Fun, kids! When you become a mother, money is probably not the first thing on your mind. But those koters cost money, and a lot of it sometimes. How do you manage that? In Cots & Expenses, mothers therefore lay their finances open and bare. This time Nienke is speaking.
Hi Nienke!!! Who are you and what do you do?
‘I’m Nienke, 33, and I work as a content and campaign specialist at a corporate company. I live with my boyfriend, we have a two-year-old daughter and our second child is on the way. I have a permanent job and I work about 36 to 40 hours a week. I try to keep my Fridays free as much as possible because that’s when my daughter is home. Fortunately, I can schedule meetings during her naps and some days I just work a little longer. Also, my boyfriend is home one weekday.’
How much do you earn per month?
‘I earn about 3,600 euros net per month. Since I graduated, my salary has continuously increased. Especially when I changed employers, I suddenly earned much more. I’m pretty happy with how my account looks right now, although I would like to save more. I usually transfer a fairly ambitious amount to my savings account at the beginning of the month, only to have to withdraw some at the end of the month. I think that’s a shame.
How have your expenses changed since becoming a mother?
‘Before I became a mother, I spent a relatively large amount of money on dinners and trips. Together with my boyfriend, we went on a six-month trip around the world with our savings. Now we’re saving for that again, but it’s going slower than I want. Especially a lot of money goes to child care; I didn’t expect it to be so expensive. 1400 euros a month for three days a week, I had to gulp when I saw thought. And then there are purchases like a stroller, a co-sleeper, a cargo bike. But we still go out for a nice dinner, you know.
Also, was there anything that unexpectedly came out cheaper?
‘We try to buy as many things as possible for our daughter, and soon for her little brother, second-hand. From furniture to children’s clothing to the cargo bike, really everything can be found secondhand in very good condition. Sustainability is my biggest driver for this, but the fact that I save a lot of costs is a nice bonus.
What do you want to support your children financially in?
‘My parents used to pay a lot for me. My college expenses, as well as my rent and other expenses that I incurred. We never really made clear agreements about money, but I want to do that later with my children. That they get a fixed amount per month, for example. My friend and I do plan to pay for their studies and part of their housing. I feel very privileged that my parents have paid so much for me, but I do think it has made me a little less financially aware. Part of that is also due to myself, mind you; I could have done more research on it too.
What is your financial tip for mothers (to-be)?
‘I always thought I was a bad saver. But when my boyfriend and I started saving for our big trip, I had the money together in no time . I noticed that when I have a goal, saving is intuitively very easy. Recently, I invested in crypto. Very exciting, but I see my money is already doubled now. So even when it comes to finances, the lesson is: If you want something, go for it.
*Nienke’s real name is known to the editors.
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