{"id":145329,"date":"2022-10-21T16:01:35","date_gmt":"2022-10-21T14:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=145329"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:28","slug":"nicolas-can-build-on-the-financial-support-from-his-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/10\/21\/nicolas-can-build-on-the-financial-support-from-his-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicolas can build on the financial support from his parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nicolas Michel came from Peru to attend university in the Netherlands. Now his parents give him financial help to pay for his life in the Netherlands. \u201cEverything in the Netherlands is more expensive than in Peru.\u201d<\/p>

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Nicolas spends a lot of money on food. He would never skimp on that.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

1,500 euros per month across the ocean<\/h2>

\u201cI come from Peru, where we use Peruvian soles<\/em>. One euro is currently equal to around four soles<\/em>. When I first moved to the Netherlands, I converted all amounts from euros to soles<\/em>, but I quickly stopped doing that.<\/em>Otherwise, I never would have bought anything. Now that I\u2019ve been living here for over three years and my salary is paid in euros, I only think in terms of euros. When I went back to Peru, I felt super rich.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018My father\u2019s philosophy is that the money he earns can be put to better use helping his son with expenses instead of keeping all of it for himself\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cMy parents support me financially. I get about 1,500 euros a month from them. I mostly talk about money with my dad. His philosophy is that the money he earns can be put to better use helping his son with expenses instead of keeping all of it for himself. I supplement the monthly amount I receive with my salary of around 500 euros per month. I do sales work at a tech start-up.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Main fixed expenses
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Rent & gas, water, electricity: 750 euro<\/p>\n

Groceries: 300<\/p>\n

Eating out\/going out: 300<\/p>\n

Sports: 17<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Ordering food is more expensive than it was three years ago<\/h2>

\u201cMy great-grandfather was a Dutchman who moved to Peru. My grandpa let his Dutch passport expire when he was 30. Because my dad was born before that, he also has a Dutch passport and so do I. I cheer for the Dutch team during the World Cup and I can study in the Netherlands for the same tuition rate as Dutch students.<\/p>\n

\u201cI share a flat with a Peruvian housemate in Rotterdam Noord. We each pay around 750 euros, including fixed costs. The costs for electricity have gone up significantly. Initially, I wanted to get a flat on my own, but that isn\u2019t affordable in Rotterdam.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018In my first year, I could have a good meal for 11 euros. Now, getting something delivered easily costs 15 to 16 euros\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cI spend a lot of my money on food. I often try to cook for myself, but sometimes I\u2019m lazy, and so I order food more than I would like to. That has become more expensive. In my first year, I could have a good meal for 11 euros. Now, getting something delivered easily costs 15 to 16 euros.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year around Christmas, I went back to Peru and spent 200 euros for six nights at a hotel, all the food and all the parties for that week. That wouldn\u2019t be possible anywhere in Europe. I was buying drinks for my friends in Peru the entire time. I didn\u2019t care, it was so cheap. It was great when I was there, but when I came back to Rotterdam, it wasn\u2019t so great. Everything in the Netherlands is more expensive than in Peru.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Worst purchase: A guitar for 250 euro. \u201cI\u2019ve hardly played it.\u201d
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Last major expense: Around 300 in taxes<\/p>\n

Saving for: \u201cI\u2019m not saving for anything specific. I save everything I don\u2019t spend. I\u2019d like to use that money to travel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Absolutely does not want to cut back on: Food<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Looking forward to a comfortable future<\/h2>

\u201cAfter my studies, I\u2019d like to work in the tech industry. I will always consider how much money I can make when I start a job. I\u2019m not interested in making a lot of money, but I want to live comfortably. That\u2019s subjective, of course. For me, it means travelling and eating out at restaurants as much as I want, and if I have a family, I want to be able to support them. I don\u2019t care about luxury, like fancy cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe amount of my student loan is in my bank account. I could pay it off right away. I took out a loan because I wanted to experiment on the stock market. As an economics student, I was interested in that for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Would you like to participate in this column, and tell about your income, side job, expenses or (financial) future dreams? Then send an e-mail to journalist Maartje Braam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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