What else can we afford?
Cable fitter (32): I save on vacation and clothes
08/20/2023 12:32 p.m
Energy and food in particular have become significantly more expensive. Inflation averaged 6.9 percent last year. Bei ntv.de regularly tell people from all income groups what this means for their everyday life – how much they earn, what they spend how much money on and what is left over at the end of the month. Today:
Surname: C. Mothers
Age: 32
Place of residence: Rendsburg near Kiel
Education: electronics technician
Recent Activity: Cable fitter, I assemble 1000 to 30,000 volt systems for industry.
Working time per week: 40 to 50 hours
Monthly gross salary: 3400 euros
Holiday and Christmas bonus: 0 euros
Marital status: single, in a relationship
Household net income per month: On average 2950 euros – my net salary plus rental income. I live on the ground floor of my two-family house and rent the apartment above me. My net pay varies widely because I am paid by the hour and receive premiums for overtime and based on the distance from home to the job site. I don’t live with my partner yet, so we don’t share our income and expenses.
Monthly installments for my house from the 1950s, operating costs and fees: 900 euros cold
Monthly costs for heating: 152 euros for gas
How much these have increased during the energy crisis: around 35 euros per month
Monthly electricity costs: 150 euros – so quite a lot for one person, but I suspect that the discount will decrease again. The municipal utility increased it last year because of my high consumption. But it was higher than usual because the ground floor of my house was being renovated. However, I expect a discount of about 100 euros in the future, I have a whirlpool.
How much these have increased during the energy crisis: Around 60 euros, but my consumption increased significantly last year because part of my house was renovated. I expect my electricity bills to come back down to an amount only slightly above the previous discount.
Additional fixed costs per month:
- 125 euros private pension provision in the form of an ETF
- Insurance: 188 euros for liability, dog liability, additional health, additional dental, dog health, household, residential building, occupational disability and natural hazard insurance
- Telephone, Internet and TV: 80 euros incl. Sky
- TV and music streaming 22 euros
- Mobile phone 45 euros incl. double card for the tablet
- Broadcasting fee 18.36 euros
- Car: 100 euros for insurance, tax and fuel – since I have a company car, I don’t need much
The bottom line is disposable household income for groceries, hygiene, leisure time, clothing, holidays, etc.: an average of 950 euros, which varies greatly because I am paid by the hour and receive supplements for overtime and depending on the distance from home to the place of work.
C. Müter has significantly reduced the contributions to his old-age provision.
(Photo: Private)
How much more I spend on groceries today than I did a year ago: A year ago I spent 80 to 120 euros a week including dog food for my two large dogs, now 180 to 200 euros.
Special expenses: I put aside 500 euros a month for repairs and renovations to my house and the rented apartment – since it was built in 1959 – as well as for other emergencies such as illness of my dogs.
How much I spend on vacation: I haven’t had a vacation abroad for four years, because even before 2022 it got more expensive. We wanted 2021 actually to Thailand, but then the prices exploded – the trip would have cost 1000 euros more per person than we had planned in 2018. Instead, we then made short trips to Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria. I spend at least 1700 to 2500 euros a year on vacation.
Where do I save due to high inflation: I used to invest money in several ETFs, now only in one because of the increased cost of living. That’s why I’m also leaving my private pension insurance on hold. I also save on spending on luxuries like vacations, clothes, etc.
How much is left at the end of the month: If things go well, 150 euros, but usually less. I put them aside in cash so I always have cash on hand. If necessary, I spend the money on clothing or luxury items like a new mobile phone or new tools.
The details of these most important incomes and expenses are based on self-disclosures and do not claim to be complete.
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Wishes to politicians: Better countermeasures for inflation, inflation rates are falling in other EU countries. I would like a price cap for basic foods. In addition, VAT should be reduced on more products such as modern heating technology, and companies should be obliged to pass this VAT reduction on to customers. The federal government should think of the average worker and perhaps not pay itself the inflation premium.