Energy and food in particular have become significantly more expensive. Inflation averaged 6.9 percent last year. Bei ntv.de betray regularly people from all salary brackets what that means for your everyday life – what they earn, what they spend how much money on and what is left over at the end of the month. Today:
A riot policeman from Saxony
Surname: For official reasons I would like to remain anonymous*
Age: 22
Residence: Leipzig
Education: Police officer career 1.2 (formerly middle service)
Recent Activity: Police enforcement service, currently as an officer in a riot police squad that is deployed at demonstrations or football games, for example.
Working time per week: Planned 40 hours. But that never works. My duty roster is adapted to current operations. Nothing is more constant than change. As a result, I had to push 80 hours in the last few weeks.
Monthly gross salary: 2598.81 euros (office A7 at experience level 1 according to the Saxon salary law). But this is only half the truth. As a police officer, you also get official and service allowances, for example for shift work and night work. This varies each month, but that’s another $500 or more. As a result, for example, in the previous month I received a salary of just over 2900 euros net, minus taxes. I don’t have to pay social security or health insurance contributions.
Holiday and/or Christmas bonus: There is not any.
Household net income per month: Between 2800 and 3400 euros, depending on how official, service and volunteer allowances turn out. Before my police career I worked in the emergency services, I still volunteer as a paramedic at sporting events such as football games or demonstrations. I receive an expense allowance for this, around 200 to 300 euros per month. I live alone, so I don’t count my partner’s salary.
Rent per month for a two-room apartment with 60 square meters: 490 euros warm
Monthly costs for heating: We use district heating. I can’t say what I pay for heating costs. My rent includes ancillary costs of 130 euros. I’ve never had to pay back. In spring I even got 90 euros back for 2021.
Monthly electricity costs: 45 euros
How much these have increased during the energy crisis: The kilowatt hour rose from around 24 to 52 cents, but only very late in the crisis, shortly before the introduction of the electricity price brake. I had switched providers the year before the energy crisis, so I was still able to benefit from a price guarantee. I’m excited to see what the soon-to-be annual accounts will entail and what the energy price brake is all about. To be honest, I don’t expect a blatant price increase. Because I’m at work a lot, mostly at night, my consumption is not immensely high.
Additional fixed costs per month:
- for the car converted to the month 12 euros taxes, 95 euros liability, comprehensive and legal protection as well as 90 euros gas money
- for my mobile phone contract 13.99 euros
- Internet 39.99 euros
- 126.90 euros for insurance: disability, entitlements and supplements (health insurance for old age, during their service Saxon civil servants have health insurance without paying contributions via the state), legal protection, nursing care, accident protection, liability, household items
- Union contribution 16.29 euros
- Broadcasting fees 18.36 euros
The bottom line is disposable household income for groceries, hygiene, leisure time, clothing, holidays, etc.: I can count on having a good 2,000 euros at my free disposal every month. Sometimes that’s more, sometimes less, depending on how my roster is structured and how my service allowances and voluntary work are canceled.
How much more I spend on groceries today than I did a year ago: What exactly I pay for different things, I can’t say. The increase in food prices is also noticeable for me. On duty we often buy our food from snack bars, bakeries or the canteen. We can’t ignore the fact that prices have risen everywhere. My expenses in this regard have doubled. I spend about 80 euros a month on food on duty.
I also like going out to eat with my partner or going away for a few days off. Here, too, we notice the price increases. As a student, I partly take care of them.
My grocery shopping at the supermarket has stayed relatively the same. Since the sharp price increases, however, my buying behavior has also changed. I always make a plan of what is needed and only go shopping once or twice a week. So I don’t buy as much “casual” anymore, which has also reduced my consumption. However, if I see something that isn’t on my plan, I’ll buy it anyway without thinking too much about it. I spend around 100 euros a month on groceries for myself alone.
I can deduct all of my hygiene products and some of my clothing from my taxes. So I get a little extra every year. However, the monthly costs for hygiene are low, definitely not more than 20 euros. The cost of the clothes can’t tell, it varies a lot because I don’t buy new ones every month.
Special expenses:
- 153.35 euros for my home savings contract
- 33 euros for my hairdresser
How much is left at the end of the month: Around 1000 euros in the past few months, that varies.
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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How much of it I save: I always leave two or three salaries in my account for emergencies such as new purchases. Anything left over I move to my secondary account. Part of the sum is invested as a fixed deposit, the majority flows into an ETF. Especially now, in times of crisis, the ETF is cheap and I invest a lot in the stock market. I’ve never had a minus.
How much I spend on vacation: That varies, sometimes just a few hundred euros, but a few years ago it was sometimes a low four-digit sum.
Where do I save due to high inflation: I think more often about taking the car and more about what to buy.
Wishes to politicians: I think there are many small construction sites that need to be fixed. I have neighbors who live on the poverty line. And that from young to old. The main problem is predominantly the high rents, high food prices, high energy costs and high health insurance contributions. Everything is getting more expensive and people don’t know how to support their lives. Especially since hardly anyone has reserves.
There needs to be a general rethink in politics: What financial resources are there, where are they used and how can citizens be relieved? How should health insurance companies, energy sources and living space be financed in the future without further burdening citizens? I still see a lot of room for improvement. The Federal Cartel Office could counteract the enormous price increases. An excess profit tax could provide additional financial resources, with which energy sources or food could be refinanced. A fundamental rethinking of financial policy is required!
*The name is known to the editors.