Thomas (22) works full-time as a mover. Kimberly (21) is studying and will start working as a security guard next year. The couple from Oisterwijk have been together for almost three years: “We still live at home with our parents, but now that we are both in our twenties, we would like to live together. We recently looked for a rental house, which cost 1400 euros per month and gas, water and light are added.”
Groceries that are becoming more and more expensive, higher excise duty on petrol and diesel and now we are also going to pay for disposable cups and trays. We have to pay more and more attention to the little things. But will that work? In our Duurder Leven series this time Thomas and Kimberly from Oisterwijk.
How are you doing financially?
Kimberly: “It is sometimes quite difficult to make ends meet. I’m still at school and have a part-time job in the hospitality industry. Actually, we talk about it every week, how expensive everything is. Now we’re going to pay extra for disposable cups and trays, it goes on and on. Our salary has now gone up three percent, but it is nothing compared to the prices that continue to rise. It doesn’t make us any happier.”
Are there things you leave behind in the supermarket?
“Just shopping and throwing everything thoughtlessly in the basket is no longer an option. We really have to pay attention to what we buy. We used to buy a croissant or a frikandellen roll for a nice appetite, now it’s just bread with some toppings because we’re there longer We leave more expensive brands anyway, we always choose the cheapest option. A small bag with groceries, we spend 50 euros for that, but if we go for the A brands, it will soon be 80 euros . If we want to spend an evening with friends, we first have to see if it works in terms of money.”
How do you save even more money?
Kimberly: “We both smoke and for that we drive to Belgium, a journey of about 20 minutes. Then we fill up there immediately. a small van costs 18 euros here and 15 euros across the border. In total, I pay 60 euros per month for smoking.” Thomas: “At my house the boiler has been lowered, so you can no longer take a piping hot shower. That saves costs.”
Are you going on vacation this summer?
“We actually wanted to go to Italy, but that turned out to be so expensive that we changed the plans. Now we have booked a spot at a campsite in Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium. We lost 290 euros for eight nights, including water and electricity. As a result, we save about 1000 euros.”
What do the future plans look like?
“We would like to live together, but it is simply not affordable. A new housing estate is currently being built here in Oisterwijk and they are asking three hundred thousand euros for a starter home. We recently looked for a rental house, which cost 1400 euros per month, excluding gas, water and light. We still live at home with our parents, but now that we are both in our twenties, we are ready for our own place. That is why we are now looking together with a friend, so that we can share the living costs. “
Is this expensive life something you worry about?
“Yes. We sometimes talk about children, but that financial situation really doesn’t make it any easier. We don’t know what the future will bring, whether we can give a child what it needs to be happy. That keeps us busy.”
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