or even own desires. The same goes for expensive designer furniture, fur coats and jewelry - these things are not among the essentials and are purchased only by those who already have everything, and therefore are much less popular than in Moscow.
An ordinary average German does not disdain economy class in everything, setting priorities in his life in advance.
6) Pfand
Pfand - deposit included in the price of many drink bottles . Returning them to the store is not considered something shameful; absolutely everyone does it.
There is a drinks store under my window, where you can see both bicycles and Porsches in the parking lot. Drinks are purchased in boxes, in which empty bottles are then returned. On average, Pfand is up to 25 cents. The joy of saving money, of course, does not overshadow the feeling of consciousness - donated the bottle - helped recycling - took care of the environment)) There are also special machines for returning pfand in almost all supermarkets, in front of the cash registers. I already wrote about this
7) Products
Products in Germany are of high quality everywhere, many Germans prefer organic products (they are so important to the Germans that they deserve a separate topic on my blog >> voila post about bio products ) but only those that are really needed. Moderation and once again moderation in everything.
Average Germans stock up on economy supermarkets for the entire week and don't go there again until they've eaten everything. Wasted food and the associated guilt can ruin a German's day. Sometimes even an expired expiration date (“they just put these numbers like that, the chicken doesn’t smell yet!”) cannot stand in the way of his good intentions.
8) Flea markets (Flohmärkte)
There are many of them in Germany. Used but interesting things cost pennies there, and there is often something to look at there. Old things are not thrown away, but found new life, which, of course, once again has a positive effect on the environment.
As you can see, concern for nature drives Germans almost every minute of their lives. “Your habitat is you,” “you do this for the sake of yourself and your children,” “everything in nature is interconnected,” they say.
One of these eccentrics is my husband, and therefore I promise to get rid of my cynicism in the future)) and maybe I will become like them, because this scourge is probably contagious))
9) Sales and promotions
Everything is clear here. Sales here are stronger than here, and most Germans buy clothes during them. And also in outlet centers, where tourists from other countries even come specifically. You should learn the words right away "Schnäppchen", "Sale" And "Reduziert".
10) Bicycle
Two wheels have many advantages and not a single disadvantage. A striking example of multi-savings - on gasoline, on the cost of a car, on a travel card and on a fitness center. And what a benefit for the environment!!
11) Did it yourself - that means you saved money
This is why the Germans do without outside help in everyday matters. Washing the windows, doing general cleaning, trimming the bushes, doing your own manicure or eyebrow correction is a nice plus for your personal budget!
12) Travel, tickets, tours
Tours with German agencies are booked long before the holiday. Here, “in advance” is not counted as 2 months, as with us, but almost a year. So don't be surprised by a sympathetic look from your travel agent if you're booking a winter vacation in October. Because they screwed up))
Tickets at train stations are cheaper to buy from ticket machines, and also better at home on the Internet - both there and there they are commission-free. The same applies to tickets for long-distance trains. Golden Rule- the earlier the better.
You can save money by traveling on trains with a group. Those traveling with you will also receive a discount - Mitfahrer-Rabatt. You can buy it on the weekend Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, it now costs 42 euros and is valid for one day throughout Germany for 5 people, excluding children under 15 - they can often travel for free. These can be either acquaintances or strangers from the station, heading to the same place as you and also wanting to save money. You can “catch” them right at the machine. But attention! Beware of scammers who earn money this way on weekends, otherwise you yourself may be fined. An analogue of such a ticket is Regional-Ticket, only it is valid on weekdays and within one federal state. The only disadvantage of such trips is the often necessary transfers, you can familiarize yourself with them in the train plan (Fahrplan) at any station.
Another way to save for those who travel around Germany frequently isBahnCard25, BahnCard50 And BahnCard 100- with a corresponding discount on train tickets. The cards aren't cheap, especially -50 and -100, but are worth it in some cases. I received mine at a discount in addition to my husband's BahnCard100. Now I pay only half for tickets in Germany.
If you don’t have such a card, it doesn’t matter, because you have Last minute! On sites such as Expedia and http://w eg.de you can not only buy cheap flights and tours, but also find train tickets at big discounts! Especially if you have free time. During unpopular times for the masses, you can ride for half the price, or even cheaper.
Buses also travel between cities; it takes longer, but is cheaper! Just type the query into Google and save!
And, finally, the cheapest way to get around Germany is to share travel expenses with fellow travelers, having first looked at the Mitfahrzentrale website. There you can easily find travel companions or a driver to your destination. You can even choose a car brand or a smoking/non-smoking interior.
13) Bonuses!
This, for example, is popular in Germany today Payback card or just a discount on your next purchase directly on the receipt, as in Müller, various points, points, stickers, sets of popular cosmetics, gifts with purchase... whatever you like.
This is not new, and this kind of thing has been flourishing in Russia for a long time.
It's almost 2 o'clock, so I got carried away! I publish and sleep - tomorrow morning I’m going to the planetarium!
And here - post about my German budgeting experience.
I hope it was useful to you
Your Polina
Today I will tell you about how direct our monetary energy in the right direction. How to know boundaries and priorities. It seems to me that this information is important for everyone, regardless of the size of the wallet. But it is especially valuable for those who are planning to move to Germany or have just arrived here. After all, in the presence of such taxes and social payments as here, it is impossible to do without budget planning. It’s simply impossible to do otherwise. Of course, unless you have several apartments, rich relatives or an oil rig left in Russia.
In Europe, almost everyone with an average income plans their budget. In Russia, due to the lack of spending on taxes and rent in most cases, such a concept is often absent.
For me it became a cold shower in Germany. With my Russian habits, for the first two months I was left with a cookie in the middle of the month. Or simply in a difficult financial situation. Why? I didn’t plan my spending, I didn’t track the money I spent, I didn’t set clear priorities, and I bought things I didn’t really need.
If you don’t have such a problem, you don’t keep track of your expenses and still have enough of everything, then you are incredibly lucky and you can skip this post. Or read it in order to learn how to systematize expenses.
Initially, I planned to write about the family budget and how to plan it. But this topic turned out to be quite subtle - after all, the distribution of income in a family can be different. This could be a “common wallet”, a clearly shared budget, or a solidarity-type distribution of money, where those who earn more make a greater contribution to the formation of the budget. Therefore, I leave this to you, I will write about the calculation myself personal budget. The calculation of the family budget is preceded by family council and distribution of cost shares.
Let's start. I am clearly convinced that the lack of money in our lives is most often due to the fact that wewe don't know how to handle them. Neither family nor school in Russia teaches us this. But if you understand the basic rules of handling finances, the situation can change significantly. In Germany, children are taught to have independent control over their money from a very young age. There's really nothing complicated about this, it's justtake a break from the daily hustle and bustle and look at how you handle your money.
What is important in our relationship with money?
1) OrderlinessThe more earnings, the greater the expenses, so you shouldn’t think that if you have modest income now, then “later someday” your financial situation will improve. You need to organize your thoughts and actions here and now - how, what to spend, what is more important, and what is not worth your spending.
2) Understanding where funds “flow”
That's right, in an unknown direction. Are you familiar with the situation - you seem to have recently received a salary, you went home from work through shopping mall, and it’s only the middle of the month, you haven’t made a single major or necessary purchase, and there’s no trace of money? You sit down and try to remember what you bought. Everything is really simple: fast food, chewing gum, lipsticks, shoes to go with a dress that doesn’t yet exist, a beautiful hairpin, two phone cases, a pendant, a scarf and that bracelet that you just couldn’t pass by. These are such little things, you say. Yes, little things, but in total they add up to a very tidy sum and cause damage to the budget. And alltrade industry embraced by marketingdoes everything so that you fall for numerous tricks and buy what you “need.” In addition, you absolutely did not need the lion's share of these little things and these expenses could have been avoided if you hadkeeping track of your budget And made listswhat you really need and stick to them. Even I, who in principle already clearly controls my spending, very often may fall short of a certain amount. And those who waste their money in a disorganized manner are simply doomed to have their hard-earned money “flow away” “to nowhere.”
3) Priorities
At some point I looked at my spending as a percentage and in accordance with the period of my life in which, in fact, education, self-development and the accumulation of my modest means are most important to me. So to speak, investing “in yourself”. So, I spent less than 2% on my development. And almost half for clothes, shoes and cosmetics. Which will not affect my future in any way and will not help me on a rainy day. Besides, most were bought “high” and I still have nothing to wear with a third. A huge part was also spent on cafes, restaurants, clubs and other entertainment establishments. The realization of such a waste of money was a serious blow for me. And I told myself - either I continue to spend money thoughtlessly, be a victim of marketing and the beauty industry, or I become master of your money, expenses and needs and invest money in myself and in truly necessary things.
Start working on your budget
At that moment I remembered my goals in life. What do I want? That's right, I want to develop, I want to continue learning languages, restore my rights to a profession in a new country, get a German driver's license (which is very expensive), I want to read, explore new countries and look great. The latter has nothing to do with the amount of cosmetics and clothes. I only need cosmetics that transform me, for this I don’t need to try all the new products in the store, because the goal of this industry is to make me buy. Clothes should highlight my strengths and hide my flaws. Draw attention to my appearance. Therefore, it is more important to be slim and healthy. And I started eating right and losing excess weight. Buy fewer things, but the necessary ones. And make up capsule wardrobe. I recommend this principle to everyone who buys a lot of unnecessary junk and cannot concentrate on the main thing. I'll write about this very soon.
The scary numbers on paper made me think that 300 euros for clothes and 300 euros for education are two incomparable things at this stage of my life. I removed from Instagram all the girls boasting about their purchases, which infected me with shopaholism, unfollowed beauty bloggers, stopped buying women's magazines stuffed with advertising, cleaned up my apartment and my closet with clothes (which is also very important), and started writing lists of things I clearly needed. things and everything gradually began to fall into place.
These are not restrictions, these are new opportunities
Many people do not want to start planning a budget, fearing that once they begin to control spending, they will have to limit themselves in everything, say goodbye to their favorite purchases and whims, and deny themselves many things. But this is a wrong assumption. On the contrary, it allows you to restore order in the cycle of income and expenses. Like I said, I used to spend the lion's share of my money on shopping for myself and entertainment. Now this is a maximum of 15-20%. Am I limiting myself in any way? No. Yes, I buy fewer things, but only those that I need and only good quality. I learned the same principle to save on cosmetics without skimping on quality. And now I have fun a little differently, without spending money on things that make no sense and that don’t bring me great joy.
So, if you realize that you still need manage the family budget, then we need something begin. Here's our first step:
1) Before starting systematic control over expenses and income, it is recommended to create a “cushion” of three to four monthly budgets. This will provide you with a calm attitude towards your real financial situation and create motivation for further accumulation of funds.
2) Drawing up a list of items of expenses and income, that is, categorizing the budget
You can do this different ways. For some, it is more convenient to have a notebook, a notepad, or even a barn book :)) and enter all the lists and expenses in it. Some people will find online programs more convenient. Personally, I settled on a smartphone application, because it is always with me and there is less chance of losing control. There are a great variety of such applications, the most convenient ones cost somewhere around $5. Try a free trial or read reviews and choose your favorite. I bought the appiBudget, although it is not among the favorites in the ratings, I found it very convenient, without unnecessary color charts and graphs, everything is clear and understandable.
To get started, just write down all the categories of your expenses, even the smallest ones. Divide them into groups that are convenient for you. For example: apartment, renovation, groceries, hygiene, cosmetics, beautician, shoes, clothes, reading, education, gifts, piggy bank, annual vacation expenses, etc.
2) Distribution of monthly funds for each category
At the end of each month, sit quietly and look through all the titles. Analyze soberly what was unnecessary, what you could have done without, what didn’t work, why you were disappointed, why you weren’t able to save enough money. This practice will not only allow you to return items you don’t like to the store. You can outline the maximum amount of spending for each category and, accordingly, a percentage of all expenses.
You can draw it yourself in your notebook or notepad, or use ready-made ones in modern mobile and computer programs. Main columns: Income, Expense, Total.
Total is always equal to the amount available in your wallet (on the card). Graphs of expenses and income should be divided into categories. Someone like me will prefer to include also later spending limits for each category. If you have properly analyzed your expenses, you will soon be able to pay attention to the remaining possible amount of spending in each category, and not in general.
These may be small things, but at the end of the month you can add up “Saved” and “Deferred” and get a slightly larger amount, this can be very nice. For example, you feel that you saved money on groceries today and spent less than usual - put a penny in another compartment of your wallet. And mark it in your notebook. Let it be only 5-10 euros. But if you go grocery shopping 10 times a month, this could be an additional 100 euros in your personal monthly savings, and 1,200 euros per year.
Once your budget allocation table is ready,check everythingOnce again, make sure that everything adds up and the amount of expenses equals income.
Maximum spend per category should be indicated in your notebook (program, application, etc.) next to the growing cost figure and decrease with each purchase(here, of course, it’s easier with automatic programs). Thus, this will be your “stop signal” before any impulse purchase. After all, if you, for example, spend more than agreed on magazines, then you will have to subtract this amount from another important category, say, groceries.
3) Control, optimization and application
This stage may take a long time. During it you need adjust yourself to your calculation or vice versa - adjust the table to suit you. Figure out which categories you need to spend more on and which you can spend less on. It is possible to create an additional piggy bank “just in case”, or “for vacation”, or combine everything into one, set up loan repayment accounting in the program, etc. - everything is individual here. In the end you should be able to money behavior pattern which is comfortable for you.
Some tips from me:
G) Rejoice in your success in budgeting, saving and planned purchases. Don't take this as philistinism. Believe me, I really regret that I didn’t plan my expenses earlier. Look at this as a path to your new opportunities. In Germany, wealthy people also do this, without being at all embarrassed by it.
Although I have already scribbled a lot, in the end I want to briefly outline for you advantages of such an important part of my life now as budget planning:
1) Gives understandingWhat do you spend your hard-earned money on?
2) Helps you independently achieve financial goals bypassing credit institutions with enslaving conditions.
3) Helps to put things in order in the head, to rethink financial goals , understand that many of the material achievements are possible (with the restructuring of the current budget); stop wasting money on trinkets and unnecessary things, being seduced by advertising and marketing gimmicks, and being driven by spontaneous desires to buy unplanned things.
4) Helps you realize what is really important to you(proper nutrition, sports, joy of loved ones, education, self-development, etc.).
5) Helps give meaning to your life. When you start managing your budget, you will feel sorry for wasting your efforts (after all, it is thanks to them that you earn money) on stupid things. You will begin to think about your place in this life, about relationships, love, what you can give to your children, where you can live, which apartment to move to and which parts of the world to visit.
6) Helps organize your life. It helps you not only find many enjoyable activities and opportunities within your budget and get rid of remorse for wasting money, but also subconsciously weed out budget items that are not worth your time and expenses.
7) You can minimize the number of quarrels in the family over money, if you introduce a budget distribution system that is reasonable and fair for everyone.
I hope my post was useful and interesting to you. To me your comments are very important, so share with me your experiences and opinions on this issue. I will be very glad.
Your Polina
On the VM network broadcast, studio guests discussed which spouse resolves financial issues in Italy, Hungary, Spain, the Czech Republic, Japan and the USA.
Journalist and historian Giovanni Savino from Rome said that in Italy people usually get married very late. It is important for them to first find Good work, buy an apartment, a car and learn to provide for yourself and your future family. As for the budget, for last years the situation has changed a little. If earlier both spouses had the opportunity to save something, now there is absolutely not enough money.
Renting a house in Rome costs about a thousand euros. Plus utilities: it’s about 100-150 euros for water and 150-200 euros for electricity and heating. Many Italians do not like to use public transport, so families usually have 2-3 cars. And these are additional costs for gasoline,” Giovanni Savino cites the figures.
In a family, these expenses are usually divided in half. However, if a woman needs to visit a beauty salon, and a man, say, needs to go to football, then it’s every man for himself.
But in Japan the situation is completely different. A woman may have a lower social status than a man, but she is the one who is in complete control of the common money.
Many men pay their entire salary to their wives, and they then plan the family budget and allocate a certain amount to their spouses for personal needs, says Mikhail Mozzhechkov, president of the Russian Club in Tokyo. - In fact, it turns out that all responsibility for using the budget lies with the woman. The man gave away his entire salary, and the woman “spins.” Who gets it, who doesn't... I know one Japanese couple who got divorced because the wife could make spontaneous purchases, and because of this they always didn't have enough at the end of the month. But in general, the Japanese are quite thrifty and practical; they don’t throw family money away.
Of the total expenses, approximately 30% is spent on housing, 20-30% on food, and the rest on entertainment.
But if in Japan the average salary of a young person is 2000 euros, then in the Czech Republic it is no more than 1000. If two people work, their total budget is 1500-1700 euros per month.
It is very important to manage this money wisely. From childhood, Czechs teach children how to plan their expenses and spending. They, like the Italians, are in no hurry to get married; they do it at about 30 years old. The Czech Republic is one of the most “debted” countries in Europe; a lot of people live on loans. Mortgage rates are low (1.5-2%), so it is popular,” journalist Vladimir Snegirev describes the situation in Prague.
In Spain, it is customary to get married even later than in Italy and the Czech Republic - at 35-40 years. The family budget is divided strictly in half.
When you are just starting a relationship, each partner pays half of all trips to restaurants and movies. You may be invited to a restaurant and pay for dinner, but next time you will pay,” shares Daria Kustova, communications specialist at Focus Reports. - When you start living together, the only thing that changes is that you know how much everyone earns, and accordingly you can open a joint bank account. You can make a list of expenses.
A young family spends most of its money on a mortgage or rent.
The situation is similar in Hungarian families. The only difference is that everyone contributes to the general budget an amount proportional to their salary. And here all the calculations - and Hungarians love this business - are handled by a man. It is believed that they do it more meaningfully.
About 25-30% of the budget is spent on food and household supplies, about 10% on health, another 10% on gifts for family members, and about 20-30% is set aside, provided that the family has an apartment, says Marketing manager of the travel company “1000 roads” Olga Rozhkova.
In most American families, the budget is also shared. The couple has a bank account where the salaries of both husband and wife go. They carefully plan expenses: house, cars, television, Internet. Most of expenses go to the child.
Americans are different in that they live almost their entire lives on credit. This is the main expense item - payment for housing on a loan. Average interest rate here - 4-4.5%. When you buy a house, it’s a 30-year loan,” says QA engineer Marina Zolina.
Subscribe to the Evening Moscow channel on Telegram!
Today we will talk about how Europeans save, as this information may be useful for beginning investors who want to accumulate initial investment capital. Everyone knows that EU residents treat their own money far differently than our compatriots. All those who studied and worked in European countries were convinced of this. It would seem that in the EU the standard of living is higher than in our country, and residents of European countries may not save, but in fact this is not the case.
Most EU citizens in Everyday life They are very careful with their own money. Next, we will try to understand in detail how Europeans save.
How Europeans save. Basic methods
It should be noted that EU residents have come up with a huge number of ways to save. An example is the cost of utility bills. To reduce this cost item, Europeans prefer to purchase powders and detergents that do not require hot water to use. This way, they can wash dishes in cold water, thereby reducing the cost of hot water.
To reduce water supply costs, most EU residents prefer to wash dishes not under running water, but in a special basin or sink.
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that a significant part of Europeans prefer to use a variety of membership cards, which make it possible to receive serious discounts in shops and cafes. It is important to note the fact that many Europeans do not dine out, but bring home-cooked food to work.
Another method of saving your own money, which is used by most Europeans, is various promotions in supermarkets. Thanks to these promotions, EU residents have the opportunity to get practically free food. Next, we will dwell in more detail on the traditions of saving that are common in different countries of the European Union.
Savings in Germany
Even compared to other European countries, German residents are considered very thrifty. Almost all residents of this state save about ten percent of their earnings every month for the future. Thus, they create a kind of safety net that will help them out in difficult times.
Before going to the store, Germans always make a list of planned purchases. At the same time, residents of Germany almost never purchase goods and products that they did not initially include in this list. In this way, they protect themselves from impulse purchases and, consequently, from extra costs.
Most German residents are accustomed to saving not only on food, but also on clothing items. Most Germans are not willing to overpay for branded clothing items. Instead of purchasing branded clothing in a boutique, most Germans prefer to wait for a sale and buy the item they like at a lower price.
Residents of Germany save significantly more than other Europeans on utilities. For example, they prefer to use dishwashers/washing machines only after sunset, since during this period the cost of electrical energy is much lower. To water the lawn in front of the house, the Germans use rainwater, which is collected in special tanks.
Residents of this country really like to save on heating. They turn on the autonomous heating systems installed in their homes only after the onset of severe cold weather. At the same time, they maintain a temperature in residential premises of no more than +18 degrees.
Savings in France
According to available statistics, residents of this state are very fond of various sales. Some French people even take time off from work to buy items at discounts of up to 80%.
A rather interesting French tradition is the search for travel companions. At the same time, the French are looking for travel companions not only for long journeys, but also for trips to the store, etc. This approach makes it possible to significantly save on gasoline, since fellow travelers share its cost equally. Like the Germans, French residents are also accustomed to saving on utilities. Many residents of this country, in order to save money, take a bath no more than once a week, and the rest of the time they prefer to use the shower. 
Saving in Sweden
Everyone knows that Sweden has the highest taxes. For this reason, residents of this state are accustomed to saving on almost everything. Most Swedes buy clothes only on sales and use them for a long time. In addition, they try to sell old clothes on specialized Internet resources.
In addition, after reaching the age of thirty, most residents of this state begin to create their own personal pension fund. They use a certain part of their monthly earnings to replenish this fund.
