{"id":147934,"date":"2022-12-22T10:14:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T09:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=147934"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:34","slug":"julie-saved-all-her-receipts-in-november","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/12\/22\/julie-saved-all-her-receipts-in-november\/","title":{"rendered":"Julie saved all her receipts for a month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Julia recently moved to a new flat, and that means more costs. She keeps an overview by tracking all her expenses in an Excel file. \u201cAll possible cost items are there in the spreadsheet.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\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>

Julia (25) leads a healthy life. That means she cooks at home, follows a vegetarian diet, takes extra vitamins and exercises four times a week. She currently has no commitments at the university. Because she already has a higher professional education (HBO) diploma in HR, she is exempt from her elective course in the final year of her Bachelor\u2019s programme in Psychology. Now she uses the time when she would normally be studying to learn more about health, nutrition and the nervous system.<\/p>\n

Julie knows exactly how much a healthy lifestyle costs. Every month, she spends between \u20ac200 and \u20ac250 on groceries. Her vitamins cost \u20ac40 per month and a gym membership is \u20ac35. In November, she tracked all her expenses in an Excel file. \u201cEvery cost item is there, even birthdays. I keep all my receipts and write down everything I spend. That way, I know exactly how much money I\u2019m spending each month.\u201d<\/p>\n

Living costs money<\/h2>

She recently had to leave her flat in Capelle aan de IJsel. The statutory two-year temporary rental period was over, so Julie had to find something new. Now she lives on the other side of the city, in a renovated flat in Overschie. The flat is completely gas-free, with four solar panels. She found it for rent on the social housing market. Forty homes became available, and whoever responded first would get a flat. \u201cI replied within seconds and was number eight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMoving costs money\u201d, Julie says. That\u2019s why she borrowed extra money from DUO. \u201cMy last place was smaller than this, so there\u2019s more space to fill. And I had to buy a new refrigerator and my own oven.\u201d<\/p>\n

She lives in the flat with her boyfriend. They share the costs and are entitled to a housing benefit. Together, they spend around \u20ac630 per month on housing. \u201cWe hardly had any electricity costs in the summer, but now that it isn\u2019t as sunny, we\u2019re paying more again.\u201d<\/p>\n

DUO helps in the future<\/h2>

Before Julie started living on her own, she borrowed some money from DUO. On her father\u2019s recommendation, this allowed her to save money for a house or other future expenses. Since becoming self-sufficient over two years ago, she now covers her monthly expenses using the money in her savings account.<\/p>\n

Julie is currently recovering from whiplash, which means she is temporarily unable to work. As a result, she\u2019s had to go without the \u20ac200 she previously earned providing childcare. She now borrows \u20ac500 per month from DUO. Her mother gives her \u20ac25 every week for groceries, and she gets \u20ac50 per month from her boyfriend\u2019s parents. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame that my generation didn\u2019t get student grants. If I were to start my studies now, I wouldn\u2019t have any student loan debt. I could live off the grants. I sign petitions against this system, but I don\u2019t take part in any activism. I try not to worry too much about my debt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saving money<\/h2>

According to the Excel spreadsheet, Julie spends \u20ac820 per month. She doesn\u2019t budget for holidays. If she wants to take a holiday, she borrows money from DUO. In the meantime, she pays attention to the little things. For example, Julie makes her own laundry detergent using a bit of soap, baking soda and water. \u201cMaking your own cleaning products is good for the environment and much cheaper than buying detergent from the supermarket. I love creative projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

She often meets with friends at their homes. \u201cI think it\u2019s a waste to pay \u20ac3 for a cup of tea at a restaurant or caf\u00e9, no matter how nice it is.\u201d After this academic year, Julie will have her Bachelor\u2019s degree, at which point she wants to start working full time. \u201cI can\u2019t wait until I start making my own money. I don\u2019t need to earn a lot, but I think it would be nice not to worry so much about how expensive life is. Then I\u2019ll be able to take my family out to dinner at some point.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Income: \u20ac150 from her parents (in law) and \u20ac500 loan from DUO<\/p>\n

Rent & utilities: \u20ac400 per month<\/p>\n

Groceries: between \u20ac200 and \u20ac250 per month<\/p>\n

Eating out\/going out: \u20ac100 per month, \u2018for birthdays and drinks\u2019.<\/p>\n

Worst purchase: \u201cI always think very carefully before I spend money. But I have a lot of plants. The plants I don\u2019t have room for are sitting by the window in the communal stairwell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last major expense: \u201cAn air purifier that cost \u20ac350. The air quality in Overschie isn\u2019t very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saving for: \u201cI\u2019m not saving at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t